Visitor to Stony River

I've had a request for a video tour of the school which I'm going to do tomorrow.  Stay tuned.  It was a busy day, considering the kids were still not here.

At 12:30 the Lake & Pen Air plane was due with my Instacart order.  Yogurt and Black Forest Ham and applesauce, oh my.  Costco.  I walked over to the airstrip and my teaching colleague drove over on the 4-wheeler.  It was windy so I wasn't sure the plane would come in.  This big fella scampered across the airstrip and headed for the school playground.  My colleague headed off to tell folks and left me standing there with no defenses!.  The b'ar must have heard that there might be tasty morsels on the monkey bars who wouldn't be paying attention.  I didn't have my wits about me so I didn't get the photo of this black bear until after the plane landed and he went back across where he came from to swim the Kuskokwim River to relative safety.  This is an island and a small one at that, so there aren't very many places to go.  I think I might borrow some bear spray for my future walks.  Locals said he was a good size for here.  

He's a good healthy looking bear.  He is wisely retreating back across the strip and to the river.

Some friends were asking me about the housing here.  First of all, there are quite a few empty houses.  Some are abandoned and badly needing repairs, some are new and awaiting their tenants and some are probably seasonally empty because of fishing, hunting and visiting other villages on the river before freeze up.   Alaska Housing Finance Corp has build and is holding the papers on some of these new houses.  Other very nice houses are being financed and built by the owners.  At least 2 people (and maybe more) commute to Donlin Mine to work.  With Crooked Creek closed down due to Covid precautions, the mine sent everyone home, so roofs and decks are being work on and firewood is being cut.

This looks like insulated plumbing to me...kitchen and bathroom?  I've been wrong on some of my speculations.  The fuel tank with a meter was only for DOT use.  Stony Riverians boat to Sleetmute for fuel.  During breakup and freeze-up, they are out of luck if they didn't plan ahead.

I went down a little secret passageway and found this hidden boat launch.  Yes, it was before I saw the bear.

Between rain, there are flying insects.  Sadly, the swallows have gone back to Capistrano so we're on our own.  The bats are holed up in my apartment (without me) so they are falling behind in their insect eating.

I have a big day tomorrow- lots of organizing of the school, taking my German lesson and Master Gardeners class, blogging and also working.  That cuts into my sightseeing for sure.  Come for adventure- leave with photos.