So we never made out, I’m not sure if his name is Ben or not, I found him in Orick California– not Alaska, and he’s not even human, but hey at least I got a picture.
Laughing.
I guess you don’t always get what you want, but it sure is fun to have a fantasy!
For my last night in Alaska, I decided I was going to do something I hadn’t done for the two weeks I was there; Buy myself a beer and decent dinner and relax in that zen place of Ahhh…I did it! Well, Alaska had a different idea of what my last night should be and it could not have been more perfect.
I walked into the Fish Pirates Saloon on that rainy and chilly night, fairly late and asked them if they were even open. It was so quiet in the place it looked like they were about to close. They said they were still open, so I went to the bar ordered, and sat happily in my quiet zen place, thinking about the events of my adventurous and goal reaching 2 weeks there. There were a whopping 6 other people there dining who we all wrapping up their meals with a guy playing some tunes on a piano in the background. Piano man finished his songs and came up to the bar to get what seemed to be his after gig final drink. He introduced himself to me.
And then the Salmon Fisherman walked in and all hell broke loose (in a good and fun way.)
Here we go.
In no less that 2 minutes, Troy the piano guy (who had barely introduced himself to me) and the crew of already having too much (well is there ever really too much?)- fun guys were whooping it up and surrounding me. Talk about zero to 60 in 2 minutes. The bartender instinctively mixed up what the crew was about to ask for anyway, and slid me a shot to join in with the whole gang. Who am I to reject a complimentary shot with a bunch of strangers?
2 seconds after the shot, someone screamed “KARAOKE!!!” and piano man Troy refused to go back to play unless the fisherman sang to me while I stood on the piano. (I must insert here, that I am all about a party, am not afraid of dancing on a table, talking to brick walls, or any of the like. Moreover, when someone says anything along the lines of “Get on stage/the table, etc.!” I am usually all about it. This night however, I was stone sober, tired from hiking and chilled from being out in the drizzle all day so I really gave a Girl Scout try of declining the standing on the piano wish. I was no match for a crew of already well-buzzed chanting hilarious fisherman who had just come off the boat after 6 days at sea, so I politely did what was asked.)
Troy made them face and sing to me and the guys took turns rocking it out while I talked to those who weren’t, about fishing:
I found out they often work up to 20 hours a day and 7 days a week. One guy was 22 and just back from college for the summer. He said in 2 month’s he could make $25k working those crazy hours. (I need to become a fisherwoman.) I was told by another one of the guys that they actually caught all the fish, crab, etc. for the Deadliest Catch boat/TV show. I don’t know whether this is true or not, but these were all good guys and seemed like the no bull kind, so I believed them. One of them asked me if I was a reporter. I told him, well- sort of. I had to get a video of one the guys Mike singing. (At one point Troy made me come back up onstage and sit with Mike. When I tried to take a self portrait style head shot of Mike and I, he leaned in and promptly said; “Oh, sorry dude- I totally just farted.” Talk about funny. I almost fell off the piano.)
I participated in beer #2 and cheering as the karaoke and madness continued. I remained sober, but laughed so hard, most of the night I was doubled over and my stomach hurt. I had so much unexpected fun. These guys were just regular hard working fishermen, completely innocent out to have a good time and blow off a bunch of steam. They were weathered and windburned, Carhart wearing gents, just as you’d imagine Alaskan Fishermen to be and looked like they worked harder than most of the people I’ve ever met. It was quite and experience and what a way to spend my final night in my 50th state. Talk about fall asleep laughing and thinking- did that just happen? Now this will make for a good story.
Thanks guys. That was a blast and then some. I’ve done a lot of things before, not sure I have ever stood on a piano during shots and karaoke, and certainly not at a restaurant in Alaska. I’ll cheers to that!
Now that I’ve made the enormous investment of $25 (hey that’s like 2 weeks food budget for me on the road!) to Flickr for unlimited photo and video storage space, I’m going to use every bit of unlimited I can. get ready for a picture-fest! (If you have the desire to see a slew of my photos, visit here and search Blue Lollipop Road. There’s a bunch!)
Who needs a jacket when you can wear a furry bikini to keep you warm in Alaska? On sale for only $89.95, I’m thinking I might have missed out on a deal. Hotness.
As if throwing the “gy” on dog, it makes for a cuter sign to tell people not to let their dogs crap there. (Ok, so it is kind of funny.)
Ahhh…capturing a moment. Oh the joy.
When people say things like ” You can hike a/to a glacier” you take it with sort of a grain of salt, thinking oh sure- that sounds awesome. Then you get to the glacier, stand in front of it and your jaw hits the ground. You keep blinking your eyes because you don’t think what you’re looking at could possibly be real:
It’s real! (Yes, that’s ice in the water close, near my feet that had broken off and floated the way to the sand I was standing on!)
Welcome to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska.
When talking with other travelers who were reveling in the gorgeousness like me, someone said that these glaciers looked like giant frozen tidal waves. I think that’s a pretty perfect description. It’s one thing to see these glaciers in photo books or on a typical chilly overcast day in Alaska, but if you’re lucky enough to have a sunny warm day with blue skies to experience something like this in person?! The brilliance is beyond explanation or that in which my poor little Nikon camera could ever capture. I hiked the east loop that day. Near the trail head got this photo. 200-plus years to travel 13.5 miles? Now that’s some slow and steady moving:
I regularly comment what I have said here before about the trees, green and general lushness. It’s like living in some fairy tale. I mean, Shrek almost popped his head out to say hi here:
Here’s a funky fungi of some kind; I enjoy the randomness of shots like these:
Video from mid-way up:
Broken off floating parts and pieces:
A view from near the top looking away from the glacier:
And one more from my way down that gives sort of a close up look. See? Doesn’t it look like a slightly dirty frozen tidal wave? Incredible:
I have a plethora of photos, I look forward to sitting with some of you to share more. Nature at it’s finest to say the least. This was a once in a lifetime hike for me, or at least that first time you see something like this the wow factor is simply mind boggling. I’m not usually a quiet person, but I spent so much speechless in awe time while in Alaska it was fantastic. Sometimes it’s a welcomed surprise to not be able to say a thing and just look. This day was one of those for me.
I often feel like a broken record talking about meeting fabulous strangers and all the feasting and great conversation I have had on the road, but well- that’s what’s best about traveling for me so I guess my redundant stories shall continue. I am staying with Judy tonight. Judy is the woman I met in Skagway Alaska.( I wrote and posted photos of she and her brother Allen from Montana a few weeks back.) When we’d said our goodbye’s back Alaska she insisted I call her when I got to Washington state and here I sit in her guest cottage now typing this. She just made me a most delicious meal for dinner topped off with fresh peaches over vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. She toured me around her neighborhood tonight before our dinner where we saw beautiful views of the water, mountains and about 30 deer. Total nature and gorgeous green here in a tiny town outside Seattle.
I had taken some time to relax out of the city, driving and my usual go, go, go today. I ended up “going into town” on a sweet and slow wander to the store this afternoon where I snapped these photos I thought were fun in celebration of a farm b-day:
Oh the excellent photos, food, and places. So few 100 years of life to eat it all up.
I’m going to need a job in food, wine and travel very soon. I can see my life heading in that direction like a freight train time and time again. I’ll also be needing to add more than running to my work out sessions as all this feasting is making me bust at the seams. That and when I go in for my check-up with my dentist soon, Dr. T is going to have a bone to pick with me. I feel a cavity coming on. (Tear…I brush, floss and rinse, but this is no battle for Voodoo doughnuts and road food. Ack!) I’ll try to brush those few little issues under my head rug so I can take in my last bit of time to be thankful on this incredible journey of new landscapes, friends and foods. Perhaps I will decided on some far-out health or no salt/sugar challenge to post here next to hold myself accountable. I mean, that’s how this whole Alaska thing got started anyway. I wrote that day back a few moths ago that I was going to go, then thought oh shit, then well- I have to now and I did it! (Nothing like a little world wide web pressure to keep you getting up early and staying up late to make sure you reach a goal.)
Here’s again to the many feasts and people from the road that add to all the stories and smiles in my adventure. Thanks Judy!
Apparently the Upper Deck is actually down and the Forward Lounge is right or left.
I took these on one of my many ferry rides in Alaska. Good thing I wasn’t drinking and trying to find my way around at the time.
Last night was another successful night car camping. So it was cold, I woke up at least once an hour shivering and didn’t get the best sleep ever-but it was fine. It always makes me happy to save $ and that’s exactly what I thought about a bunch while tossing and turning (as much as you can in the front seat of a car) last night. I’d so much rather be uncomfortable for a night or few in between my house stays and save $ on accommodations so I can spend that $ I save on things that mean the most to me; Food and time with people.
I came into Portland yesterday on a sunny and average chilly 65 degree summer day for this area. (Brrr…where I’ve been living for years, August is typically 95-100 and lots of humidity.) As usual, no plans, not knowing anyone, but always having a few notes about food and someone who knows someone who might live there. I really don’t even look at the paper maps I have (I don’t have any detailed ones anyway), you all know I don’t have a GPS. I swear every time I enter a city unplanned like I did yesterday, I just follow where the roads lead, where are tall buildings are, or where something looks interesting, and I always end up exactly where I need to be. I rolled into Portland, pulled my car over to park for a minute and look at notes in my book and turned out I was exactly where I’d wanted to go. The rest of the day worked out perfectly. I stood in line for 45 minutes with the usual lines of patient, excited, treat-lovin’ crowds at Voodoo Doughnuts:
I met a funny and sweet mom and daughter from Florida, we all took lots of photos and laughed about all the flavors. A guy walked out right before we got in the door with bacon on top of his doughnuts. Yes, bacon:
I got a Captain Crunch and an Old Dirty Bastard. (Chocolate frosted with OREO and peanut butter drizzle.):
With thoughts of having just a few bites or half of each, I then proceeded to hose them both. Sooo yummy. I felt high as a kite and happy for an hour or so, then definitely was moaning later. That was a bit much, even for me. (As I sit here and write this now, I am a glutton for punishment and thinking about going back for more after breakfast today…)
I drove, wandered, toured a bit more after that and through the amazing speed and power of social networking, I found myself having a beer, salad and sharing a huge plate of tater tots with a stranger Katie a couple hours later. (Try to follow this one and be as amazed as we were how it all worked out; I post something on Facebook that I was going to be in Portland. A friend of mine Temple who lives in Virginia, whom I haven’t seen in about 2 years and barely spoken with as life has kept busy for both of us, sends me a message back about Portland, then a message to Katie- who she knew from work in Boston like 10 years ago. Katie just happened to be in Portland for one night, for work training, and only a few blocks from when I was parked on the side of the road in my car no less where I have just sent the message from my laptop to Temple. My phone rings; “Hey Diane! It’s Temples friend Katie. I’m in Portland tonight and we should totally grab a beer!” Me; “Great! I was just about to go check out Rogue, want to meet there? See you in ten? And then there we sat chatting away at the bar having a grand old time for the next 3 hours like we’d been friends for life.) So, so fun. I love those random connections. (Thanks Temple!) Here’s my choice pint of a camomile infused brew. That was one delish beer:
I’ll trade a bed for some fun company, a couple of yummy doughnuts, and a delish beer any day. I couldn’t have had a better day if I’d planned it all out. I met interesting and fun strangers, toured the city, ended up spending barely any money but had good food, and I fell asleep happy. What a great day in downtown Portland.
I think I’m off for another doughnut…
Today I must get the BLR mobile fixed up with a tire rotation, oil change and all good stuff. Before I run off though, I have to share a photo of the hilarious fisherman from Ketchikan, Alaska. Perusing my photo stream this morning, this one is cracked me up! Yes that is me on a piano (sober) in the background. They made me stand up there. There was enough Tom Petty and Meatloaf karaoke to provide quite the entertainment:
I’m looking forward to getting these logistical and responsible errands and things done so I can find a nice coffee shop here in the coffee mecca, Seattle to camp for a bunch of hours. Until then I figure this photo was a good teaser for more to come on the fisherman and others…
Jeff is the best friend a girl could ask for. He has been a friend since I was 19 years old and always that person that everyone can completely rely on. It’d be impossible for me to list all the ways Jeff has loved and supported me as a friend over the years. He is the definition of a kind and generous soul and not just to me, to anyone he meets. When I was planning for this trip to Alaska, packing up my apartment and trying to figure out where I’d store some belongings, where mail would go, etc. (All the logistical stuff that’s stressful and worrisome) Jeff was jumping in immediately. He offered me a place to stay after I was apartment-less, help with my move, and to house my few, but very important boxes of my belongings. He then told me he’d be happy to manage all my mail and any other tasks that needed taking car of while I was on the road.
I have thanked Jeff a whole bunch but I never feel like that’s enough. When you are thousands and thousands of miles away and don’t have to worry a single bit about where the heck all your most important stuff is or where you mail is going because they are 1,000% safe and taken care of by someone you’d trust with your life, it’s a great feeling.
So? As I sat quietly today just having left Alaska. feeling thankful for all the love and support that’s been given to me and excited about what’s next and, ding! In pops an email from Jeff happily stating; “I’ve deposited the check you needed me to and taken care of X,Y,Z. Hope you are having a great time!”- all I can do is shake my head and wonder how I ever became lucky enough for the many friends I have and especially those constant, reliable and selfless ones like Jeff.
Thank you Jeff. You are absolutely one of the reasons I feel confident and comfortable pursuing my dreams, and one of those friends I hope I have forever:)
