4-Wheel Ride

So, heading out with John, we went up to 3 Muk, then went around the other side of Elim Hill to go to Nex Crick.....never been that way before! It has been awhile since I have gone somewhere new around here, so that was fun. We then went across Nex Crick and up the hill to a rock that we climbed- and sat and watched the sunset- with a 360 degree view of nothing but mountains and ocean. Not a single dwelling or road in view, as far as we could see. John asked if I was really thinking about leaving Alaska, and at that point I had a very hard time saying yes....in so many ways Alaska fits me perfectly.....

other side of Nex Crick

After spending quite a bit of time around the beach, I headed up the trail on the other side of Nex Crick, where the colors were bright red, orange and yellow. We may not have maple trees here in Alaska- but our grasses and plants reach peak fall colors at a height comparable to any trees I have seen. I ate a few blueberries on the side of the hill, then turned around, as the bugs were starting to get to me, and I had been out for quite awhile already....I did have to do some homework that night! On the way back, I walked the beach long all the driftwood and found some bones. I am pretty sure they are from the walruses that were there last year still. The bears and animals had been munching on them pretty good- I know last winter I even saw a lot of wolverine tracks, and holes dug down to them. A few bones were clean enough for me to grab =) More for my collection! I got a vertebrae, a rib bone (I think), and the bone here in the picture...have to figure out which bone that is yet.
I then crossed the crick again (a bit chilly, but it feels good). I went home and started to get on my computer.....but was enticed outside again =)

at the beach

In an attempt to get caught up on the pictures I need to post, I am going to take a break from my homework every couple of hours today and post another part of my wanderings....we will see if I get sort of caught up....It is absolutely gorgeous again today, and it is a killer to stay inside and work on the things I need to, when I know this weather is only going to last so long....the colors are at their peak right now, and just stunning.....I have been spending as much time as I can outside this week....thus my need to spend most of today inside and get things done! Argh!
Well, these pictures are from out at Nex Crick- where I walked along the beach and picked up some more of my green rocks, and then climbed a bit on some rocks by the water. The tide was fairly low, leaving some nice algae covered rocks. I also found it interesting how some plants insisted on growing on these rocks =) Sadie of course enjoyed eating the dried out, dead humpys strewn all over the beach!

yet another perfect day...

I really have a lot I need to update, but again, am exhausted and not in the mood...here are a few photos in the meantime, though I have a ton more!! Will get around to writing and posting more when I can......went on a 4-wheeler ride out to the hotsprings today.....just amazing out!!!!

Fall hike

Well, I have been getting out a lot the last few days! The colors are starting to reach their peak, and are just amazing!! It is so beautiful out right now! A couple days ago, my friend April came into town. She lives in Nome now, but was living in Little Diomede- or "the rock"...as close as you can get to Russia, and a very tiny island. Diomede is in our school district, and she taught younger kids like me, so we met at the Ed. Conferences. She now came to help get things lined up with our tutoring program, and stayed the night here in Elim. Di lent us her 4-wheeler, so we went out to Moses Point to go fishing. The fish were biting really good! We lost a couple lures, but caught 6 silvers all together- a couple of them were really big... I didn't bring my camera though. We definitely could have fished more, but we were supposed to meet Di for supper at 7, so we stopped to clean them. While cleaning the 2nd fish I managed to get my finger snagged on a tooth while tossing the head into the river, and ripped it open pretty good. I knew it was one that was not going to stop bleeding on its own, so I had to take my bandana off my head and wrap it around my finger....then back to cleaning fish. My bandana is now soaking, but is full of fish slime, guts and blood...not sure if I will be able to save it =)
The bugs were especially bad that day, as there was no wind (even by the water), so the cleaning was pretty miserable work- as you can't swat at bugs unless you want to slime yourself when you are cleaning fish. I think that was the fastest I have ever filleted fish before, as I was trying to hurry so we wouldn't be late, and also wanted to get away from the bugs! Not my best filleting job, but decent enough....I have definitely gotten a lot better at filleting this year- as I have just been doing more fishing!
We then took off, dropped the fish off in my fridge, I cleaned my finger and put a real bandage on it, and we headed over to Di's for supper. We then went back and packaged the fish and put them in a box for April to take back to Nome.
Yesterday, after seeing how great the colors had turned, out by Moses Point, I decided that I was going to get out and go for a hike. Heading home from the Post Office, I ran into Mark and Sadie, and Sadie decided to come along with me =) I set off with my camera, and headed up through the graveyard and out to Nex Crick. The walk took me longer than usual, as I was often stopping to take photos....also, the blueberries are getting especially big and sweet, so I stopped a few ties to munch on them. As you can see from the pictures, it was a beautiful day out! Despite the wind in town, there wasn't much breeze out on the trail, and I got quite a few bites, but with everything looking the way it did, I hardly cared. The pictures posted here are taken between my house and Nex Crick. I will post the rest of my day in a little while....now I am going to go get outside again, going for another hike!

Perfect Day

Well, I have more pictures to share than you can imagine, but have neither the time or energy right now to post them.....so I will leave them, and a few new stories for next time....here is one picture to look at in the meantime......about the epitome of my week!