I'm sad.
More of Hope to see.
She still beckons.
Returning as soon as I can old friend, as soon as I can.
More of Hope to see.
She still beckons.
Returning as soon as I can old friend, as soon as I can.
"STAAAAAWP!" Ittik hollers! Oh. She's reading the sign. Thought she had my back to linger a while longer in Hope.
We're looking for a spot to have our picnic. Needs to be near water, with a mountain view, close to the main road but far enough from wildlife who crave potato chips and pepperoni. We drive for a while. Stop. Nope, not the place. Drive, stop, nope. We do that a few times. Bill has a light bulb going off over his head. He's taking us to the perfect spot.
Everyone is out of the truck as Michelle and Bill get the picnic items together. While they were doing that I slyly put my Catz Wuz Here Sticker on a nearby rock KNOWING one of the boys would spot it before we left.
BYOS - Build Your Own Sandwich - Pepperoni - Ham - Turkey - Havarti Cheeses (Jalapeno or Chipotle), Ruffles, Grapes, Apples, condiments, we're a may kinda people and H2O. I got tickled with Bill - he puts his chips in his sandwich. This must be an ingrained male thing to do as our son Aelias still does this. Ittik and I chose pepperoni, jalapeno cheese, grapes and chips. Snowshoe Sam had two grapes and a promptly fell asleep with a mouthful of cheese. Poor thing was tired.
We're looking for a spot to have our picnic. Needs to be near water, with a mountain view, close to the main road but far enough from wildlife who crave potato chips and pepperoni. We drive for a while. Stop. Nope, not the place. Drive, stop, nope. We do that a few times. Bill has a light bulb going off over his head. He's taking us to the perfect spot.
Everyone is out of the truck as Michelle and Bill get the picnic items together. While they were doing that I slyly put my Catz Wuz Here Sticker on a nearby rock KNOWING one of the boys would spot it before we left.
BYOS - Build Your Own Sandwich - Pepperoni - Ham - Turkey - Havarti Cheeses (Jalapeno or Chipotle), Ruffles, Grapes, Apples, condiments, we're a may kinda people and H2O. I got tickled with Bill - he puts his chips in his sandwich. This must be an ingrained male thing to do as our son Aelias still does this. Ittik and I chose pepperoni, jalapeno cheese, grapes and chips. Snowshoe Sam had two grapes and a promptly fell asleep with a mouthful of cheese. Poor thing was tired.
What is it with boys, rocks and water? Travis, Danny and Joseph had eaten their fill and are now at the swift moving river below tossing in rocks that have taken years, possibly centuries to make it to shore back into the water. Shane was having some bonding time with Bob. Bill told me this is where his family come to rest after a day of adventures. He'd one time had the boys looking at a dot on the mountain before us, claiming it could be a bear. So the two of us started doing it. Bob really thought he saw something moving up in the hills. Funny. Michelle told me later that she watched me during this picnic. I eat slow, talk joyfully and enjoy my surroundings, never in a hurry. It's my natural state of being. This is how she wants to be. Michelle, thank you for the compliment. Come be my twin.
SO these boys are concentrating on rocks and water. No interest or no idea probably that there's a sticker and $5 waiting. So I gather Joseph, Danny and Shane (Travis is still playing in the water) and tell them we are on the hunt for anything yellow. When you spot something yellow, call it out and I'll photograph it. First item was Lichen on a rock by Joseph. Danny hollers "TOMATO!" Shane, "Dude, that's red!" Leaves, mushrooms, daisy centers. They are catching on. "Is there a Catz Wuz Here around here? asks Danny. "Oh I'll never tell. Let's keep looking," is what I reply. A few yellow items later the mountains beyond heard "FOUND IT!! "That's Danny. When money is involved that kid has a nose for greenbacks. Five bucks and a photo later we continue for a few more minutes before Bill herds us to the truck. Still an hour plus for the journey home.
SO these boys are concentrating on rocks and water. No interest or no idea probably that there's a sticker and $5 waiting. So I gather Joseph, Danny and Shane (Travis is still playing in the water) and tell them we are on the hunt for anything yellow. When you spot something yellow, call it out and I'll photograph it. First item was Lichen on a rock by Joseph. Danny hollers "TOMATO!" Shane, "Dude, that's red!" Leaves, mushrooms, daisy centers. They are catching on. "Is there a Catz Wuz Here around here? asks Danny. "Oh I'll never tell. Let's keep looking," is what I reply. A few yellow items later the mountains beyond heard "FOUND IT!! "That's Danny. When money is involved that kid has a nose for greenbacks. Five bucks and a photo later we continue for a few more minutes before Bill herds us to the truck. Still an hour plus for the journey home.
Before we go, I snap a few more photos of the surroundings and some interesting and valuable moose notes:
If you see a moose looking like it's got a bad buzz cut - run like the wind, climb the tallest tree, head dive through your car window. Play dead, let your back pack or loved one cover your back. FYI- they have a tendency to stomp!
If they have their ears forward, they are just as curious as you but still, I'd keep my distance. These creatures, jump, grunt, look constipated the majority of the time.
Did you know Moose cannot sweat? I'd be grumpy at that as well. It is said Moose outnumber Bear three to one in Alaska. Bull antlers can grow to 7.5 feet across (I can testify to that one), can run 35MPH, weigh up to and beyond 1,500 pounds and grow twelve feet tall, females are aggressive in Spring and Early Summer protecting their calves and males are aggressive because they have balls. hahaha Don't mess with them in mating season that is.
If you see a moose looking like it's got a bad buzz cut - run like the wind, climb the tallest tree, head dive through your car window. Play dead, let your back pack or loved one cover your back. FYI- they have a tendency to stomp!
If they have their ears forward, they are just as curious as you but still, I'd keep my distance. These creatures, jump, grunt, look constipated the majority of the time.
Did you know Moose cannot sweat? I'd be grumpy at that as well. It is said Moose outnumber Bear three to one in Alaska. Bull antlers can grow to 7.5 feet across (I can testify to that one), can run 35MPH, weigh up to and beyond 1,500 pounds and grow twelve feet tall, females are aggressive in Spring and Early Summer protecting their calves and males are aggressive because they have balls. hahaha Don't mess with them in mating season that is.
It was a quiet ride home. I was wired so I took photos through the window, Bob gazed and I could read his mind...more, more more.
Bill drove, the boys and Michelle were taking a snooze. I couldn't attempt to sleep through this scenery. I'm hoping they are not jaded by the view just tired from the long day. I'll be looking at photos when we get back on the back porch...with a strong cocktail and a big stick if a Moose happens to want a whiff on my beverage.
Hey Alaska, bring on more adventures like this...I double dog dare ya!
Bill drove, the boys and Michelle were taking a snooze. I couldn't attempt to sleep through this scenery. I'm hoping they are not jaded by the view just tired from the long day. I'll be looking at photos when we get back on the back porch...with a strong cocktail and a big stick if a Moose happens to want a whiff on my beverage.
Hey Alaska, bring on more adventures like this...I double dog dare ya!