LIFE

So I realize that it has been quite some time since I have updated my blog with any text, so here I go.... I have come to the realization that I completely love Alaska. It truly is a great place to live. The people are friendly, the scenery is beautiful, and the weather and sunshine has been great so far. I really am so glad I came up here to experience Alaska for myself. It was hard at first - like most good things, but has defiantly been worth all of the heart ache in the beginning. I have found a new love - trail running. I know what your thinking "but, you hate running" that's true I did HATE to run, but I have been running on the trails through the forest by the campground and it has been so nice. At first I would go running with Kori and I didn't enjoy it at all. She was fast, graceful, and in shape. And I was none of those :), but it has been a couple of months now and I'm getting faster and my lungs and legs have improved to the point where I enjoy the run. (I don't know about the graceful part, I still trip over some of the roots, and look goofy, but who cares about that, right). Kori has moved on to bigger and better things on Juneau and now Jen is my wonderful running partner. Last night when we went running we were heading down the trail and down a hill when we ran into a bear and two little little cubs (SO CUTE) luckily Jen is very cautious and we had bear bells and bear spray with us. Thanks Jen, if I was by myself I probably would of had neither with me. We decided to cut the run short and do a loop and not our usual run. I think that was a good choice cause this morning when I was walking to my van I ran into the bears again! but much closer this time - we were about 15 feet apart when I saw them and started yelling at them to get. Pretty crazy stuff, the momma bear ran back into the forest and the cubs scampered up the closest tree. I have never seen cubs so little in the wild - I mean they are tiny, like the size of a med. dog. I tried to take some pictures of them but my camera sucks so the pictures didn't really turn out. I think its time to get a new camera if I can scrounge up the money. Well enough about the bears....

Today is my day off so I'm spending money, packing, and working on my van. I have been working on my van so much lately that the guys in Shucks automotive know me by name - its kind of funny. One of the guys told me today that he wants to set me up with his nephew, he said " you guys would get along so well, he wants to get a Vanagon to fix up and live in while he is traveling around!" I thought that was so funny!!! Anyway my latest project on the van is to change the break pads, which should be easy right - well I can't get the lug nuts off (I think that its been years and years since the tries have been off) I'm going to take it to a Midas in the morning to see if they will use one of their tools to loosen them so I can take the tires off to change the pads. We will see how it goes.

Now about my little trip... I'm getting ready for my expedition and I'm so excited! We will be on the river for around 33 days traveling via a raft on the Yukon from Whitehorse, YT to Eagle, AK which is about 800 river miles. It should be a blast - well I'm hoping it will be :). I have environmental service set up with the NPS to identify invasive plant species along the Yukon through the Yukon - Charley National Preserve. And I'm also trying to get some community service set up in Eagle Alaska - the Yukon flooded this summer and did some major damage to the town. Hopefully that will go through so we can serve the people of Eagle. We will be leaving anchorage on the 8Th of July for Whitehorse, wish me luck.....