Well We Survived the winter

  Well we made it today the temp got to 33 degrees above zero and the rest of the week looks the same no below zero temps. I can't say that it was a bad winter because I haven't been here long enough. They tell me it has been a cold one this year from the locals. The temps haven't been above 32 sense the middle of Oct. and haven't been above zero sense mid Nov. the coldest day was -52 with wind chill -75 needless to say I didn't  go out and walk around just to the wood pile and back. We had about 3 weeks of -40's in Jan. highs were mid -20's. But the snow was just amazing I mean amazing they said we had 110 inches of snow. It compacts every time it snows so it is about 60 compacted. The weatherman is just like Louisiana they would call  for 1 to 3 inches we would get 12. Most of the time it dumped 12 to 18 inches in 2 days. We still have a few more weeks of snow coming so let it snow. We had the Iditarod Race this week IT WAS GREAT I had know idea what to look for. We are a check point for the race every dog team goes through McGrath. I volunteered for the race it was alot of hard work and alot of hours of missing sleep. I got 2 hours the first 36 hours. The teams started to come through about 8 PM Tuesday and came through all night and the rest of the week until Friday morning. When they came in they would declare to go through or stay short term or 24 hour stop. We had to park the ones that that stayed staged them so that they could leave the way they came in. The race committee sent us food for the mushers and the vets and judges timers. We cooked for them and the locals brought food for them. Me and Carol cooked breakfast for them every morning pancakes and biscuits sausage and bacon.We did have the time of our lives that's what we came for adventure. I had this one wrote back in March and never posted it I had a few events that put me way behind.

   We bought a house we decided that we are going to be here for awhile why rent. It is a fixer upper and I mean fixer. It was started on the inside and just left it. We are working on it but I wasn't planning on doing this I had told a few people I would help them. I am now working on theirs and mine so I haven't had a chance to write anything. We have almost 24 hr of daylight so you have alot of time during the day. I haven't had a problem with it but she is having a time with the sun. You think it is 5 o'clock outside and it is 11 o'clock at night. I like it better than the winter it don't get daylight until 10 o'clock in the morning and dark at 3.

  One more thing happen is that I put in for a Kodiak Bear hunt and I won a tag. In my spare time I have been calling to get it setup. Just like I said before you just don't move or explore Alaska with out planning. I need gear, schedule a float plane to drop me of at my hunting area ,a hotel on Kodiak, a plane to get to Anchorage then another one from Anchorage to Kodiak. The timing is the trouble making sure you are there at the right time and day. If miss it then it cuts at least 1 day maybe 2 off your trip. I don't want that to happen. This is a once in a lifetime hunt I found out some have never been drawed for this hunt some said they waited 10 years to get drawed. I don't go until next May but I have a lot of things to get ready 1 a new rifle. If I shoot 1 with mine it just going to pi$$ them off. She didn't like to hear that but after she found out what a trip this is and that I could be eaten by the mad bear she is soften up a bit I am looking for a Bigger gun. I might not bring anything home but just to say I went Kodiak Bear hunting on Kodiak Island is amazing to me. You just google Kodiak bear and you will see the size of these bears. Just to see one I think will make the trip worth it. I will try to get videos and pictures on the trip to post. It's a long way off but I will try to get enough batteries to last the trip. Just one more thing on the list to go. 

  I will try to post a few pic of the house and write about the progress when I can. I think it's going to be a adventure in it self. 

starting the first winter in true Alaska

Well it has started the snow has fell and to my amazement it is still here. See I am not use to that even on the Island it would snow 2 days later it was gone similar to Louisiana. But here school don't close and the 4 wheelers are not cutting donuts in the parking lots or fields. Back home it shut down everything I mean all of it most of the business would even close. The main thing it to go and play. It has been under 30 for about 3 weeks but it doesn't fell like it I got out and did everything I wanted I cut wood stacked it and actually sweated doing that. Then came the 3 days of 40 degree weather. It was just plain hot I cut wood for a hour and thought nope I will wait  until starts freezing again. It did winter came back  with a vengeance. It had 3 days of single digits then dumped 8 inches of snow. Everybody here was telling me it was a warning on the 40 degree days. To get your stuff up and put up because you will not find it until the spring. Then it will be water logged and most on it ruined. They were right I left my axe and mall out and had to dig for it. I put a video out on my YouTube channel Louisiana in Alaska. If you miss somethings it will be there. Like I said I ain't a very smart man but I can fake it until somebody tells  the right way to do it. Today we are under winter storm watch today so I will see what that brings. I think this is going to be a blast this winter it's the first true Alaska winter we have had sence the move but everybody tells me you will hate it after a few years. I don't know if that will be true but we will see. I haven't drove a snow machine yet I think that is going to be a experience. but I am always ready to do something new. I will try to have a video out on the channel for the first ride that might be interesting. 

lesson learned

 I have learned my first lesson it's not to leave the mop in he bucket full of water outside. You end up with a mopcicle like mine. I will have to buy another one or wait to the spring thaw. I probably buy she ain't going to let me wait that long to mop the house

mopcicle

I will try to add them to the youtube channel I didn't know how to do that when this happen

Moose hunt

 Like I said that I didn't know how to hunt moose I just was going on what I was told and the internet and that didn't help much. You just have to go and do it make your mistakes and live with the choise you make. I will get to that last statement a little down the road. Now being from Louisiana I deer hunted I get up 30 min I was up in my tree stand. just wait and watching for the bucks to come out. Here where I was hunting the trees are not big enough. I did do a little buck grunts for the deer but here they moose call and I am still not comfortable about that I watch a lot of videos on calling moose and I would practice in the living room the girls looked at me like I had lost my mind. Dixie would just turn her head and the ears would be back like come on you yell at me for barking and you are making this stupid sound don't even yell at me again. I hunted for about 10 or 15 days and I did see a bull but it was what they call a spike it had no palms so I passed on it. If I had taken it  season over. I wanted a bull with palms for my first moose. They travel up and down the river looking for the moose when they see where a moose has gone up the bank they stop and call to see if he will come out. They pitch tents and stay on the river for days. I was thinking I don't know if I am willing to do that. I thought I couldn't until the day after the season closed. When you see the video you will know why I changed my mind. I am already looking for 2 man tents and sleeping bag now I ain't going to rough it I am too damn old to sleep under the stars. When I was younger I would do it but not now. The day after the season closed I went grouse hunting. Me and my wife were talking the night before about that I was going to see a bull moose on the road. I said that would be just my luck see a 60 incher on the road. I went and I saw 3 birds on the road I stopped my bike I didn't even kill it. I got off and out of the woods a bull dang near ran over me and the bike he turned and went back in the woods. I thought that I can't shoot you but I can take a picture of you with my phone. I am telling you now I am not the best camera man and the phone didn't like the sun but it a must see. I don't like the way I had to do this but just click on the link below and you can see what I did.


                                                       Moose fight

I did get a limit of grouse

catch up

I will try to catch up for the last 3 months. On July 26 I became a official Alaska resident I was like the old comercial with the people at the store looking in and saying open open to the wilflife office to get my hunting license. I finally can hunt Alaska without paying a arm and a leg. I got moose caribou and bear tags. I was thinking that even if I don't get one this year they are going on the wall on a plaque. During Christmas I brought my rifle up from Louisiana that was the one I brought across the border. I ask as many questions about moose as I could without making people mad. I started looking around and checking the woods.
 I will get back to the hunting in a little bit. We made it to the house and it is a nice place. It was probably one  of the newest houses in McGrath. It is well insulated and should be warm for the winter. I had bought a 4 wheeler here so now we have his and hers. I knew that was the only way we could survive here. I could just here you don't need to go fishing or hunting I need it to go to school.  It's the first time she has drove one and that was a experience. It was better than teaching her to drive a standard transmission truck. That might be why I don't have alot of hair left. That's another story for another day. I can't make her to mad when she  reads this. But we had a good time riding around going up to the lakes and fishing. It is about a 25 mile ride to the lake so she got use to it pretty quick. The fishing here is fresh water so it's pike (I call them jackfish) that's what we called them back home and would never even think about keeping them to eat. But ours were small 18 inches was a big one there. Here they get up to 40 I havn't seen one but I did catch a 20. I fried it up and it was pretty good.
  The principle called and asked if I wanted to go with him to work his dog. I went and it brought back so many memories of bird hunting with my Dad. We always had bird dogs and hunted quail back home so it was a treat. He was training his dog for trials in Anchorage. Fritz did pretty good in the trials he did win a couple of ribbons. I like the the way Matt trained him and used a gopro to check how he did in the training and he could fix he mistakes. That is when I got the idea that would be neet for this blog. Now I am going to warn you before I start posting them you will hear me talk. SOO no judgments.
  We have met alot of great people here they brought us veggys out of their gardens. Man that was good stuff I love fresh veggys. I eat all of them except the collar greens she loves them so I cook them for her. A lady brought us some rubarb  I never had that looked like red celery. She told me it makes a great pie. I didn't make a pie but I did make a crisp and that baby was good. I will try to make a garden next year. There was a couple that was moving to Washington state to take care of her parents they sold us furniture and all kinds of stuff to help us out. That is one thing about the small villages they know when people move in and try to help get them settled in.
   Now this isn't in the order that it happen I can't remember that way I barely can remember what I ate for breakfast. I will try to get better when I catch up on the time. The only way to get here is by plane I didn't remember if I told you that see what I am talking about. We went to Anchorage for another test I went around and got what we needed this time the last time I just thought I knew. I didn't have a clue. But we flew out on the big plane now I said big it has 2 props on each side and holds about 20 or 25 people. The other airline has 1 prop in front and maybe 10 people we flew back in. It just how much cargo they have to deliver they are the UPS of  McGrath and the other villages around. The flight out was fine but the flight back it couldn't get high enough to get over the mountain range so we flew through the valleys and over the smaller peaks. flight out 1 hour 5 min flight in 2 and a half hours. Now on the way back you stop at the villages along the way. But this one was a little concerning we stopped at the first village it had a gravel road for a runway after 1 and half flight I wasn't impressed with the road. It was funny that when we landed all of the people in the village met the plane 6 were getting off and they had a lot of stuff they had coming in. We unloaded and the pilot ask if it would be ok that we would mind if we make another stop before McGrath. It was just me and her so we said sure no problem. We took off and went to a weather station they had 2 guys that were ready to go home they had been there sense April and now it's October. We were fling along to there and the pilot pointed and said look at the snow geese now that was not what I wanted to see. I remember the movie where the jet went down in the Hudson river because of them. We flew around this mountain and I looked out the window and saw the runway above us on the mountain I thought we are little low to make that. We made a circle and climb up and started to land. It was about 4 inches of snow on a dirt road and landed needles to say I was puckerd up for the landing. When we landed we were on top and you could look around all down. So now I guess we are official bush people. We finally made it back I didn't want to kiss the ground but I did need to find a bathroom real quick. There was a couple we met here the principle mom and dad picked us up and brought us back to the house they are some good people. They were concerned about the test she took. She is having trouble with it she knows the material but that clock that is timing her she just freaks out about it and rushes through. She will get it I know she will.
  They have a cabin up on the other river and they took me up she couldn't go had to go teach. It was beautiful up there. Dave told me that there was a few cabins for sell up the river. I don't know about that I could get into a lot of trouble with something like that. Me and the girls would probably stay in trouble I could see us staying there for a few weeks and that wouldn't be good she wouldn't have supper on the table and clothes washed. It just makes me shutter to think of all the huffs that I would get.
  I had to cut fire wood for the first time in 30 years it was something I was not looking far. But I had a guy here brought me out and showed me where to go and cut. He even helped me cut a couple of loads. So the next week I started to cut and haul it gets down to -40 here so I figured I needed to get started. It wasn't as bad as I thought after I got started it was pretty good. I hauled 3 little trailer loads a day for 5 days and it piled up pretty quick I had cut 5 foot long and hauled it back then I cut it up in the length I needed. I don't know what it was I never like cutting fire wood back home but I really enjoyed it here I guess when you get older things slow down I cut a little drank coffee and cut a little more. When I was younger I had other things that I wanted to do instead of cutting wood. I remember cutting wood in a ice storm because I ran out because I had other things to do.
  I have more things to do here than the Island well one I can hunt now I couldn't there I wasn't a resident then. I seem to find more things to do I am helping the principle wrap his house with typar to protect it so he can put siding on it this summer. It is a lot colder here it has already got down to 8 degrees here it only got down to 11 on the Island for 2 days in January. It hasn't got above freezing in 2 weeks here in  mid October. I will see how I can handle the cold it will be a test for me but so far it has been a nice.
  I will get back to the hunting on the next post for you hunters I have a video that is a must see. I will let you know I am not a good camera man but the phone didn't like the sun but it is a good watch.
 

The Journey

Saturday
 It's 5 oclock in the morning and I got to get to the boat. First still packing the clothes she wash last night and towels bed spread sheets on and on. I open the back door of the car it sprang out like a jack in the box. I just pushed it in and slamed the door. I got on the road 2 miles out of town tire low light came on. I just though come on give me a break. We went another 10 miles and the truck started spurtering again I though this is just how I left off. She starting to get nervous I can tell. But this time 800 miles only not 3700. I check the tire at the ferry not that bad it will make it and remembered that I needed preium gas that did the trick last time we shall see. We made to the boat I got air and gas seem to do the trick. We are just going to sleep today and tonight and hope we don't over sleep in the morning. That would Suck.

Sunday
got up in plenty time to catch the ferry I know she will need breakfast so she went to get them to go. I was a great breakfast. We laid around and relaxed until it was time. I went in and got the boarding pass no problems. I walked the dogs let them get all of the business done, Waiting for them to let us board. The guy came up to me and said I had to take the car of the trailer. Now the truck and car have been in the lane sence yesterday at 12 noon. They are telling me now after about 6 cars have loaded. This trip has already started. I finally got the car off and told her she had to drive on the ferry. I could see it in her face ME DRIVE ON THE FERRY . Yes MISS DAISY you have to.The 2 guys ask me she seem nervous about that. They don't even have a clue if this turns out to be a disaster I know who is on the recieving end of it. Well it did go well they help her back it in and she was ok. We got up stairs got or room and it was a great ferry ride. I was able to get out and walked the dogs let them stretch their leg and do business everytime we stopped at a docking town.  We had a good time the food on the boat was great and good prices. It was a great day.

Monday

Ok now the other shoe has dropped I set the clock for 4 am I had to be up to walk the dogs in Juneau docking. I got up and looked outside the boat had already docked. It was suppose to dock at 4 30. I started grabbing clothes on ran down to get the dogs out I had one sock on and forgot to zip my pants thinking it was going be  like the last 2 stops only 45 min long. I walk the girls and noticed that after 30 min they were in no hurry. I walked them another 20 and put them back in the truck. They didn't leave until 7 30 so I could have gotten up at 6 took my time and at least zip my pants. We we docked in Haines it looked like a 100 car pile up. They had cars campers and big boats parked all kinds of ways. It took 45 min for us to get off the boat. We finially got off she did good driving off. I hook the car back on the trailer and off we go. There is a sign 45 miles to boarder crossing. We get about 10 down the road and I told her you need to get the passports out the dog papers where we will be ready. She said I don't have the box I said just look behind the seat I packed it where you could get to them easy. She got it out and stared looking. NOW this is not my department, I am not organized I have 4 projects going on at the same time and going one to another just to keep from getting board or working on one and thinking about another one how to fix the mistake I had on one.10 more miles down the road she  just kept digging I tring to keep it together. We got 20 miles left and I think she going to miss her test. We are going to have to turn around and I am going to put her on a plane fly to Juneau catch a plane to anchorage and a taxi to the test. Meanwhile I am going to twidle my thumbs with the girls wait 2 days catch the ferry back to Juneau wait another day to catch a ferry to Whitter and drive in to Anchorage while we will miss the flight to McGrath and wait another 2 days. This costing us a young fortune. Just because no passports that is in her department. She huffs and said that they are not in here. I pulled over and said the last time we used them was to get the car and trucked registered. She looked in my truck and there they were in the car. Miss organization forgot to put them back in the document box. I saw what she was pulling out some of that I would have burned but not her we might need them. My stress level went from red to yellow. We still had to pass through I had a rifle and pistol ammo. We pulled up the officer ask where we were going and coming from any guns. I told him I had one and he said we will look at it. Do you have  marijuana she said I have some CDB oil hand cream. He said that is not legal in Canada we are going to have to take that but first lets work on the gun. I got out showed him where it was and I took it out of the case where he could see it. He told me lets go in and do some paper work on it. He also told me to tell my wife to stay in the truck. Now I thought that was odd but their rules I just passing through. I filled the paper work out he said ok you can go but tell your wife to come in and talk to me about the cream. I thinking ok it's not going to be me going to Canada jail I going to bail her out. They confiscated it and let her go whoo I just see that going side ways. Okay on the road again I want to make it to Tok that is half way and I can rest. The drive was pretty I had a different image of the Yukon. It wasn't real high mountains and it was mostly flat thank goodness for that i was worried about my truck. When we almost got to the US border we had to wait about 20 min. for a escort thru the fire. That was a little unnerving you see the forest fire along the road and up in the mountains that was a fire. We got to the US border and that was a breeze showed him the paper for the gun she had everything taken away from her so we sailed right thru. On to the little town of Tok we got there and no rooms all full. We decided well I did to travel on it was only 8 pm it still daylight on to better things. WRONG we didn't find a place the stay until 3 am. We had no phone signal when we did it was 3 in the morning. The roads were horrible dirt road for 15 miles black top for 30 then back to dirt road. We made it to Glennallen  we got a signal and found a hotel. By this point I didn't care what it looked like as long it had a bed. We got there and was a great surprise nice hotel great people told us that sense we checked in so late we could stay another night. Now we had been up sense 4 am well I had drove for ever on bad roads I didn't have to get rocked to sleep I don't even remember laying down.

Tuesday
I got up at 9 there was a Mexican place that sold breakfast so we got some to go. Now I was ready to get on the road I guess that driving all night and day I lost track of time. She wanted to stay and look a round. I said I am on a schedule and we got to go. Hour latter we are on the road and this was a beautiful drive the roads about 20 miles out of town were great and  the scenery was great. We got into Anchorage and went to the place we were going to store the truck and car. She stayed in the truck while I went inside to do the paperwork for the vehicles. He had everything right except for the date I told him it was the 9th he said no it's the 8th. I looked at the phone and yep the 8th O crap I was 1 day ahead I made it 1 day early. I told him I am in trouble I didn't have a hotel for the 8th the 9th I did. I could just here wyaa wyya I told you we could have stayed another night we had it paid for and rested. I asked him if he had a extra bedroom he just laughed and said No. Man I didn't want to go back to that truck. I called the hotel and ask if we could stay a night extra night and they said yes whoo man what a relief I didn't want to spend the night in the truck with 2 dogs and all the huffing.
.,
Wenesday
It all worked out in my favor. I didn't tell you the back ground sorry. McGrath has no road to get there it is fly in only. We are not shipping our vehicles it cost more than they are worth 10 grand to ship my truck it ain't worth 4. So I have to ship everything on a cargo plane that we packed with us. I had a lot of trips to the cargo place all day today. I was packing and calling for a 4 wheeler that is another thing I forgot to tell you McGrath was no paved roads only concrete is the runway. You get around on foot, 4 wheeler or snowmobile. We are headed to the bush. I got a freezer and had to deliver it to them and look for a quad

Thursday
It was about the same running the roads and trying to find a quad. The dogs loved it they drove around with me they though it was fun but they don't know what is coming down the road. They are going to fly with us when we leave. They are going to find out how I felt on my first flight.

Friday
The last day to get everything ready for the trip tomorrow. I dropped her off for the test and  I found a quad I had to go the oppsite side of town from the cargo place and I had to get it to them before they closed I had to pick her up and go get it but I made it by a hour. We went around town picked up some grocerys and things that we though we needed.

Saturday
Ok Dday the last day of concrete and red lights. I dropped her off at the airport and I had to pack the truck at the storage place and get back before the plane leaves. I had plenty time until the taxi decided to take the long way around you now more money more money. I finally made it to the airport I could see her face I didn't want to go in there. The dogs were nervous and whining they didn't know what was going on. It was the first time they had ever been in a kennel. Dixie thought she was be punished Roxie didn't care until they came to get her and put her on the plane she started to whine. We got on the plane it is just a hour and 5 min flight. We landed and I couldn't wait to see the girls to see how they did on the flight. Dixie was in a little shock Roxie had I think chewed her tail it was missing a lot of hair half way down but when they saw us it was all good. Our land lord pick us up and brought us to the house we are renting. So we made it no worst for wear and glad to be here.


I will try to fill you in on McGrath. I am writing this 3 months after we got here so there is alot of details that I forgot and just didn't want to remember. I do have that convenient  amnosia. I have ordered a gopro so I hope to be able to do some videos and add to this. I think you will get way better look than me trying to write about it. I will fill you in on the people and the moose hunts and what happen to me on that. I think it will be a blast so long for now and check back.

The last 7 days on the Island.

   Well 7 more days until we pull out. I found out that you might need a plan before you ship. I keep looking for stuff and then think oh it was shipped. I shipped all my pots except for 1 but I shipped the lid. Had to use a plate for it and it work sort of. I still have a bunch to go and running out of tubs. 600 lbs so far out the door another 400 waiting. I couldn't believe that my old truck packed that much up here. I only have to drive 750 miles when I get off the ferry. I hope it it will be a more relaxing drive. But I know my luck that Canadian jail cell might be still empty.

  Monday it has been one I figured that I would go ahead and crate things up so when I get to Anchorage I can just drop them off at the shipping company. It shouldn't take that long WRONG it took me most of the day just to build them. I thought I had shipped somethings it just keeps coming out of the wood work. I look around and she is dragging more things out to ship. I might change my mind on the last post it might stay here. I work all day and going to take everything out and repack I missed a whole closet. I am already tired and I have 5 more days and the boat is going to leave. I am going to be on it maybe a little lighter.

  Tuesday I started like a house on fire but ended just a little candle. I had another 7 tubs ready to ship got them to the post office and shipped them. I got back and started to fill the crate I noticed that I didn't have no handles so I empty it bought handles and put them on. You know I had everything just right the first time now nothing wants to go back in. 3 hours later I started to put the lid on and sit a spell. I sat in my chair and looked over and there was her lamp. Crap now I got to take the lid off and try to get it in and it was another unpack and pack job. I decided to pack all my wood tools in 5 gallon buckets I had 4 of them to ship. By the end of the day I put around 400 lbs out. When I thought about it I had picked them up 3 times in a day. I put them in the truck packed them in the post office and then picked them up to put on the counter. That might be why my butts dragging then she ask if I am alright not in the head. I remember the cramps in my legs driving here my whole body might be one big cramp tonight. Well it is time for bed I am looking forwarded to tonight.

Wednesday I didn't start to fast today I was wore out. I had to at least ship something so I had the old vcr tapes a player with all the kids movies on them.  I packed them up had a few odds and ends and I even pack the bathroom scales. I got them down to the post office and told the post master I would have weight it but I pack the scales. He just laugh and I could see in his face this must be the last one. I had to open the crate again and add more stuff. The top ain't going to be worth anything with put screws in and out. I though that I was through went in to clean up for church for the last time at Hope Baptist looked down on the floor and saw 6 pairs of shoes. What the hell woman we are gona to be on the road for 8 days and you need 6 pairs. She huffed and said I forgot to pull them out. Well here it goes I heard the first huff and many more to come. After church the group was going to the neighbors house to watch fireworks. I ask to see if I could get some loading the crate the boys came down and on the second attempt we got it loaded. But not without a accident one of the boys got his finger mashed under the crate. I know that had to hurt he didn't cry I would have probably. It is in and I ain't taking the lid off again. Well unless the border patrol ask and I might have to argue a little about that. He don't know what a pain in the butt that crate has been. We had a great time visiting with the church group but we had to go just before fireworks. Roxie is deathly scared of them and I just want to make sure that she didn't eat the doors down trying to run. Chili dosed with benydrle calmed her down for awhile. HUM it might work on her I just got to think about it.

Thursday I might have to fill you in if I remember. Friday just wipe me out fried my brain. But I do know that I bought oysters and fried them. I was thinking I might want to get a bait of them before I go this will probabaly be the last ones for awhile. As far as anything else it's blank sorry.

Friday Dday the last day and I don't mean rapture which by the end of the day I wished it had come. Got up early ready to getRdone. Well it started you know I gotta get my hair done at 10 it might be the last one for awhile. I said ok no problem it's 8 now hair at 10 so 2 hours to help. I ran to the hardware store to get more straps. When I get back I got to go and run the papers off for school. Wait school is 2 months away we have to be on the boat in 24 hrs. It didn't make sence to me but I ain't going to argue I know I ain't going to win. Just grin and bare it I got plenty of things to do. I loaded the truck about 5 times it was like the tetrus game the pieces had to fit but they didn't go away. I just kept finding holes and fitted anything that would go in them. She finally got back from school the printer didn't work and she was trying to explain and I know what face I give her because she said you don't have to be mean about it. I got other fish to fry. I hope I get some tonight I mean fish get your mind out of the gutter. I am thinking this it going to be a all nighter I hope I can sleep on the boat. She got back from the hair Dr. look how good it is. I say now can we start cleaning nope another errand. now it's 4 in the afternoon the car is empty the house needs cleaning and I think I need to start drinking I am wipe out I have a big bench to load in that car and I am hoping that it fits and my ice chests will go in to. She comes back and said you know we have reservations at 7 to go eat. If we don't get that bench in we don't Huff sound echos .We loaded the bench and 1 ice chest the other didn't fit neither did the containers fit either. I gave them to the neighbor. I just started taking out things in the containers and putting them loose in the car. I put cups knifes and bowls all  lose I don't care any more. I think that was in a song to. I know I am going to pay for it when I get to Anchorage but for right now I was like sprinkling salt all over and where it fell theres where she would rides. I had to go eat and I admit the food was good and I got fried fish. But the time for resting is over now I got 12 hrs to go a few things cleaned and more to load. I loaded until 9 I had to get the car on the dolly. We went to the store parking lot and started to drive on it I forgot the straps at the house. Went got them and loaded it the preacher came by and said you loading at 9 30. He didn't know I still had 3 more hours to load. We finally got it loaded and cleaned at 11. She open the fridge and  said we forgot something to clean it another hour later . We went to bed 5 am came early. But that's how I spent the last 7 days on the island. I told you I could remember Thursday I am tired just writing this and proof reading it makes me tireder and I know you know thats a lie. I know you noticed especilaly the literary geniuses that I only had 5 days it took Saturday and Sunday to figure out how to start back on the blog and catch you up on the progress. That took the first 2 days. Just thinking about it I should have been packing instead of writing

Next one is the journey

Week 8 until the next move

 Well I know it's been awhile sense I last posted.  We made the winter we didn't freeze to death wasn't as bad as I thought it rains and stays around 36 to 40. Now don't let the sunshine come through it gets cold then. The sun came out 3 days straight it was 11 degrees at night and 18 at noon. I don't mind the clouds. We went home for Christmas and got to see the family. It just seem real quick visit but it was 13 days. I got to bring the grandboys to the Independence  Bowl that was a blast. they didn't care to much for the game but the food was their cup of tee. Got to go out with the sisters and brother and their wife and husbands to eat for Christmas. That is one thing that my Mama taught together with Family on Christmas. Got back and got some bad news that they wasn't going to renew her contract. We were pretty upset but just like we got here God will open another door if he wants us to stay.    We had a great year I know I didn't do what I said I was going to to do and write and post every week but just having to much fun. I had a blast here I visited the grocery store just about everyday and sometimes 2 or 3. The girls (Dogs) went with me everytime. It got to the point that when I put my cap on in then morning they would whine and start going to the door. I told one of the ladies that I come in  here so much that I was waiting on my pay check. They just laugh but I made them laugh most days. I actually got in better shape here and let me tell you that is a major accomplishment. From when I got here a couch potato to be able to hike up the mountain that was amazing to me. My daughter came and visited she could hardly keep up with us. When she left she said that she had a lot of changing to do.  But all in all I had a great time I know she did too.
  So she got a call from a little school in the interior of Alaska and got the job and the next adventure begins. I will hate leaving this island but that is what we came for the adventure. Most think we are crazy for coming  here but I don't put much stock in what people think about me. If you  think about it if you let people dictate what you do you will never get to do anything. I ain't talking about hurting someones else's feelings get out and go somewhere. This country has alot of places to see and experience. Ok am getting a little sappy so let's get on with the next move. I will try to keep you up with everything I hope but I might miss a few details.

The next move

 We went on a visit to Mcgrath and really liked it. It was a small Alaskan Village and it is going to be true Alaska -40 in the winter. She ain't found of me saying -40 but that is what I think of Alaska. I am excited I get to moose hunt carabou hunt black bear and brown bear. I also can put in for an bison hunt in the area. The only thing no halibut or rock fish but they have other fish to be caught. I will give some of the things about the town. Very few cars and trucks most get around on a 4 wheeler or snow mobile in the winter. It cost 10 grand to get her car there. So she will have to learn to drive a 4 wheeler. OH excuse me side by side she doesn't want her hair to be messed up on the way to school.  There are no paved roads just 20 miles of dirt roads. they go from  airport to a rock pit 20 miles away. they have a big outside furnace to burn the trash and nobody throws any hard goods away. With what it cost to ship things there somebody might need a part or so from things that you have. It looks like a real close town with everybody helping each other.

   I am packing and getting ready. Now you just don't pick up and move here in Alaska. Home we just throw things in the truck and haul butt down the road. NOOO not here you have to schedule ferry and driving where there are roads. I have to get on a ferry and then get on another one but you have to make sure the second one will be there when you get off the first one. If you don't it could be 2 days waiting for the next one to leave. So no matter how you feel the next morning you best be on the move. We have to go through Canada AGAIN this time 2 times in 1 day I hope. I got to go in drive 350 miles and get out. I just hope for no 200 mile detours and this time I am bringing my rifle through. That why I need to ship as much as I can less to unload it I need too.

   Well we have 14 days to go and it looks like I will do the packing. She has a test to keep her certification up I ain't going to complain she is my meal ticket here. I don't see why the stay at home wife's complain about staying home I enjoy it. I know I will get flack for that statement but heck I got a system for the cleaning and cooking and got time to fish and hunt. I don't have to listen to a boss that thinks he knows everything or one younger one and trying to prove himself. I just have to have supper on the table and clean clothes for her to wear the next day. The two girls don't even worry about anything (DOGS) all they care if you are going somewhere we are going.

 I am putting everything in plastic containers bolting them down and sending them in the mail to Mcgrath. When we get there they will be waiting (maybe). We meet the preacher at the church and said send them to me and I will put them in my shop. Well we will see what kind of guy he is with all the stuff I am sending it will make a preacher cuss. I feel sorry for the postmaster 6 big plastic tubs the first day and 7 the next. I am almost there. We have gotten some stuff here and what it cost to buy in Alaska I ain't leaving much.

Ok I will try to post the last week on the Island in a couple of days.

Week 7

    Monday  well I found what I needed to make it official to stay a BOAT. I made sure that everything was neat and tiddy dinner ready to cook Steak and Potatoes when she got home. You got it I had to butter it up. I wanted to go look at the boat. We went to go look at it she was not impressed I knew it was a fixer upper but hey I got time. It had a great motor almost new the boat floor needed repair. I didn't care about that I have fixed worst with all the aluminium boats I had fixed and tried to make into something they were not ever going to be. She said is the trailer suppose to look like that with the block between the axle and frame. I told yea it will be ok. So I made the deal and told him I would pick it up Thursday I had to clean a place to park it.
  Tuesday I was checking the message board just to see what was on that's where I found the boat. I found a treadmill free come pick up. I told them I would be there in 5 min. I met 2 guys they were fur trappers and that's what they do for a living. They were great guys when they see the licence plate from Louisiana they told me that they went and helped for Katrinia. This is the 5th guys that I have met that went down to help Louisiana the guy I bought the boat went down and helped too. I told what happen did the whole island go to Louisiana and work. He said pretty much they worked through the winter and came back April it was getting a little warm for them. They canned meat I told them that they had to teach me how to do that. One gave me their card and said call me anytime we will teach you. They gave me some beaver meat canned that was some good stuff. I told you that I would eat anything at least once. They told me they were the same way at least try it once. They were looking for someone to sew their furs I told them that Carol sewed that I would try and talk her into it. I might be pushing my luck a little. I can just imagine how that conversation will go HELL NO I have a job you go get one. I might have to learn to sew on beaver hides. Hey Tom on mountain men dose it. Oh by the way when she came in and saw the treadmill she said this is for me are you trying to tell me something. I said Oh no it is for me I need to get in a little better shape. Whoo I almost lost the buttering job.
  Wednesday I didn't do much today still buttering her up. I did the self paper that she was wanting to do Saturday.  Hey I got to do what I have to the boat comes tomorrow and I still have to make a place for it. So the rest of the day was cleaning.
  Thursday I went to get the boat. I hooked it up ask for the paper work for the boat and trailer. He didn't have the registration for the boat and his wife is still looking for the title for the trailer. He told me that I could get the boat done at all places the DMV. I thought my favorite place but the DMV wildlife and fisheries do the boats in Louisiana. So I hooked up and pulled it down the road. Remember when she said about the trailer well I got about a mile down the road and I heared a loud snap and then it started chirping. I pulled off the road about a mile away this road doesn't have but 2 places to pull off. One side is solid rock cliff and the other side is straight down. It had a pull off I checked it. The spring had broke and it was just hanging. I just figured 15 mph 5 more miles I can make it I didn't have anybody to call. I just puckered up the old butt hole and drove. I did make it the place I had to put it was tight but it fit. I went to the wildlife and fisheries first they told me the DVM registers boats I guess he was right Louisiana Wildlife works with all boats no trailers. I went to the DMV to see what I needed the lady was laughing when I came into the door I said yes I am back. I told her that I bought a boat and needed it registered. Now this was easy she said take this form fill it out and I can get it done for you. They didn't need old registration didn't need a bill of sale just the boat info and the name of the previous owner. Man in Louisiana you almost need to put up your first born to get a used boat registered. If it didn't come from a dealer it was a pain I had been through that twice. I guess that here everything is so remote they don't care.
   Friday it was family day I called and talked to some of the sisters and Joey my brother sent a group text with a picture of a plate with lima beans and corn chips. That was my daddy's favorite supper just made me hungry that looks like Saturday's supper I can just taste it now. KIelley said yuck but she was the youngest and didn't get as much limas as we did. Daddy thought he was going to starve if he didn't get them once a week. I told them I would have some can beaver meat when they got here this summer. It really didn't go over real well in the group text some said that they were packing food when they came to visit. I made homemade cinnamon rolls and sent a picture. The sisters said that is what i am talking about. Hey still buttering up I got a few things I need for the boat. It is the old saying if mama ain't happy nobody is happy. It just me and her so I got to kept mama happy. I can't blame it on the kids anymore.
  Saturday I got back on the message board again she is going to kill me if I don't get off this thing. I found a garage sale and had to go it had fishing stuff listed first on the list. I had to go check that out Hay it is just in my nature. I made the excuse I had to get the name of the owner to get the boat registered. She is doing school work and I could hear them filmier huffs so I though I might need to make myself scarce. I found a net they use up here they are huge. I found a smaller net, ice chest and 2 rods and reels. The ice chest was the best buy 2 nets and chest for 15 dollars. The ice chest up here are gold. I bought the cheap breeze ice chest from walmart for 17 dollars they are 39 bucks here. I got all for 45 not bad in my book but hers might be not so much. I cooked the lima beans and corn chips she didn't think it was going to be that good 2 bowls for her and 3 bowls for me we were stuffed.
  Sunday was just a lazy day. I got up and football I am still trying to get used to it 9 am is kickoff for the Saints. We are 3 hrs ahead or behind it is acording witch way you look at it. I can watch til half time then go get ready for church. I have to tape the 2and half. It is better when you come in and see that they won. You don't have to worry about the bone head plays they make because you know they won. After watching the game we just chilled I really couldn't go to far 3 bowls of beans is just about like eating fried fish.

Week 6

This one will be short I didn't get much done I just relaxed around the house. Like I said the other house was small I didn't know you could enjoy walking more than 10 steps from the couch to the bathroom. I had to change a few other things into our name and look for stuff for the house. I might have to change the light switches flip up for off and down for on. Carol said change them but I just might give her alittle time. The more time I might get away with not having to do it. Well I did talk her into a boat it's a 18 ft alum the motor is great shape but the boat it a fixer upper. That didn't matter to me I got the time. Now her on the other hand will probably be making sure I don't spend all my time on it. I will start getting it ready to move into the garage where I can work on it. I will just have to tell her that I am going to clean it to put her car in it. You know how it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission always. Well the weather is getting a little cooler in the mornings it has been in the higher 40's but in the 60's by noon. The fishing is slowing down to a crawl you know I got a boat and it is over. The fish they are talking about is salmon but I know in a ocean there has to be some thing else to catch. They say the weather is why everybody starts putting the boats up the storms in the winter are bad windy. Some say the wind gets up to 50 and 60 mph we will see. Well I will end this one I have to go and get a few things done around here like the garage.