On the Road

Spring wants to happen….although it keeps snowing, the temperatures don’t cooperate. The deer are hanging out on the beach getting ready for birth events–we will wait another two months for the ‘bambi’s’ to show up along with their proud mothers.

Meanwhile, we observe this pink tide on the beach:

Take a closer look–it’s krill.

This is the essence of life on our planet and was the central topic of study when we were in Antarctica. Without Krill–larval Crustaceans–we don’t have life on this planet nor here in Alaska. Everything feeds on krill. Besides the birds on our beach, herring gobble the krill and in turn become bait for the salmon. Up the food chain a bit you have whales competing for this same resource; a humpback was spotted today at buoy 53. Unfortunately, many animals starve in spite of this abundance. This eagle was found on our point, perhaps starved from the late winter….

This is our back porch–what a mess. Right out of an Alaska movie set complete with junk. I decide to take action in Martina’s absence–she’s off hobnobbing in Paris. No, I’m not jealous; I love to stay home and work–so might as well roll up my sleeves. After a friend gave me two windows, I am very motivated to keep snow and ice off our doorstep and enclose our back porch.

Here’s the finished product–built this door out of scrap in the netshed; red cedar–what beautiful lumber. I hated to cut it.

Here’s another view complete with my old park service cabin sign. During this project, I noticed an eagle watching me–all day long! Eagles groom their branches at preferable hunting/viewing sites. This one looks like he’s ready to set up a hunting camp in our saltchuck. We’ve just ordered another 5000 board feet of lumber and will continue with the boardwalk/gazebo (boat shed) soon. Also the guest house is listed for restoration so come up for a visit! And stay tuned…..

I know it’s spring, but I forgot to post this blog–this is the last snowstorm of the winter–got about five feet in Februrary and temperatures to 5F. Here’s the house with the new roof!!! I had to prop up the eaves.

Here’s a typical winter commute–taken by my neighbors as we cross paths to Petersburg, about 1 1/2 miles away. You can see our house right over the boat.

Take note of the snow on the top of the netshed roof–when this slides, you do not want to stand underneath! I’ve been buried in an avalanche and this one would kill you. We’re relocating the boardwalk away from this eave–ditto the out-haul line to the skiff. After shoveling snow, we usually take a walk around the property–here’s more wolf tracks on the beach. The wolves run after the geese that winter here. Stay tuned…..