The day started as usual, coffee on the back porch, sweater on to keep the skeeters from sucking the caffeine from my pores. I was recalling the events of our adventures yesterday, culminating in piercing three of the four boys' ears. This is Danny's second piercing, he was giggling too much to get it right the first time. Travis took his in stride, the knife fitting his personality. Shane was leery but swallowed audibly and squealed like a pig in a pie eating contest when he saw the final outcome. No idea where Joseph was at the time. I'll capture him another time.
Bob and I decided we'd ask for one of their vehicles to do some sightseeing on our own. Surprised us when Michelle came down and handed us the keys before we could utter a word. By 9:30AM Alaska Time, we were on the road headed that-a-way. Our only concern was finding our way back to their house. We travel the backwoods of Arkansas without a map, this should be a no-brainer. We think. I captured a land mark that would verify we were heading in the correct latitude for our return.
Two Texans with no phone, pockets full of cash, a sense of direction, full tank of gas, Bob at the wheel, a gorgeous Wingman, the open road before us, it's gonna be a good day.
Before we ventured forth, I had searched my purse and luggage for our Driving Insurance Card. In the off chance we were to be driving I wanted us to be covered in case that elusive Moose posted on the signs in this state decided to make his mark as a
live bumper sticker on this truck. I know I packed it. In my haste, I'm befuddled to its location. I didn't know at the time I had it in my purse in my spare eyeglasses case. I prayed for traveling grace just the same and for Bob's one contact to remain connected to his eyeball.
My heart hurts with utter joy when I see this stretch of road. I don't know what it is about the craggy hillsides, the dark grey waters and the blue hills in the distance. I just want to get out and praise the Lord for this beauty that gets me...right here.
Before we ventured forth, I had searched my purse and luggage for our Driving Insurance Card. In the off chance we were to be driving I wanted us to be covered in case that elusive Moose posted on the signs in this state decided to make his mark as a
live bumper sticker on this truck. I know I packed it. In my haste, I'm befuddled to its location. I didn't know at the time I had it in my purse in my spare eyeglasses case. I prayed for traveling grace just the same and for Bob's one contact to remain connected to his eyeball.
My heart hurts with utter joy when I see this stretch of road. I don't know what it is about the craggy hillsides, the dark grey waters and the blue hills in the distance. I just want to get out and praise the Lord for this beauty that gets me...right here.
Okay. The railroad is on the right side of us. At some point it moves to the left side of the highway. When does that happen? I miss it every time. Today we are
going to find out. Breaking my semi-concentration, we see cars pulling over on both sides of the highway. 6.5 miles from our starting point. I tell Bob it must be a sheep sighting. A what? Sheep on the hills. A secure place to pull over, not like the idiots before us who turn with no signal, barely put their vehicles in drive before they are bounding across the highway, not a care of oncoming cars ready to make them immediate speed bumps.
Worth the stop I must say. Sheep are definitely trekking the mountain. We walk along the shoulder on the other side of the guardrail for safety and backtrack. A woman walks along with us, just returning from her vacation in Philly. She hated the construction and traffic. Horrendous was the word she used. Said she couldn't breathe there with the exhaust fumes, food smells competing for your nostrils. Happy to be home where the air is fresh and your biggest traffic is like this, stopping to see wildlife.
Mountain sheep I called them. The gentleman next to us politely corrected me. "Those are Dahl Sheep." His name was Gary, from Girdwood. I was admiring the new camera the blushing blonde by was holding. It was Gary's grandson Andrew. Andrew is about fourteen, beaming and trying to figure out all the bells and whistles on his new Canon Digital Camera, a gift from his Grandmother. A Canon, yeah baby - my weapon of choice. Gary's wife, forgive me forgetting her name, is a photographer and has taken thousands upon thousands of photos of her beloved state. She has numerous tale books, is passing on her love for photographing nature to her grandson. I could shoot myself for not writing down her webpage.
I asked about the Beluga Whales being visible this year. We had parked at a great viewing point - Beluga Point being three and a half miles further up the road. Not so many this season Gary tells us The waters are becoming polluted out to sea with the residual effect being felt in the inlet. The whales are beaching themselves. No one knows why just yet. That is sad to hear.
Photos taken the chatter begins about Alaska vs. Texas weather. Before parting ways Gary told us to be careful when taking photos, even from the inside of your vehicles. Alaskan wildlife is just as curious about you. Andrew says his Grandmother constantly warns him never go photographing in the forest alone. Never. Ever. EVER. To make the point stick strong in young Andrew's mind, a lady friend Gary knows who lives close to the Girdwood area, was mauled by a bear the day before we arrived on July 7th. He described her as being very, very fortunate and very, very careless. People are forgetting they are in the wilderness, running or walking with their headphones on, no bear spray, in the woods by themselves. Gary said for the past two weeks, he's had to have his rifle nearby due to the bears coming onto his front porch during the early evenings. He's also taken to keeping a rifle in the truck. Oh dear. Nature on the rebound.
Link below if you want to read it Gary's friends harrowing brush with a bear.
http://www.turnagaintimes.com/current%20issue/2014-07-17/brown-bear-attack.html
Alaska is beautiful and dangerous. I believe that is the appeal to me. I have the mindset to appreciate where I am, while being aware of where I am. Unlike these fools climbing up the rocks to get a better view of these sheep across the way They are wild animals people!!! They kick, they butt, they bite and will have no problem tossing you down the mountain face. I have yet to see one with the full antlers you see photos of. These are between three and five years old by the size of their antlers. Shedding their winter coats is a pretty sight - kinda like a drunk gave them a haircut. I watched one of them come off the rocks vertically - I'm holding my breath with arms outstretched, like I can catch it from here. This area is called Windy Point by the way.
going to find out. Breaking my semi-concentration, we see cars pulling over on both sides of the highway. 6.5 miles from our starting point. I tell Bob it must be a sheep sighting. A what? Sheep on the hills. A secure place to pull over, not like the idiots before us who turn with no signal, barely put their vehicles in drive before they are bounding across the highway, not a care of oncoming cars ready to make them immediate speed bumps.
Worth the stop I must say. Sheep are definitely trekking the mountain. We walk along the shoulder on the other side of the guardrail for safety and backtrack. A woman walks along with us, just returning from her vacation in Philly. She hated the construction and traffic. Horrendous was the word she used. Said she couldn't breathe there with the exhaust fumes, food smells competing for your nostrils. Happy to be home where the air is fresh and your biggest traffic is like this, stopping to see wildlife.
Mountain sheep I called them. The gentleman next to us politely corrected me. "Those are Dahl Sheep." His name was Gary, from Girdwood. I was admiring the new camera the blushing blonde by was holding. It was Gary's grandson Andrew. Andrew is about fourteen, beaming and trying to figure out all the bells and whistles on his new Canon Digital Camera, a gift from his Grandmother. A Canon, yeah baby - my weapon of choice. Gary's wife, forgive me forgetting her name, is a photographer and has taken thousands upon thousands of photos of her beloved state. She has numerous tale books, is passing on her love for photographing nature to her grandson. I could shoot myself for not writing down her webpage.
I asked about the Beluga Whales being visible this year. We had parked at a great viewing point - Beluga Point being three and a half miles further up the road. Not so many this season Gary tells us The waters are becoming polluted out to sea with the residual effect being felt in the inlet. The whales are beaching themselves. No one knows why just yet. That is sad to hear.
Photos taken the chatter begins about Alaska vs. Texas weather. Before parting ways Gary told us to be careful when taking photos, even from the inside of your vehicles. Alaskan wildlife is just as curious about you. Andrew says his Grandmother constantly warns him never go photographing in the forest alone. Never. Ever. EVER. To make the point stick strong in young Andrew's mind, a lady friend Gary knows who lives close to the Girdwood area, was mauled by a bear the day before we arrived on July 7th. He described her as being very, very fortunate and very, very careless. People are forgetting they are in the wilderness, running or walking with their headphones on, no bear spray, in the woods by themselves. Gary said for the past two weeks, he's had to have his rifle nearby due to the bears coming onto his front porch during the early evenings. He's also taken to keeping a rifle in the truck. Oh dear. Nature on the rebound.
Link below if you want to read it Gary's friends harrowing brush with a bear.
http://www.turnagaintimes.com/current%20issue/2014-07-17/brown-bear-attack.html
Alaska is beautiful and dangerous. I believe that is the appeal to me. I have the mindset to appreciate where I am, while being aware of where I am. Unlike these fools climbing up the rocks to get a better view of these sheep across the way They are wild animals people!!! They kick, they butt, they bite and will have no problem tossing you down the mountain face. I have yet to see one with the full antlers you see photos of. These are between three and five years old by the size of their antlers. Shedding their winter coats is a pretty sight - kinda like a drunk gave them a haircut. I watched one of them come off the rocks vertically - I'm holding my breath with arms outstretched, like I can catch it from here. This area is called Windy Point by the way.
Andrew was concentrating (behind the guardrails) on getting the perfect picture. May I? Sure Miss. Take a shot at least every three seconds vertical and horizontal with moving animals. He caught on as I watched him for a while. A few of them will be better than you were aiming for. Always go for what the other guy does not.
Andrew followed my lead when the Alaskan Train from Seward rolled by a few minutes later. Copying my stance (bent over with the train coming straight for me instead of catching it from the side as it passed) and listening to the whirr of my shutter - we were in unison. I'm snapping and waving at the people in the glass compartments. They are waving back. Whoo-hoo, captured a guy waving back! Bonus! Pondering - - Am I in any of their photographs? I am in Andrew's. He took a shot of me waving at the people on the train. Those are the best shots - when you are unaware, being yourself. Off to a great start young man. I would have enjoyed spending at least an hour with Andrew taking photos where we were. Gulf of Alaska and Cook Inlet behind us, long stretches of highway and railway parallel to us, mountains, trees, wild life and the human factor surrounding us. Five hundred shots easy.
The train, Seward to Anchorage runs $85 one way per person - along the scenic bi-way which we are driving today and when we did our Whittier/Portage/Hope adventures earlier this week. We thought of taking this train, either have Bill or Michelle drive us to Seward and we take the train back or visa versa. It's a distance of 125 miles. That's a bit much to ask - they'd be driving 250 miles in one day. But I wonder....
Andrew followed my lead when the Alaskan Train from Seward rolled by a few minutes later. Copying my stance (bent over with the train coming straight for me instead of catching it from the side as it passed) and listening to the whirr of my shutter - we were in unison. I'm snapping and waving at the people in the glass compartments. They are waving back. Whoo-hoo, captured a guy waving back! Bonus! Pondering - - Am I in any of their photographs? I am in Andrew's. He took a shot of me waving at the people on the train. Those are the best shots - when you are unaware, being yourself. Off to a great start young man. I would have enjoyed spending at least an hour with Andrew taking photos where we were. Gulf of Alaska and Cook Inlet behind us, long stretches of highway and railway parallel to us, mountains, trees, wild life and the human factor surrounding us. Five hundred shots easy.
The train, Seward to Anchorage runs $85 one way per person - along the scenic bi-way which we are driving today and when we did our Whittier/Portage/Hope adventures earlier this week. We thought of taking this train, either have Bill or Michelle drive us to Seward and we take the train back or visa versa. It's a distance of 125 miles. That's a bit much to ask - they'd be driving 250 miles in one day. But I wonder....
We're headed back to the truck, when I notice a couple not far from our vehicle. Fifty-ish, both with striking grey hair dressed all in black, two duffle bags at their feet. The man bore a sign with one word: SEWARD. If we were in our own vehicle, we would take them as close to Seward as possible. Or I would have. That would have been an adventure of it's own. I wonder how far they've been traveling. They didn't look worn out, maybe this is how they take their vacations.
We head up Cook Inlet past Turn Again Arm, skimming the towns of Rainbow, Bird, Indian on the way to Girdwood. Bobs bladder is screaming so we stop at the nearest station. Camera of course within reach, I take my version of a selfie . And guess who's across the highway? The Couple In Black. They got a ride this far. Good for them. Ten miles closer to their destination.
We head up Cook Inlet past Turn Again Arm, skimming the towns of Rainbow, Bird, Indian on the way to Girdwood. Bobs bladder is screaming so we stop at the nearest station. Camera of course within reach, I take my version of a selfie . And guess who's across the highway? The Couple In Black. They got a ride this far. Good for them. Ten miles closer to their destination.
We see the exit to the left that leads to Girdwood. The place I could easily hang my dreads. Girdwood (former name Glacier City) is forty miles south of Anchorage - easy to visit The Jones' (when we move here - wink wink). Averaging 35 inches of snow in
winter (54 inches in December), reaching 85 degrees in the summer months.
Had to look something up:
Total City Population: 1,817
White/Caucasian Population: 1,719
Black/African American Population: 0
Hispanic Population: 33
Asian Population: 16
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Population: 0
Dear me, I'd be a popular commodity to this town.
The Westin Alyeska Prince Hotel, a luxurious 307-room hotel, triples the population in winter months.
FYI - On Good Friday in 1964, an earthquake with the magnitude of 9.2 dropped the coastal edges along the Turnagain Arm 8 to 10 feet! Consequently, the townsite of Girdwood moved two and 1/2 miles up the valley to the present location.
We saw a bit of the town and decided it was about lunch time. We saw a pizza place, a coffee shop. Already had that. We're here for fish. Halibut and Salmon. We see an establishment with cars vying for a place to park. Let's go there. It's called Chair 5.
No smoking on the porch leading to the entry - folks didn't read the sign. Hmmm...nice crowd in the bar area - the Soccer game is on. We opt to go to the right, on the Silent Side. Three folks in there, sitting as close to the giant TV as possible, ordered a pizza that would take at least twenty minutes to bake (all made to order), I overhead the waiter say. We sit, Ittik out of my purse ready to gander at the menu. She's ready for a sip of beer. So am I. When our waiter Rudy comes over, I ask if they have Raspberry Wheat. No - but you'd enjoy the Apple ale. Okay. One please. She (Ittik) can't drink a pint. The one I was interested in was called The Arrogant Bastard Ale, I knew I could drink 22 ounces abut wouldn't enjoy the rest of the day, my head hanging out the window leaving my insides down Seward Highway and the side of the truck. 12 ounces will be fine.
I order the Halibut Fish'wich with Fries, Bob decides on Halibut Tacos with Black Bean Chowder and coffee. How did they know I like my fish on the dark side? Ittik was so excited she stuck her foot in the tater sauce. Can't blame that on me - I told her to sip her portion of beer, not guzzle. We'd occasionally turn our heads towards the soccer game - too far in to really care who was winning. $34 and a great tip, excellent service from Rudy who would silently cruise by, attend to our needs and slink away.
Our meals were happily digested, notes left for Rudy and a Catz Wuz Here on my empty plate. Lingering as our mind told our bellies we were indeed stuffed, the Busgirl took away our plates. I watched her read my sticker and told two of the staff to come see it before she cleared the plates in the trash. Mission accomplished.
No smoking on the porch leading to the entry - folks didn't read the sign. Hmmm...nice crowd in the bar area - the Soccer game is on. We opt to go to the right, on the Silent Side. Three folks in there, sitting as close to the giant TV as possible, ordered a pizza that would take at least twenty minutes to bake (all made to order), I overhead the waiter say. We sit, Ittik out of my purse ready to gander at the menu. She's ready for a sip of beer. So am I. When our waiter Rudy comes over, I ask if they have Raspberry Wheat. No - but you'd enjoy the Apple ale. Okay. One please. She (Ittik) can't drink a pint. The one I was interested in was called The Arrogant Bastard Ale, I knew I could drink 22 ounces abut wouldn't enjoy the rest of the day, my head hanging out the window leaving my insides down Seward Highway and the side of the truck. 12 ounces will be fine.
I order the Halibut Fish'wich with Fries, Bob decides on Halibut Tacos with Black Bean Chowder and coffee. How did they know I like my fish on the dark side? Ittik was so excited she stuck her foot in the tater sauce. Can't blame that on me - I told her to sip her portion of beer, not guzzle. We'd occasionally turn our heads towards the soccer game - too far in to really care who was winning. $34 and a great tip, excellent service from Rudy who would silently cruise by, attend to our needs and slink away.
Our meals were happily digested, notes left for Rudy and a Catz Wuz Here on my empty plate. Lingering as our mind told our bellies we were indeed stuffed, the Busgirl took away our plates. I watched her read my sticker and told two of the staff to come see it before she cleared the plates in the trash. Mission accomplished.
Beautifully painted bathroom stalls Each one of the two had a different scene. Using this for Potty Tuesday! (Jeff C. - you got me taking photos of potties! lol).
BAM! goes the bathroom door - high heels: click, click, click - verbal distress in the next stall "oh my - oh my - oh my - ahhhhhhhhh!" What the? I go to wash my hands. A dark haired beauty in her father's home country (Germany) soccer team colors of yellow, black and red with face painted to match, comes out blushing, "I almost didn't make it! Happens to me every time I watch a game at a bar. Afraid I'm going to miss something." I laughed. She laughed. I hope her team wins!
Off for the next occurrence of our day. We drive a few side roads through Girdwood, looking at houses. Could have spent the rest of the day wandering the hills. The homes on this side of town (in the valley) are too close together for Bob's liking. We tried to go to the Elementary/Junior High School but the road to the school was fenced off for the summer. WAY TO GO!! I wanted Bob to see it - they have heavy metal Bear Deflectors over the giant trash cans - snow lanes for parents to cautiously drop off their children. Teachers are equipped with Bear Protector Bins (spray - sticks, horns, whistles, telephone) attached near the playground. I had considered becoming a Lunch Lady/Manager here three years ago. Went so far as sending off a resume. I was over qualified. At the time they had 143 student and 11 teachers. Regardless, I'm glad they got back with me. Told me I was worth considering. I fed over 1,000 on a daily basis at EMS - you do the math.
We drove to the Ski Resort. Very pretty red and white hotel with groomed grounds. People walking like they are in Virginia with no bear, moose or elk to consider. One woman was being walked by her dog. That was hilarious. Bet next time she wears sneakers. We could have gone further up the mountain to see the expensive homes that are featured on the TV show Buying Alaska.but we have more to see. Let's roll. Speaking of roll, there's the park Shane and I played for an hour when Michelle needed a cat nap my last visit (in the rearview mirror, you'll see the yellow person walking sign).
BAM! goes the bathroom door - high heels: click, click, click - verbal distress in the next stall "oh my - oh my - oh my - ahhhhhhhhh!" What the? I go to wash my hands. A dark haired beauty in her father's home country (Germany) soccer team colors of yellow, black and red with face painted to match, comes out blushing, "I almost didn't make it! Happens to me every time I watch a game at a bar. Afraid I'm going to miss something." I laughed. She laughed. I hope her team wins!
Off for the next occurrence of our day. We drive a few side roads through Girdwood, looking at houses. Could have spent the rest of the day wandering the hills. The homes on this side of town (in the valley) are too close together for Bob's liking. We tried to go to the Elementary/Junior High School but the road to the school was fenced off for the summer. WAY TO GO!! I wanted Bob to see it - they have heavy metal Bear Deflectors over the giant trash cans - snow lanes for parents to cautiously drop off their children. Teachers are equipped with Bear Protector Bins (spray - sticks, horns, whistles, telephone) attached near the playground. I had considered becoming a Lunch Lady/Manager here three years ago. Went so far as sending off a resume. I was over qualified. At the time they had 143 student and 11 teachers. Regardless, I'm glad they got back with me. Told me I was worth considering. I fed over 1,000 on a daily basis at EMS - you do the math.
We drove to the Ski Resort. Very pretty red and white hotel with groomed grounds. People walking like they are in Virginia with no bear, moose or elk to consider. One woman was being walked by her dog. That was hilarious. Bet next time she wears sneakers. We could have gone further up the mountain to see the expensive homes that are featured on the TV show Buying Alaska.but we have more to see. Let's roll. Speaking of roll, there's the park Shane and I played for an hour when Michelle needed a cat nap my last visit (in the rearview mirror, you'll see the yellow person walking sign).
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Mile 79, is our next destination so we turn left at the sign. Sweeping past groves of snags (snag: In forest ecology, a snag refers to a standing, dead or dying tree, often missing a top or most of the smaller branches), the windows down to feel the rush of the wind, smell the minerals in the air. We turn right to the AWCC entrance instead of turning left which would take us to Portage Glacier.
I've been here before - there have been updates so I am excited to see the changes.
The price remains the same at $12.50 per person. You're given a map of the 200 acres. You can walk the 1.5 mile loop or drive it. We're going to walk it. The day just calls for being as close to these critters as possible. Here's your wild life Bob.
Elk. Reindeer. Funny Feet. This is first stop upon entering. Just pull over and get as close as the fence allows. A group of older guys were getting a kick out of this reindeer. I could see the little boy in them come out when they were daring each other to "touch it man, touch it." Gonna lose your finger man, lose it. The Elk closest to the fence had a harness on. He didn't seem to mind it, though it kind of puts you off the mark seeing it like that. So I took photos of his feet, his butt, his antlers. Then one of his kin.
I stand corrected. This is an Elk, not a Reindeer.
I stand corrected. This is an Elk, not a Reindeer.
After visiting The ELK, we park by the Gift shop, double back to the next stop on the tour. Caribou Bridge and Watch Tower. I think these are regal beings. I see them as lost Royalty, enrobed in animal form. The largest male Homer, I couldn't see, but the next in line (captured here) is Danny Junior. I wonder how he got those scars. No one around at the moment to ask and I don't feel like reading so I just watch him. Bob is reading the information panels (and will read anything that looks like a sentence). I get close to a female. I can smell her musk, her breath. She is breathing deep and roughly - she must have asthma. The babies were born in early June. They just lay there, like human babies.
Santa's reindeer descendants are called Caribou. I think I can tell the difference now.
Now where is Snickers? Snickers the Porcupine lives under the bridge by the Caribou - he must have been out touring, or hiding. He's got a You Tube clip because he thinks he's a puppy.
http://youtu.be/U5I5H7EeC8k
Santa's reindeer descendants are called Caribou. I think I can tell the difference now.
Now where is Snickers? Snickers the Porcupine lives under the bridge by the Caribou - he must have been out touring, or hiding. He's got a You Tube clip because he thinks he's a puppy.
http://youtu.be/U5I5H7EeC8k
Some days you get that one in a million lucky shot. This was mine. I saw the bird from another window and hoped he would fly by the window in front of me. I thought of the young man I met earlier, Andrew.
Adonis, shown below, is a gunshot victim found near a remote village in Alaska. His left wing required full amputation, and he has lived at AWCC since 1995.
He has been moved to a shady barn near the Caribou with a view of the mountains, trees and activity. He was located at the back of the gift shop where dirt clouds were his enemy and Porto-Potties were his companions. I'm grateful he has been moved and treated more humane, not as some thrown away creature. I'm talking to Adonis like an old friend. Do Eagles remember people? We stared at each other or he was looking through me, I was blocking his amazing view of the mountains.
Adonis is still beautiful, still proud.
He has been moved to a shady barn near the Caribou with a view of the mountains, trees and activity. He was located at the back of the gift shop where dirt clouds were his enemy and Porto-Potties were his companions. I'm grateful he has been moved and treated more humane, not as some thrown away creature. I'm talking to Adonis like an old friend. Do Eagles remember people? We stared at each other or he was looking through me, I was blocking his amazing view of the mountains.
Adonis is still beautiful, still proud.
There's a display of deceased Musk Ox skull at the end of the barn in the shade, nowhere near the Musk Ox enclosure - don't want to get them in an uproar seeing a compadre's skull everyday. The other side of the barn from Adonis is where the Caribou sleep. For a barn it smelled of fresh hay and berries.
There are five bears here - 1 Grizzly, 2 Black and 2 Brown. An expanded B.E.A.R. enclosure is being constructed, we walked over dirt humps and equipment or shall we say I tripped uphill on the dirt humps. An open amphitheater is also in the works in the bear area. At this time, there's a non-intrusive bridge you walk over that gets you to eye level with the Black Bears, at a safe distance of course. The habitats are designed as close to the wild as man can provide for the bears with flowing wild grasses, tall birch trees, rock cliffs, running streams and bear dens.
We're walking towards the brown bear enclosure. A family of four, two beautiful daughters under age four, white mom, black dad is walking in front of us. What she was wearing just infuriated me. On the back of her pink hoodie - "Bitch please, I'm from Alaska." While in small print, Alaska Girls Clothing.com
Wear this when you don't have your two young daughters in your presence. What kind of example are you setting? Your significant other was just as bad, yelling at the girls to wait while he catches up. 250 pounds more than he needed to weigh, the park will be closed by the time he catches up. "You heard yo' Daddy, wait a damn minute!" Ahem!! She turned around to see my distaste, looked me up and down as if checking if I had her panties on, then dismissed me with a roll of her eyes. It was all I mutter, all I could do not to throw her into that electric fence in front of the brown bears. We'll let them see the bears ahead of us, this kind of verbal and visual abuse was not on my list of things to achieve today.
The Brown Bears: Siblings Joe Boxer and Patron. Joe Boxer is the one walking towards 'his log cabin' His claws are a force to be reckoned with. They were beautiful. Long and lethal. Joe Boxer's demeanor: don't mess with me. Though his eyes are minute in scale to his body, if he were to make eye contact with you one on one, death would be the only thing on your mind. As much as Bob and I wanted to see a bear in the wild, I'm content with this sighting. Thank you electric fence. Don't know the history of Joe Boxer.
Patron is a log loving water bear. Talking with the passing On-Site Tour Guide, he said Patron gets menopausal if not in the water at least six hours a day. Felled trees are brought to Patron. She has serious chewage issues. From the distance we were from her, you could hear her chomping on her log, submerging it to have it bounce back at her. She enjoyed this folly. What a playful personality. The water she is playing in comes from nearby Turnagain Arm. I love her blonde crown of hair. I could watch her most of the afternoon.
Side note - when I was here three years ago, these bears were playing in the same field on a log (for Patron), their teeth scared me from a distance through my camera's viewfinder. They have doubled in size and Patron has become blonder.
Grizzly Bear: Hugo was found with hundreds of porcupine quills in her paws. She was the first Grizzly accepted here. We did not see Hugo. A new enclosure and viewing area is being constructed giving Hugo more room to explore is my guess. Early Fall is the scheduled opening of this new addition to the AWCC.
Black Bears: Kuma, male, has been here since 2002, a cub weighing three pounds when found alone in a hole in a backyard in Trapper Creek, AK. The homeowner
was putting in a septic system and when the mother bear passed by, the cub fell
in and was unable to climb out. When the cub was discovered, the sow was nowhere
to be found. Kuma obviously loves posing for pictures. He was striking a pose for a group to the far left of me. The lady taking his photo even made that statement. Kuma enjoys his perch on the rocks, allows birds to walk with him through the high grass and if he could, I know he would Vogue on cue.
I was taking photos of the second bear below Kuma, chewing on the knuckle bone of an elephant. I don't know what he/she was chewing on. I have no history of this bear, no one around to ask. It never looked up or released that knuckle. It did however scratch it's backside against the bottom of the tree with enough force to make the branches quiver, never relinquishing the grip.
Curiosity killed the cat, so to be safe I must know - is the fence really electrified? On Site Guy says the closer to closing time, the power goes on or if the crowds start harassing the bears. That was my cue it was safe right about now to stick my camera lens through the grates. A sizeable group of Senior Citizens in front of us taking photos with their tablets, phones, point and shoot cameras. One senior lady in a light blue jogging suit, hair coiffed like she's prom queen, wearing a diamond that outshone the sun was in such a hurry to get a photo of Joe Boxer before he went into his cabin, she tripped on the logs in front of the fence, saved herself from a face plant by catching herself with her hands and her face on the fence. She let out a yowl as if she were being electrocuted. Her companions came running as fast as they safely could. She turned around and said, "Well that was entertaining!" Those of us who saw this couldn't help but smile, giggle or bust out laughing right along with her.
Wear this when you don't have your two young daughters in your presence. What kind of example are you setting? Your significant other was just as bad, yelling at the girls to wait while he catches up. 250 pounds more than he needed to weigh, the park will be closed by the time he catches up. "You heard yo' Daddy, wait a damn minute!" Ahem!! She turned around to see my distaste, looked me up and down as if checking if I had her panties on, then dismissed me with a roll of her eyes. It was all I mutter, all I could do not to throw her into that electric fence in front of the brown bears. We'll let them see the bears ahead of us, this kind of verbal and visual abuse was not on my list of things to achieve today.
The Brown Bears: Siblings Joe Boxer and Patron. Joe Boxer is the one walking towards 'his log cabin' His claws are a force to be reckoned with. They were beautiful. Long and lethal. Joe Boxer's demeanor: don't mess with me. Though his eyes are minute in scale to his body, if he were to make eye contact with you one on one, death would be the only thing on your mind. As much as Bob and I wanted to see a bear in the wild, I'm content with this sighting. Thank you electric fence. Don't know the history of Joe Boxer.
Patron is a log loving water bear. Talking with the passing On-Site Tour Guide, he said Patron gets menopausal if not in the water at least six hours a day. Felled trees are brought to Patron. She has serious chewage issues. From the distance we were from her, you could hear her chomping on her log, submerging it to have it bounce back at her. She enjoyed this folly. What a playful personality. The water she is playing in comes from nearby Turnagain Arm. I love her blonde crown of hair. I could watch her most of the afternoon.
Side note - when I was here three years ago, these bears were playing in the same field on a log (for Patron), their teeth scared me from a distance through my camera's viewfinder. They have doubled in size and Patron has become blonder.
Grizzly Bear: Hugo was found with hundreds of porcupine quills in her paws. She was the first Grizzly accepted here. We did not see Hugo. A new enclosure and viewing area is being constructed giving Hugo more room to explore is my guess. Early Fall is the scheduled opening of this new addition to the AWCC.
Black Bears: Kuma, male, has been here since 2002, a cub weighing three pounds when found alone in a hole in a backyard in Trapper Creek, AK. The homeowner
was putting in a septic system and when the mother bear passed by, the cub fell
in and was unable to climb out. When the cub was discovered, the sow was nowhere
to be found. Kuma obviously loves posing for pictures. He was striking a pose for a group to the far left of me. The lady taking his photo even made that statement. Kuma enjoys his perch on the rocks, allows birds to walk with him through the high grass and if he could, I know he would Vogue on cue.
I was taking photos of the second bear below Kuma, chewing on the knuckle bone of an elephant. I don't know what he/she was chewing on. I have no history of this bear, no one around to ask. It never looked up or released that knuckle. It did however scratch it's backside against the bottom of the tree with enough force to make the branches quiver, never relinquishing the grip.
Curiosity killed the cat, so to be safe I must know - is the fence really electrified? On Site Guy says the closer to closing time, the power goes on or if the crowds start harassing the bears. That was my cue it was safe right about now to stick my camera lens through the grates. A sizeable group of Senior Citizens in front of us taking photos with their tablets, phones, point and shoot cameras. One senior lady in a light blue jogging suit, hair coiffed like she's prom queen, wearing a diamond that outshone the sun was in such a hurry to get a photo of Joe Boxer before he went into his cabin, she tripped on the logs in front of the fence, saved herself from a face plant by catching herself with her hands and her face on the fence. She let out a yowl as if she were being electrocuted. Her companions came running as fast as they safely could. She turned around and said, "Well that was entertaining!" Those of us who saw this couldn't help but smile, giggle or bust out laughing right along with her.
Next Installment - Justin Bieber Bison and the rest of our day cuz We Got The Car!