my CHAIN DRIVEN ride through life in Alaska

Update

2009-09-04T19:04:00.002-08:00

It's been a very nice summer, weather-wise. One of the best in years. Unfortunately, I haven't been feeling good for awhile. Really started impacting my life.

So I finally went to the doctor. Yep, finally. I was just hoping I would start feeling better but didn't.

I am having surgery on 9/11 and hopefully will be feeling MUCH better after I recover. Thumbs up and pray for the best! I really, really HATE being put under and how it feels waking up. I'm not looking forward to that. I will be out of work for around 4 weeks, which is a bummer because I've been missing a lot of work due to feeling bad so I don't have any leave time left. Leave without pay. But that's just how it goes sometimes.

My son graduated from the Military Youth Academy last week!!! He's enlisted in the Air Force and we are just waiting to find out which job he will get and when he will leave for basic. His top choices are Aerospace maintenance (part of the onboard flight crew), Aerospace propultion (he wants the fighter jets) and even put down security forces (MP?). I was told that if he puts down security forces, he will get security forces because not many recruits want that job. I hope he gets the aerospace jobs.

Here's a picture of him from his Drill and Ceremony competition. He looks pretty tough!

I'm very proud of him!

My Kid is Joining the Air Force

2009-06-23T20:27:00.002-08:00

His lowest score on the ASVAB or whatever was a 75, his highest was a 98. He started out wanting to do special ops - intellegence, spy, behind enemy lines, freaky stuff. But he's now leaning towards something in the mechanical field, which is what he scored 98 in, they were talking to him about working on spy satellites. Keeping with the spy realm.

He's a super smart kid who's finally realizing just how smart he is. He's stepped up his game and has taking all advanced classes in school, which he never wanted to do before because he didn't want to work that hard - yeah, drove me nuts.

Now he's deciding what his future career will be.

Time to cut the apron strings!

I'm going to miss him. :(

New Friend - Michael Fatali

2009-06-03T10:43:00.003-08:00

After hiking around Zion, we visited a gallery and met an awesome photographer, Michael Fatali and his wife.

We got to chatting and invited him and his wife to come up to Alaska and we will take them out to our cabin where he can photograph the northern lights or whatever catches his eye.

None of his photos are enhanced in any way, not with filters or darkroom/lab manipulations. What you see is how it was a the moment. Which means he may have to wait a long time, exposed to the elements, before getting the perfect shot.

Take a moment to check out his work, you won't be diappointed!

http://www.fatali.com/

Flat Tire, Fat Tire and Vacation

2009-05-30T11:27:00.003-08:00

I have been riding to work regularly, it's been nice. The weather has been better this May than it was the entire last summer! I hope it sticks around.

I got a flat tire on my ride to work. It was not the best way to start the day. I ended up totally ruining the tube, because I rode on the flat for a distance. I went to the bike shop to get a new tube and asked the Bike guy to have it installed by the end of the day, because I had to get back to work and didn't have time to do it myself and it takes him a fraction of the time it takes me to change road tires. So I walked back to the shop after work and the tire was still there, flat as a pancake. Bike guy was busy so I ended up doing it myself anyway. It's that crazy time of year for the Bike guy so I can't blame him, I was just hoping...

We recently picked up some sea kayaks!! :) I also finally got a 4 wheeler, now I don't have to be the passenger anymore! But we will continue to be careful not damaging trails.

We went on vacation for the last 2 weeks, a few days in Vegas (smells like sewer and cigerettes - yuck - too loud, hot and crowded), Utah (Zion and Bryce - loved it!) around the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and back to Vegas. We were supposed to go canyoneering in the slots and hike the Narrows but because of unusually rain the risk of flash floods cancelled our plans. That was really disappointing. A few photos from Zion. Loved it! I think I could live in Utah. Drank lots of Fat Tire and the local brews, that was fun to try the different brews.

I Rode

2009-05-06T18:12:00.004-08:00

In the rain today

And it was good!

Lots has been going on. I'm going to try an post more often.

We didn't make it to the cabin over spring break because I couldn't get the time off so we did a couple super quick weekend trips. The final trip the weather was just amazing and the temps were so warm we were peeling off layers of clothing while sitting on the lake ice fishing. It was really nice. The eagles are back for the summer.

The weather here has been spectalular, already warmer this spring that it was the entire last summer. Things are not yet green here, though and with the warmth and sunshine comes dry conditions.

Our neighbor decided to burn his lawn last Friday. Capt'n Balance and I had the day off and I was sitting on the deck soaking up the sun while he was talking to a friend. I pointed out to the guys that it looked like the neighbor's fire was getting too big for him to control. The guys said "naw" and kept on talking. Then I told them the fire crossed the fence and was now in our hayfield. No big deal, said the guys. The neighbor had his hose on it.

The friend left and I told the Capt'n the fire WAS OUT OF CONTROL! FINALLY he took a look and sure enough, he's running for anything he can grab to put it out. Well, there wasn't anything to grab because we have no water over there, we hook up irrigation pipes to a well across the road when we need to water it, which hasn't been for a few years. SOOOO, we towels and buckets. Wet the towels and of course the few gallons of water in the buckets does basically nothing.

The wind picks up and the fire gets BIG and moves FAST. It starts heading towards the log pile, my folks 5th wheel RV and the BARN! My house is attached to the barn. The barn was built in the 40's and has old grain and hay everywhere. Fire gets there and it will be a total loss. We call 911 and keep beating on the flames. My dog follows me as I run back to the neighbor who is standing on his side of the fence still, holding his hose. I rewet my towel and realize my dog is following me. I start running back to the leading edge of the flames and the wind kicks up and blows the fire right at my dog and I. My dog freaks and starts running away, but deeper into the field which is on fire. He is surrounded on 3 sides, I'm running to him and calling him to do a 180 and come back the way he came, then we would be fine but he was stepping on flames and freaked so bad he wouldn't listen to me. I got about 20 feet away and he finally bolted straight ahead through a wall of flames, but past the fire and clear of the fire. He's paws are burned though and he's hurting. He will be OK, we think. We have a vet coming to look at them. We couldn't tell how burned he was until yesterday, burns tend to show the extent of their damage a few days down the road.

So now the dog is out of danger, I'm sucking smoke and feeling heat, my face is a little scortched.

The wind changed again and the fire is now on a rampage towards the barn. Division of Forestry trucks start to arrive but they go down the neighbor's road instead of our driveway and the first truck gets stuck in muck and the other trucks can't get to the fire because of the fence. The fire is MINUTES from torching the RV and the barn! I'm screaming at the forestry guys, telling them where to go. I start running to the road, which is over a half mile away from the fire, my lungs are full of smoke and I'm not in a good place mentally. I start waving my towel and FINALLY guide a truck to my driveway and around the barn to the fire. They go right to the leading edge which is heading towards the barn and start up the pump in the back of their truck. They only have 75 to 150 gallons in these trucks.....soon they are out of water but they have stopped the fire from heading towards the barn and then a real fire truck shows and refills the Forestry trucks. We had about 8 forestry trucks and the fire tanker and they finally put it all out. Then they start their investigation and they talking to us...they think WE started the fire and let it get out of control. I set them straight immediately. Our neighbor felt very bad and apologized. If there had to be a fire, it worked out OK because if it went any other direction it WOULD have burned down 3 homes.

The fire was about 50 ft away from the rv/barn. Too close for comfort. I have to say, when they Foresty guys went down the wrong road, I really thought my home was a loss. The fire was soo big, so close, it was a horrible feeling.

But all's well that ends well. We have rain today and it's making things green up and that burn will grow back greener and healthier than the unburned hay.

These were taken about a half hour after the Forestry guys showed up and took over. I was covered with soot and almost sick from breathing smoke. My throat felt like it was on fire.

Not quite ready to Ride

2009-04-12T13:56:00.003-08:00

Just when I think the weather will cooperate, we get snow. So I haven't gotten to ride to work yet. I haven't gotten my new tires on my commuter bike yet but I would have to ride my winter bike anyway because there is still ice everywhere in the mornings.

My son-on-law is in the Air Force and they are stationed in Mississippi until he finishes up with his schooling, then they will be stationed in HAWAII!!! Needless to say, I'm stoked! I have never been to Hawaii but I plan on going there at least 2x per year after they get settled in about 8 months. WooHoo!

Work bites, that is what has been taking up a lot of my free time. I didn't even get to go to the cabin over spring break because of work. GRRR. The economy is making more people eligible for welfare, employees are quitting, there is a hiring freeze so we are in a really tight spot. The heads are thinking of manditory overtime but I keep telling them it will backfire. No one is accepting the voluntary overtime that is being offered because they are burned out. Forcing people to give up their down time and family time is NOT going to help. Ut will make morale fall even lower and the accuracty rate will continue to decline because it all becames harder when one is tire, unhappy and burned out. Personally, I will not be doing manditory overtime because my family and sanity is more important than this job. They need to do the right thing and open up the positions for hire.

I was going to climb the Butte today but me and the hubby went into Anchorage and scored 2 17ft sea kayaks off Craigslist!!!!!!!! We got a sweet deal!!!!!!

My son and nephew climbed the Butte a couple weeks ago and got some great pictures. It's a small little butte but offers great views!

The Edge of Daylight!

2009-04-08T20:04:00.002-08:00

The sun is coming BACK!!!!! The snow is MELTING!!! It's almost time to RIDE to work!

Still too dark in the mornings but in the next week or 2 it should be good to go!!!

I have people lining up who want me to work on their bikes but I don't want to commit because my spare time is more sparse than it used to be.

Warm weather is on it's way! Lets hope for a warmer summer than last year.

X-treme X-sport

2009-02-28T13:50:00.005-09:00

One of the best brews I have done. First time I have used liquid ale yeast. Just whipped up a quick label.

I'm looking forward to beer o'clock! :)

I Think I Love You....

2009-02-20T10:12:00.006-09:00

I did some long overdue maintenance on my commuter bike.

The tread on the tires aren't rounded anymore, both tires are squared off from use.

I'm inspecting them to see if I can squeeze out any more miles on them when I find an inch long split in the rear tire, running the length of the tire (not across), right in the middle of where the tread would be.

Darn. I suppose I could boot it.

I suppose I should just break down and buy a new tire.

I suppose I should just give in to buying a set of new tires because the front isn't looking that great either.

So I start getting sentimental over my tires. Thinking of all the miles on them, the places they have taken me, the joy, the pain, the freedom.

Turns out that I love my tires.

I don't love them because of the brand - they are rather cheap, workhorse road tires, as much as a 700 x 23 tire can be. I love them because they have been a part of my sacred chain driven journey.

But it's time to let them go. It's bittersweet to say goodbye.

Maybe I can recycle them into something useful.

Beer News: Recently bottled: X-treme X-sport Pale Ale

Bottling this weekend: Atomic Alt with specality grains.

Cabin Time

2009-02-05T16:45:00.003-09:00

We went to the cabin for Superbowl. It was a quick trip but a good one. The days are still short up there but the temps weren't bad, around 5 to 10 below. The snow-laden trees are really beautiful.

One of my very favorite things is when riding my snowmachine in power snow when the sun is shining. The track kicks up this really cool, cosmic, cloud of ice crystals. I become enveloped in a shimmering, sparkling, gossamer cloud. Tiny diamonds sparkling all around me, the coldness of the crystals on my face when they land. It's really spectacular.

We ran into 3 moose on the way out, they looked like they were going to come my way and check me out but they decided not to. That is a good thing. Don't mess with moose.

The days are getting longer down here in south central Alaska, gaining about a half an hour each week. It's nice to have daylight when I get off work.

Next week I will be working in Anchorage...all week long. I think I will stay a night or two with one of the Lost Boys, driving bites big time.

Redoubt

2009-01-30T21:19:00.003-09:00

Is about to blow again.

My dad was there for the 1989 eruption.

So I'm heading out to the cabin for SUPERBOWL! 1st time ever a female has been allowed to go to this overly testrostrone charged trip. I hope I survive...

And I hope I don't come back to an ashy mess.

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

2009-01-23T11:19:00.003-09:00

Ohh, the new year is getting old and I'm already worn out.

The welfare office has been overwhelmed with people applying. Not unemployed, underemployed, but the average working American family, earning the average national wages. Somehow, word has gotten out that Obama has extended the welfare programs which allow the average American family to be eligible. I am here to say that this has not happened. Not to say that it won't, it just hasn't happened yet (and I really don't know that it will).

Welfare and State programs won't pay your $4 per month lifeline phone costs. It won't pay for your 5 cell phones, satellite, cable, internet or netflix bills. There is no nationtal heath coverage. It won't pay for your $3000 month house and car payments. And I believe you when you tell me you got a good deal on the new car with heated seats/DVD's and every new gaget available because the high gas prices and poor economy has cut prices, too good of a deal to pass up. Yes, I understand that your expenses are very real and are overwhelming. By the way, did you know that Anchorage has a pretty decent public transportation system?

All these programs count your gross income. Yes, I understand gross income doesn't reflect your net but if we went by net income, I could gross a million dollors per year, send my money to various accounts/investments and lower my net income to $5 per month. That's why we go by gross.

I know that food and utilities are getting more expensive almost daily. I do know and I understand. I do know that the job situation is scary. I also know that Alaska is not in the same situation as the lower 48....yet.

I know all of this and I feel your pain. But I must say "I'm sorry, but you are not eligible". I must watch the anger and the tears. I know you are hard working people, I can see that. I know a bum on the street can get food stamps but you can't. It's true and we both know it.

I can offer advice but you don't want to hear it: get rid of 4 cell phones with internet access, go down to a smaller cable/satillite/internet packet or eliminate some of it. I you need a new car, look at a gently used car and bypass the extras. Shop at Walmart instead of Nordstrom. Buy $40 Levi's instead of $150 brand whatever jeans - personally I'm not looking at your ass so I don't notice your $150 brand whatever jeans.

More advice you don't want to hear - Take a close look at your spending. I notice the lovely fake fingernails with a perfect french tip manicure as you dab the tears from your eyes. And you have a lovely tan and highlights in your hair, which is a bit out of place in the middle of winter. So what did you spend your household's PFD's and energy bonus on? You used the entire $12000+ and even more for a family trip to Hawaii? Sounds like a great time but now you still have unpaid natural gas bill because Enstar raised their rates 20% this month, which they have been telling consumer's for the last year was going to take place.

And No, I am not the bitch that you are calling me. You are simply not eligible. Yes, you could quit your job, apply for housing assistance, heating assistance, lifeline phone assistance, food stamps, medicaid, daycare assistance (why would you need that if you quit your job?), cash assistance, educational assistance and every other program out there, but you don't. I thank you for not choosing that route.

You know people who are cheating the system, who brag about getting food stamps even though they have mony and possessions they are not telling us about. I tell you that fraud is a very ugly thing and we rely on people informing us when they know about fraudulent situations and would you like to make a fraud allegation - you can be totally annonomous. Your anwer is NO. So you now are activly taking a part in allowing fraud to continue. If you are going to be a part of it, stop bitching about people who are doing it. And if I suspect you are fraudulent, even at this application stage, I will make a fraud referral on you. So keep it honest, no matter how stress and overwhelmed you feel.

Now you have rights. If you disagree with my decision, you can request a Fair Hear and have legal representation. The Hearing Authority will look at the facts and make a ruling. You don't want to do that either? Because you knew coming in that you wouldn't be eligible anyway but you wanted to just try anyway.

Sigh........

Thank you for coming in today and I wish you the best........

And I heard you mutter "fucking bitch" under your breath as you walk out my door....even though you know you weren't eligible to begin with.

It's Been A Cold Ride

2009-01-10T13:00:00.003-09:00

Eagle

So far 2009 is very beautiful but very cold. Temps have been consistantly 25 below zero. I'm stressing a little about what my heating bill will be......

Went for a ride last week. The cold really is spectaculer for it's beauty. The night skies are clear. Stars, planets and the moon are out in all their glory. Alpenglow on the mountains, pink and blue skies against white mountains. Thick frost covering the trees.

It's cold but I love it (when it's supposed to be cold).

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T09:27:00.002-09:00

I'm sitting in my bike shop, drinking a white chocolate mocha, watching CNN, while everyone is still asleep. I just got off the phone with Drunk John, who is living up to his name. He's drunk, alone and will probably be passed out within the next 20 minutes. As drunk as he is at the moment, he was pleasant. I wish I could do something for that guy but he's way beyond my reach at this moment. All I can do is wish him a Merry Christmas and let him know I enjoyed talking with him this morning.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to All! Best wishes for a safe, happy and prosperous New Year! And lets all be good to each other!

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-13T11:04:00.005-09:00

I have to admit, I haven't been getting outside like I usually do. I blame it on my refurbished home. It's so nice and cozy that I just enjoy being at home. Not that I didn't enjoy being at home previously. I will need to get the layers on and just get out.

The shoulder is OK, no surgery!!! Just physical therapy, which I'm having trouble fitting into my schedule. I think I will do the excercises as soon as I post this :)

I have been pursuing the wrist pain. Have gone everywhere from lupus (NOT), to different length ulna and radius bones (NOT), to ganglion cyct (maybe), to tendenitis (this is where I'm personally leaning towards). Anyway, at this moment, the wrists are fine. :)

It's 11 below zero right now and spectacular outside. White world with full moon hanging in a pink sky fading up to light blue, above the mountains. Wind blowing snow off the mountain peaks...I wouldn't want to be up there right now. No wind this low.

It's also vitamin D season. My Dr. suggests 3000 IU's a day. Will do.

Still pedalling to nowhere in the shop. I really like going out to my shop at 5 a.m., the stars are out bright, the moon is full, snow sparkles like diamonds.......I gaze at the sky and soak in the beauty of it all, then I trip the motion sensor lights and am blinded...damn....I feel my way into my shop, turn up the oil heater because I haven't figured out how to set the time so it comes on automatically, struggle into my shoes and pedal.....slowly at first until I'm warmed up a little, then faster and settle into a good pace. I turn on CNN so I have an idea what is happening in the world and go for the next 30 minutes. Now I'm ready to start my day.

Wasilla has been plowing their sidewalks, I have been cruising routes to see if there is a clear path to my work, comtemplating riding, if only a mile or two, to work. I found one that may work. The problem is my bike and storing it at work. It's ok so far in the summers, as long as I wipe it down, to keep it in my office but I think they will frown on the studded tires, unless I carry the bike thought the office building to my office. With all the junk I have to bring to work now...I don't know. I will think about it some more.

Colony Christmas today in Palmer, we will go to the lights parade, drink hot toddy's and watch the fireworks. All bundled up to hand the below 0 temps. It's ALL fun in Alaska!

And in closing, my dog, KC, all dressed up for Christmas. I know it's stupid to derss up dogs but this actually is his punishment for non-stop barking the other day...humiliation...but I think he kind of likes the attention he is drawing.

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone! Drinks are on me!

Black Cat Ale and MRI

2008-11-14T11:34:00.002-09:00

I wimped out of my 1st MRI, turns out I am a bit claustrophobic.

So I went back with some Valium this morning and although I wasn't totally relaxed, I got through it.

MRI's are damn loud. My ears are still ringing even though I had earplugs in.

And they aren't that bad....with drugs anyway.

Now I'm tired and want to just go to bed but I have to pick up my kid from school soon so no sleep.

I opened up a bottle of my Black Cat, not totally carbed but very promising beer!

I also opened up a Sweet Eddy the Second, still pretty green but will be great after it matures.

Nothing great going on with biking, just spinning my wheels in the morning on my trainer in the bike shop. Due to the shoulder, I'm having to prop up the front wheel a bit. Also wrist issues seem to be reoccurring but don't bother me while riding, at this point. Later in the day comes the discomfort.

We got a few inches of snow the other day, I'm glad. I want it to snow a couple of feet. Sure is pretty.

Soon we will start on renovating the bathroom. That shouldn't take too long, nothing major that we know of.

Follow up with the Dr. on Monday. I just can't imagine that I will need surgery, not much pain but lots of crunching and popping - although this could be a sign of a disconnected or stretched tendon, which requires surgery. Will update when I know more.

Hurt shoulder.....redux

2008-10-31T10:21:00.003-08:00

Last week I slipped in the parking lot at work. As I was going down, my left arm caught on a vehicle. My arm stayed up while the rest of me when down. It was about 7:30 a.m and the parking lot had not been sanded yet. Immediate pain in the shoulder. So I pick myself up and go inside, wiping the coffee out of my hair. Within 5 minutes my index finger was numb and I couldn't move my arm very well. Crud.
I talk to my boss who says I have to go to the dr immediately to get it checked out. So I go, the only Dr open and available at that time of the morning is the urgent care walk in clinic. It's a pretty nice clinic and I have been there before but this morning the Dr. is more interested in talking politics. After he finds out where I work, he launches into how we might soon end up a welfare state because those who make more will have it taken away and given to those who make less, Obama sending us down a socialist/marxist path, this fosters social and economic stagnation because who what to work hard to get ahead only to have it taken away and why doens't the MTV generation see this?

I will keep my views on this to myself as I don't want to get into this on my blog, but I WAS NOT into talking politics at this moment. He pulled on my arm, which didn't hurt too much but I kept telling him that the pain in the top part of the shoulder and under the shoulderblade. He pushed on the top of my shoulder, yes, that hurts. Nothing about the rest of the pain. He didn't think anything was torn around the joint. He did an x-ray and thought he saw something at the top of the joint, maybe a bone chip, definitely "calcium". The he lauches back into politices as he gives me anti-inflammitories and pain killers. Then sends me on my way. Ok, a week later and my shoulder really hurts under the shoulderblade. My neck is hurting and stiff because of the way I'm holding my shoulder. After a day of work, I'm not in a happy place when I get home, my shoulder aches and neck is crunched up tight.

I'm getting phone calls from Worker's comp and the complex owner's insurance company...who informed me this may be a vehicle insurance claim...um, no, I tell them, it's absolutely NOT a vehicle insurance claim.

So now I'm going to follow up with the Dr. who did my other shoulder surgery a few years back.
It just bums me out to even think of the smallest possibility of shoulder surger - that whole thing was no fun, but it did lessen the pain in that shoulder significantly so it was worth it.

We are continuing to work on the house, we turned the large hallway which leads into the main living area into a sitting area with a small tv and great for curling up with a book in the evenings and watching the sunset. This has been a wasted space, now useable. The color of the walls is really pretty but doesn't show true in the photo. It's a nice, soft golden yellow called "clarified butter".

The weather has been nippy but ground is nice and frozen so it's perfect for riding with studs. If my shoulder would allow it :(

We went to a Halloween fundraiser last week. I was the greek godess of Hops but non-beer people don't get it so would alternate to greek goddess of Autumn, Wogster was a computer virus, and Capt'n Balance was Capt'n Plunger

I have a wedding to go to tonight and the best man is the trooper in the Sarah Palin Troopergate. Yes, he did really taze a 12 yr old boy but the kid asked him to do it, according to the bride. I'm sure all eyes will be on him to see if he does anything stupid.

Kitchen remodel

2008-10-11T14:01:00.007-08:00

Amost finished with the kitchen/dining/living room! Remember, this was a grain bin which my husband made into his bacholor pad then added onto a bit when we got married but it still really was not much more than the bachelor pad. We had 6 different cabinets, the low roof, a post in the middle of the room holding up the roof.

We ripped out half of the roof, put in a beam to support the ceiling, moved the post, added and moved windows, put in floor beams and more support (posts) on the lower level to support and even out the floor.

Ripped out 2 exterior walls down to the studds, resheeted insided and out and new insulation and vapor barrier.

I can't find the "before" picture, but this gives an idea of how it looked. Imagine a small fridge, low cabinets of all sorts and a u shaped kitchen with bar countertop in the middle

Demolation:

Cabin Pictures, August/September 2008

2008-10-08T14:47:00.005-08:00

The fridge

Newest addition to our Bald Eagle family

Bear protection while out and about
Blueberries
Digging new hole for outhouse, about 2.5 ft down, started digging up bones and jaw in a layer of burned materials. Turned out to be a caribou. How old do you think those bones are, buried under 2.5 feet of dirt and tundra??

Coming in for landing on the lake
So long, Beav
The trail to the cabin

I'm Here, somewhere

2008-09-19T23:27:00.002-08:00

Just thought I'd check in for a minute. Yes, I'm here and alive, barely.

Still working on the house

Still no kitchen

Still no sunshine

but now add snow on the mountain tops and the National Enquirer trying to interview anyone who has ever spoke with the Flavors of the month. Crazy.

I hope to get some photos posted tomorrow but no promises. Not enough hours in my day. I just haven't had time.

I'm leaving

2008-08-30T16:06:00.005-08:00

But I will be back in a week!
Heading out into the wild, to no electricity, people, running water. To a land of outhouses, bald eagles, grayling, bears, blueberries, caribou, freshest air ever and no light pollution, lynx, salmon, grayjays, lake trout, wind, water and big open skies. Where everything is harder but more peacful.
I will be bringing some of my homebrew beers and a few from D Rock (sent them up from Colorado) to enjoy as well as a few of the last Sweet Eddies, blueberry bock, Jamaica Mon and German Hef. I will drink one while fishing for beautifully colored graylings, while floating around on the lake hoping to catch a lake trout as big as my arm, while picking blueberries, after hiking though tundra following caribou and while relaxing in the evening watching the sunset and feeling the cool biting autumn air and a final beer while waiting on the beach for the bush float plane to pick us up and carry us back to civilization. I won't return to the cabin again until the middle of winter when the world is white and temps get down to forty below zero.

Here the label I made for my Blueberry Bock

And the finished product! Pretty good, very mild blueberry flavor in there somewhere

Life is good at the cabin.

Riding to work is soon going to be finished. It's getting dark in the mornings, not to mention cold...oh yeah, it's been cold every morning every day this summer.

Still working on home repairs, no kitchen yet but sheetrock is going back up!!!

I will post pictures when I get back.

My new Flower Baskets

2008-08-16T15:31:00.003-08:00

Hanging on my bike shop

Beer Heaven! Christmas came early! Contents of the care package sent by brewing buddy D Rock from Colorado. None of these beers are available in Alaska, so this is very special. He even included 2 of his own brews, Granny Gear Pale Ale and Agave Whisperer Wit. I have these hidden away in my bike shop fridge. The Lost Boys had better STAY AWAY FROM MY BEER! I think I will lock the shop up.

I will be rationing these, one beer at at time. Where do I start first???? I am intreged by the Agave Whisperer Wit. Maybe that will be the starting point.

We have ripped out our kitchen, dining and living room. We live in a barn, these area's were the grain bins once upon a time. None of our floors are level, they sloped down so the grain would go down the 4 shutes. We finished building and sold the Big Lake house and I *finally* get to have some remodeling and refurbishing done. I ordered cabinets the other day. I'm so stoked, barns have no closets so we have been very creative over the years when it comes to storage. When this is finished up, I will have a pantry and plenty of cabinet space for all my junk. It will really be nice to have a place to put everything. I had NO IDEA how expensive cabinets were. Mindblowing. But I found some that I like which won't break the bank.

In the meantime, I have no kitchen,stove, oven, sink, dining table, etc. We have a temp living room in the hallway. We moved the fridge and microwave downstairs. Using paper plates and not cooking anything except on the grill, microwave and crock pot. So far so good, but I miss a sink with running water.

Riding is finished, except commuting to work, until this is finished up. All spare time is being put into this place. The weather continues to be very hit or miss, mostly miss. This summer is a loss.

We are heading out to our cabin the 1st week of Sept. Still issues with flying out game on the bush plane. Still the stupid law that won't allow game to be brought out on anything which weighs over 1500 lbs. This allows only 4-wheeler to get the game out. Which is a HUGE undertaking in Alaska's backcountry - boggy ground, streams, wilderness. The area our cabin is in doesn't have "riding trails". It's wilderness. The idea is that if you can afford to use anything over 1500 to transport your game, then you have enough money and don't need to hunt. Still stupid thinking. We hire a bush plane to fly us in and out of our cabin for $400 and usually have a friend along who shares the cost. So it costs us $about $350 with the tip for the pilot. 4-wheelers cost $5000 easy. I can't afford to buy two 4-wheelers but I can afford to hire a plane once a year. This situation really bothers me. I have been living off of moose and caribou my entire life and Fish and Game rules won't let me fly my game out. When we had to start buying commercial beef, I got nauseated everytime I smelled or ate it. Ground beef especially has a bad smell to it, like a barnyard. Yuck.

Enough of that. I am looking forward to the cabin! I can't wait to get there!

Active Wildlife

2008-08-04T11:47:00.005-08:00

Not much weekend riding, we are ripping out our kitchen and living room to remodel so all free time is going towards this project. I haven't yet figured out how to survive without a kitchen. I guess I will be washing dishes in the bathroom sink and cooking on the BBQ grill and microwave. Anticipating living this way for 2 fun filled months. oh yeah...

I continue to ride to work, it's really nice to have a smooth, clean path to ride on. And it continues to be cold and rainy. I'm wet just as often as dry and still continue to wear my helmet liner and wool jersey, full leggings, jacket and gloves.

My daugher and her husband went fishing down towards Kenai and were joined by this little grizzly bear. It is pretty small, makes me wonder if it is big enough to survive the winter on it's own.

Also, this is a great video of baby twin moose playing in a sprinkler

Weekend in Hope and Whittier

2008-07-21T18:45:00.006-08:00

We spent the weekend in Hope and then Whittier. Nice weather in Hope, major rain in Whittier.

Hiked up a mountain at Hope, so not much riding as our legs were pretty pooped. In this picture, we are in a very vertical spot. I found a little ledge to sit on but was still hanging on to the tree a little so I didn't slide down the mountain. I wasn't able to get a photo due to vertigo-inducing heights. I don't really like heights.

Lots of glaciers at Whittier.

Last photo is McHugh Creek - this is where I had my 16th birthday party! I always was an outdoors girl. This is one of my all-time favorite places. I am sad to see how it has been "civilized".

The Path is CLEAN!

2008-07-13T17:36:00.004-08:00

I sent an email to the State maintenance guys telling them that I was going to give public testimony at the Governor's Council on Disabilities (held at my office last week). I was going to report how the lack of maintenance of the bike paths presents a barrier to people with disabilities from using the paths.

I actually got an email back from 2 of them! Never have I had a response in 4 years I have been dealing with this issue. NEVER! Needless to say, I was quite surprised to get 2 responses.

The first email was from the Superintendent here in Palmer, who said the path would be cleaned off by "this afternoon" (Monday).

And it was.

2 sad parts to this story: 1) summer is half over,
2) I'm working in Anchorage still so I haven't been able to ride to work.

I was thinking how great it will be to ride on the path, without feeling like I'm going to crash as my tires slip around in deep sand, or how I won't have to ride on the edge of the highway, both with and against traffic, and how riding mile after mile of bone rattling gravel won't be missed. I then realized I haven't really enjoyed riding to work this year. When I think of it, it's got a negative feel to it. I don't like that negativity so I'm looking forward to getting in some ride time where I'm not fighting just to stay upright.

BTW, Anchorage is really getting into the bike scene! Cyclist are everywhere! When is the Valley going to wake up???

Here is the latest label for my beer, a blueberry bock. Should be ready to drink in about 2 or so weeks.