Madderblue's Kappa no He blog provided a few threads that I can tie into here with the last post of Absolute Write Blog Chain No. 5. I wonder with the weather here, if we don't have a Kappa lurking in Port Valdez somewhere causing trouble. Things have been strange this year. My work spins around the waterfront, our Alaskan part of the Pacific Ocean. Pinpointing and describing my muse is easy, it is what prompts my inspiration. It's the Great Land, Alaska. My writing and profession relate to the water and the waterfront, which provides plenty to talk about on paper. Right now, I can't seem to get past the weather. With all the talk of global warming, we have had heating bills this summer. I'll wager the daily average high temperature has been less than 50°F. Suri, "Trapped in Topical Heat", may want to trade places for a couple of days.
It has been an incredibly wet and cool summer. In the last week, parts of Alaska have received more than 8 inches of rain and Talkeetna received 3.7 inches on Friday alone. The Lowe River threatens our road into Valdez, the Richardson Highway. Tourists and residents alike have been cutoff between Fairbanks and Anchorage. The Alaska Railroad and Parks Highway suffered washouts and bridge damage. Travel between Denali and Anchorage on the railroad is a major tourist activity.
The Anchorage Daily News mentioned two kayaks getting in trouble while paddling the flooded Susitna River. It makes me wonder if Darwin theory may be in play. Paddling is a great activity, but there is no point risking your life or that of your rescuer for a temporary thrill. I always encourage boaters of all types to carry and practice using a throw bag. Throw bags are small nylon stuff sacks filled with up to 200 feet of line. A rescuer holds the free end of the line and tosses the bag at the person in the water. With a little practice, users can put the bag and attached line right on top of someone's head. Our fire department has a swift water rescue team that relies on these bags as a primary means of rescue.
The wet, cool summer delayed our Pink and Coho Salmon runs. Silver (Coho) fishing is just now taking off, which makes it a couple weeks later than last year. Fishermen making the trek to the harbor have been fighting the elements, wind, rain, and fog. Port Valdez is the closest saltwater for most residents of interior Alaska like Delta Junction, North Pole and Fairbanks. A lot of them look like drown rats coming back in to the marina. Combined with high fuels costs, it has been a much slower year for visitors in the harbor.
Our boating season will only last another two weeks, with the start of moose season and school, boating slows down dramatically. I'm looking forward spending some time in a drier clime this fall. September will have some opportunities with a conference on fishing communities in Anchorage and a program evaluation I'm involved with on Alaska Sea Grant in Fairbanks.
Now it's on to Cath at blog.cathsmith.com
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17 Comments:
We had a mild winter to match your cool summer. I live in Canberra - up in the mountains - and it never dropped below -5. So many sunny days we have forgotten what rain looks like. So if you want a bit of our warmth, just send us a few drops of that strange wet stuff. Everyone will be happy.
Four or five summers ago, I visited my sister and her family up in Norman Wells, NWT. We took a boat ride up the Mackenzie River towards Fort Good Hope and the Ramparts. Unfortunately, we had engine problems... Despite it being summer and the river being a major shipping lane, we saw only two vessels in the next 24 hours. But both came to our rescue. :) It's pretty interesting seeing a huge barge with all the shipping containers loosely tied together turning around and trying to stop against the current as they sent a small boat to us with gas. :)
It's a whole other life up there.
Wow, you've almost convinced me to pick up and move to Alaska.
Seriously, it sounds great. I've always wanted to live by the ocean.
The views you get to see must be breath taking! Alaska is on my "list of places to see before I die". The last of the frontier so to speak(at least that is how I picture it in my mind).
My mom always wanted to visit Alaska but never got too. I remember sitting with her and watching the videos on train rides through Alaska and all about Denali National Park.
Thanks for bringing those memories back. It's been eight years since my mom passed away. I'm going to take out those videos after and sit and watch them.
You made me all nostalgic, Alan. A year back, I was working on a Alaska Eyewitness Travel Guide, published by Dorling Kindersley. Sadly, I had to leave the project midway, but by then, I had already been smitten by fascinating Alaska. Your post brought back such fond memories.
The Great White North is on my list of places to visit, and not just to beat the tropical heat. You are lucky to live there.
~ Sury
Very intersting. I have never been to Alaska yet, but I know many who tell me it's beautiful. A nice post to start the new AW chain with.
"It has been an incredibly wet and cool summer. In the last week, parts of Alaska have received more than 8 inches of rain and Talkeetna received 3.7 inches on Friday alone. The Lowe River threatens our road into Valdez, the Richardson Highway."
Just like my country with the exception of the coolness. However, this year, Bangladesh has less rain fall.
My brother loved Alaska when he went there a few years ago. Sounds like I would too (we Brits are pretty hardy in the rain!).
Seems like everywhere that doesn't want water is getting it this year, and those that don't... well, I guess we can't redistribute rainfall just yet.
I lived in Alaska (Fairbanks) for six years as a wee child. I remember it vividly, and it is still, of everywhere I've ever lived, my most favorite place.
I remember blueberry picking in the mountains...moose hunting with my dad and summer's that lasted all day because the sun never went down.
And those salmon tastes so darn good!
Kappa no He,
Moose hunting and berry picking are important activities. I know my kids have grown up enjoying things like this.
What I what to know is how do you deal with a Kappa?
I've always wanted to visit Alaska. My father-in-law was stationed there for a while, though he commuted from Arizona (he's a pilot).
Well supposedly winter here in Australia but I spend my time with 27 degrees at the beach, so that is wonderful.
I've done my share of whitewater rafting, but kayaking in a flood? Doesn't sound too bright. Hoped they learned their lesson - in not too permanent a manner, that is!
Well, I just came back from having my car flooded at the beach on my vacation, so I've been humming 'Rain, rain, go away..." for the past few days. :P But even that wouldn't stop me from visiting the great, beautiful state of Alaska. And it was interesting to see 'Talkeetna' in your post. I had randomly chosen the town as a setting for a possible story that I may still write one day!
A cool summer? I know of no such thing. Yet. But I do know what being near water all the time feels like! I don't really live near it at home (Bahamas), but it's a quick drive there and when all is calm and quiet, it sure calms the spirit. I can't wait to visit Alaska someday although I suspect it will be via cruise!
I think alot of Texans pray for a cool summer. I know I did. It can get up to like 120 degrees sometimes.
Alaska sounds like a cool place. Maybe one day I'll get to go there.
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