Going To Alaska
I was just
informed by Mrs. C that we are going to Alaska in May. Some of you might think that sounds wonderful. I hate traveling, and this will be two weeks…with
NO beach! Well Mrs. C likes to travel, so part of our
deal is I go where she tells me we are going.
She does all the planning, packing, and holds my hand so I don’t get
lost, so it’s not too bad.
The thing
about Alaska is all the things to do that I hear from my outdoors-nut friends
Frog and Catfish, and what they’ve done on trips to our northernmost state. I don’t think I’m ready for their idea of
adventure.
Frog took a
beat up rent a car to go fishing. He
followed a map which showed trails and made them look like actual roads. He somehow made it to an unchartered river and
he and Mrs. Frog caught fish all day while hiking among grizzly bear tracks.
“Weren’t you afraid?”
“Oh no, we made lots of noise to let
them know we were around, in general they stay away.”
“In general?”
“Yeah, plus I carried a 9000-millimeter
Ugandan elephant pistol, you know, just in case. If that didn’t work, I can out run Mrs. Frog…well
I could at the time.” (Old joke, sorry.)
I don’t plan
to fish.
Catfish is
even more over the top. I’m pretty sure
he took a kayak on the Bering Sea to fly-fish for opilio crab. He used polar bear pelt and moose tail to tie
a fly that mimicked a rotting mackerel. I
think he could see Russia from where he fished.
Then there
was the time Catfish got caught in a blizzard and had to kill and gut a seal. He spent the night in the seal hide to
weather the storm. A Polar bear was
sniffing around during the night, but he poked it in the balls to shoo him
away. (My mind may have exaggerated the real stories a bit.)
I’m not
quite as hard core.
I’m going to
Alaska and we are never getting off the boat.
There might be some group excursions that I can make sound
exciting. Probably not.
Frog and
Catfish will not be impressed.
I need to
get some new friends. People who only go where all the drinks are served with an umbrella.
Could be quite an adventure and just think how many blog posts you might get from that 2 week trip! Alaska would be on my bucket list to see, but getting there would would be a struggle since I'm a reluctant flyer :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Who knows? You may enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Alaska. Our boat broke down, stranding us on an island, and we had to get in one of those 4-seater water-landing planes and fly back to civilization. I saw a baby bear (which my uncle said meant a BIG bear was around pretty close) and salmon poachers with giant treble hooks on ropes (who my uncle said it was best not to acknowledge, because snagging salmon is highly illegal).
ReplyDeleteYep. Didn't have to kill and gut a seal, though. I think you'll really like Alaska. Or else you'll be a JERK!
I'd like to go one day, but it would have to be in their summer and even then I'd worry about overnight frostbite.
ReplyDeletePlease take some photos for us while you are there.
No beach - no brainer - come to Cornwall with us instead Joe, plenty of beaches there.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Alaska, by boat. The scenery was wonderful but then I don't fish or do anything remotely energetic. Take a camera, that will give you something to do... smiles.
ReplyDeleteMrs C. is very adventurous. My idea of a vacation is to send the hubs out for the afternoon so I can have the house to myself.
ReplyDeleteMy parents went twice because they loved it that much. My husband refuses to ever set foot on a cruise ship, so I doubt I will ever see it. Take pictures for me!
ReplyDeleteAre you taking a cruise. Mrs. Chatterbox and I cruised the Inland Passage to Glacier Bay and it was wonderful. I hope you have a wonderful time, even if you don't leave the boat.
ReplyDeleteC'mon. You're really looking forward to this.
ReplyDeleteAlaska is very beautiful from afar. We landed there, but never had to leave the airport. The layover was about 3 hours, but that was enough to take in the awesome view and have some brunch.
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your trip, if you can.
How do you do fishing when you know that there is probably a Bear peering over your shoulder ?
ReplyDeleteMay, huh? How'd you pick that month? You may have something real to actually bitch about: it's not unusual for the month of May to be mostly low clouds and rain in SE Alaska. I knew someone who took the cruise that month and only saw the shore a couple times.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Well thanks for your uplifting comment.
DeleteFodor's recommends visiting Alaska from late May through mid-August for the fairest weather, with average temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F. Summer brings extended daylight, with 19 hours of sunshine on June 21.
We're counting on Global warming to make it a good time to visit.
I'd love to visit Alaska someday, but I'd want to go when it's be most likely to get a good view of the aurora borealis. (September, I think...) At any rate, I bet you love it, in spite of your bellyaching. The scenery alone should be worth the trip. Besides, two weeks without any chores around the house and yard? What's not to love?
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun. I wouldn't care for the ship and neither would hubby. We always get so sick when we cruised. I like our little boat far better.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
I'll be your pal, Joe. Serve up the umbrella drinks!
ReplyDeleteooh how exciting, you might enjoy it. Will you see the Northern Lights from there?
ReplyDeleteI took an Alaska cruise and it was wonderfully tame. We stopped at the far North and left the ship to do some hiking on our own. One of the trails was closed, opened,and closed again all because of bear attacks from one rogue bear. They are a force with which to be reckoned.
ReplyDeleteYou never know, you might like it. I've been told we're going to Europe in May. This will be our last Europe type of hurrah, so fine, I'll be happy.
ReplyDeleteYou will enjoy Alaska even if you don't get off the boat, and at least you will be able to say you've been there.
ReplyDeleteLucky you. An Alaskan cruise is on my bucket list. Riding a boat along the coast line doesn't sound strenuous or dangerous. Bet you don't even have to spend the night in a seal carcass.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read those posts.
When my husband was in the coast guard, he was on a icebreaker/cutter The Polar Sea. We once thought about moving to Alaska. I love the adventure and wilderness Alaska has to offer.
ReplyDeleteOh you'll have fun. Will miss you though....;-(
Be sure to take a helicopter & walk on a glacier!!
ReplyDeleteOh boohoo, Crankyman. Just keep your eyes open, take in the beauty and experience how different that place is from New Jersey. (36 years ago -- oh my golly 36 years ago! -- I spent 3 weeks with a friend kayaking a river in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, then exploring more of AK: one of the most memorable experiences of my life. And that includes the mosquitoes.)
ReplyDeleteCount me among those who are looking forward to your pictures from that trip! Take lots. I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, my aunt, uncle and cousin lived in Fairbanks. That's the closest I'm ever likely to get to the place. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteLove you Cranky, please keep posting, and have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll love it Joe. The fishing is phenomenal.
ReplyDelete