Biking Around

It's definitely summer here. I took REACH training today and yesterday at the JP Jones Community Center on the Southside. I figure its about 4-5 miles away from my house and this morning I bicycled. My car was getting new shocks- after about 85,000 miles, I'd say it was overdue. Anyway, the ride was great even with the light rain. When training was over, I rode over to XRay Motors to pick up my car.

I have a few things to say to drivers.
Look before you turn right- I might be crossing WITH THE LIGHT- and its red for you!
When I'm on the shoulder so as not to impede your driving, remember that I'm on loose gravel and don't come so close I can smell your breath.
When the puddles are deep, the splash is big...remember, that could be you next time.

Last night we went on a dinner cruise on the Tanana River on the Tanana Chief. BP paid for my dinner and for all the other "special guests". The river is low and we scraped bottom a few times. Chris Villano was selected as teacher of the year- well deserved and long overdue. We had a great meal and even with the light rain, the view of all the luxury houses and woods along the river were interesting and diverse.

My favorite was the Alaskan style house with, you guessed it, a blue tarp roof. The roof was embellished with tires equidistant from each other to keep down the tarp. Before global warming, we didn't get much wind. But now, tires are needed more than ever. With gas prices so high, we can't afford to drive much so the tires are available for alternate use. In Alaska, you can use tires many other ways also. Here are just a few: hang them off of your dock to use for boat bumpers, rope them together to make a handy ladder up steep banks, stack them up as your potatoes grow to make planters, tie them to your car bumper if you are being pushed down the road by another vehicle, the ever popular tire swing, put them under your valuables and cover with a blue tarp and things will keep forever in your yard.

Speaking of alternate use, we bought some aluminum coated insulation (as in garage door insulation) to make a reflective "space blanket" for our hammocks. We'll cut it and trim with duct tape and it is very lightweight. Whattya think? In 2 weeks we'll be on our way to Anchorage and we'll test our new toasters at Riley Creek Campground in Denali National Park. It's always cold there, so it will be a good test.

I'm going gold panning tomorrow. If you want to come, bring boots and rubber gloves, a couple of shovels and buckets, an eyedropper and film can, sieve and gold pans. Also, it wouldn't hurt to be dressed warmly since it seems to always be raining. I'll be packing apples and cheese for snacks, too. See you at 9:30 am.

Tomorrow night- Bedonka Donk- Trace Adkins concert. Keeping perfect rhythm- makes you want to swing along. I'm taking my nosebleed supplies and binocs for my high up seats.

No new photos this week- Paul is taking the camera to Vancouver. I'll make up for it next week.