Just for the view of it

Before I left Alaska, I spent about 30 hours Anchorage. It was fantastic. We climbed Rainbow mountain which afforded some amazing views. It was a wonderful start to my summer vacation.

We had a beautiful day. Molly liked it too.

Getting up the mountain wasn't really the hard part, it was getting down that freaked me out. I imagined loosing control and bear hugging the mountain, sliding uncontrolably down to the base. So, here I am, nice and cautious on the decent.

Summit!

Mount Redoubt (and more)

I had a few really great flights on my way back to the lower 48 states. From Manokotak to Dillingham, Bauker took a compleatly different route than usual, one I'd never seen. Though I felt really sick upon arrival (lots of twisting and turning), I was thankful for the beautiful views.

From Dillingham to Anchorage, we flew by Mount Redoubt. It was such a clear day that the active volcano was very clearly visible. I was impressed...
The Breakup (Manokotak to Dillingham)
A new view (Manokotak to Dillingham)

Funny Fifth Grader - last day of school

Kid: "Ms. Lida, do you have a boyfriend?"

Me: "Hmm...you know, that's not really a conversation I want to have with you."

Kid: "Well, if you do, can I see a picture of him?"

Me: "What? Why?"

Kid: "Because I want to see if I'm more handsomer than he is."

Me: "You mean more handsome."

Holy Crap!

Today was our last day of school. I leave here tomorrow at 4 p.m. I'm feeling quite a rush of emotions: excitement, sadness as well as a little fearful and overwhelmed at the thought of being able to do anything. I've become accustomed to this simple, slow paced, no stress way of living that I know will drastically change as I step off the Bowing 757 and disappear into a summer of excitement and adventure that's probably not nailed down enough for me to be confident that it will all run smoothly. Never does, but then, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm excited to see my friends and family and do normal things that 26 year olds do. Like ride my bike around Lake Superior.

Kids Are Cool

I rode a rusted old bike to the village after school to deliver my injured student some magazines, books, get well cards and treats. Tuesday night he snapped his collar bone in half after he fell hard from of a four wheeler. The normally rambunctious, quick and full of life little boy was sedate and cringed in pain, though I could tell he was trying to hide his discomfort. Summer officially begins in eight days and he was excited for weeks of commercial fishing with his dad. He won't be involved now, at least not for the first several weeks. Tough to see a kid like that in such rough shape. Poor little guy.

I hung out in the village for a while after my errands, and since I'm not there often, when I am, the kids are pumped. A few of them rode their bikes with me the five miles back to my house. I fed them a snack and they turned around and did it all again. I hope that when I have children they are as cool as some of the kids I've met here. They go anywhere without complaint, they are funny and they will tell you everything they know from their very oral culture.

The ice has (almost) melted! Here's a look at the overflowing river in the village. You can see at least one sunken skiff from this picture.

Skipping rocks. I needed a good lesson. My skills pale in comparison.

We stopped to visit some grandparents along the way. One of my sweetest little girls talked about each person buried and explained all she knew.

Hill climbing. They brought me all the way up to my house, I fed them a little snack and they were off again for another five mile trek home. Super cool kids.

Flying High

Kirsten and I went to Dillingham right away after school yesterday. In Dillingham we had plenty of business to take care of, but in the meantime (in honor of Cinco de Mayo), we had pizza, drank cerveza and split a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream next to the water. As we laughed and chatted on the dock of the bay, we got to feel the warm sun as it dropped lower in the sky and light up the icy waters. I guess It's the little things in life...

Spring is highlighted with remnants left from the winter. The contrasting colors of ice and snow and greens and browns all blending together like pastels are my favorite.

The muddy, melting Nushagak Bay in Dillingham.

Kirsten shows her excitement for pizza and cerveza!

We flew with our favorite pilot, Bauker. He's outrageous, hilarious and full of gossip and racy comments. Flying with him is always an absurd treat.