Sep 28, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Auke Lake trail looks just about like any other trail in Juneau until...
...you come out onto this metal ramp...huh? Pretty cool,...but why metal? It looks so metallic in all that water and wood landscape...like it's totally out of place! Somebody answer the question: why metal?
How many Juneauites who live downtown know about this walk? How long has it been here? I had no idea we could walk Auke Lake. I had been wondering why i saw all those cars parked in that little out-cropping of a parking area on this side of the float planes. It’s easy, peaceful and if it weren’t for the occasion field mouse running across the path, it’s almost boring. There are no hurdles anymore; the City has paved so many of the trails we’ve been like there are no stumps to jump, no slipping and sliding amongst big roots and swampy puddles to dodge! Where’s the excitement, man? We’ve got it so easy now. Okay, Okay, quit the complaining. I am soaking up the scenery; that’s always exciting.
This is a significant sign! Especially for Dan and i who in the past year, with all the moving around I've done, to deal with the commotion and disorganization, he calls it "...oh, you're just packing it in and packing it out, packing it in and packing it out...I get it!"
Beautiful Auke Lake - when we were kids, we saw Auke Lake on occasion because very few of us in the neighborhood had cars...I was always in awe of Auke Lake...I'd call it the peaceful black lake (it doesn't move like the tides); it's still mysterious to me now and is was then...
Do any of you remember the Filipino photographer, Vincent Isturis? He had a famous tinted, black and white photograph of Auke Lake back in the 60’s – the lake had no houses, the Mendenhall Glacier was very full behind the short trees and there was a yellow-painted wooden guard rail – remember that? (goodness, the days of wooden guard rails!) My friend Margie has a framed photo of this image that was a gift from Vincent to her father Frank.
Okay. I guess there's beauty in a metal walkway!
To answer that question of why a metal walkway? We’ve got lots of rain, honey, we’re in a rain forest, remember?
The shallow underwater world of water lilies and fallen trees
A rippling reflection
Earthy lime green is everywhere in this climate - i grew up with this stuff - no wonder why green is my favorite color!
Several Alaskan folks who live elsewhere in the world have made comments upon seeing my blog of our Juneau walks – they say they get homesick. I apologize for this. I mean no harm in posting delicious reminders of what they are missing. Honest. I am just sharing this small part of our world. I apologize to those folks, however, I must keep posting the beauty because that’s what I see, and also think about this: sooner or later, there may be some natural (or man-made) disaster and then things will change and then it’s messy, and because our Earth is ever-changing and ever-forgiving, it comes back to beauty again. We gotta soak up what is about us while we can, as the world is ever-changing. And because we can’t be in two places at once, we have to look at photos of our home State and so be it, we get homesick. Isn’t it wonderful that you know you love a place so much by how much you get homesick?
Sep 23, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Fireweed going to seed at Eagle Beach Boy Scout Meadow
Like I mentioned earlier in a blog a couple of days ago, I hadn’t spent a whole lot of recreational time outdoors in Juneau (except when I had my landscaping company 25 years ago – but this doesn’t count because I was running a landscape business; it was not necessarily leisure). When the Bill of Rights celebrated it’s 100-year anniversary (1996?), they celebrated it in Juneau because the U.S. Government deemed this place the most beautiful capital city in the U.S. – really? You mean Honolulu is not more beautiful? – After romping through the forests, beaches and mountains of Juneau this past Summer, I too deem this place the most beautiful capital city in the States!
There are few ways to survive the weather in Juneau: 1). get out in the weather for a walk, hike, whatever, every day, 2) attend all the social & cultural activities that interest you, 3) get into doing some kind of art that pleases your soul, and/or 4) spend time with the very young and the very old. I recommend all of the above. Please share if you have any other suggestions!
Eagle Beach Boys Scout Camp Meadow stretches about a square mile wouldn't you say?
Nagoon Berry at Eagle Beach
If you ever receive a jar of Nagoon-berry jelly from someone, you must be really, doggone special to that person because it isn’t easy to find this berry in the Juneau area anymore…I found two little berries this day I was at Eagle River. Berry folk like myself know this is the best berry in the world – and we’ve got fields of these gems in specific areas in the northern part of Southeast Alaska. Dundas Bay (part of Glacier Bay National Park) is a great spot; the berry stalks are taller than any of us have ever seen in the Juneau area!
The beauty of ebbing - how many of us know how to do this?
Eagle Beach ebbed peninsula
You think you've seen one sunset so you've seen 'em all?
Do you know anyone who is tired of sunsets?
Eagle Beach cannot help be Sunset Alley
Eagle Glacier alpine glow
A mysterious reflection
So at first we saw this big porcupine at a distance and thought it a small cub!
When's the last time you saw a frog? huh?
Sep 22, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Mendenhall Glacier's additional waterfall
Have you been out to the Mendenhall lately? If you want to see the glacier in the sunshine, according to the online weather report, we’ve got one day left before the rain sets in. Big chunks of ice calved from the glacier exposing the latest waterfall. The photo above barely shows the little waterfall. If you follow the base of the big waterfall (on the right) and move your eye to the left to where the rock comes to a point, you will barely see the waterfall (against the newly-faced glacier wall). I don’t know if it’s been named yet cuz it’s just a “newborn” and the Forest Service is busy with other matters. Go visit our local glacier. It’s melting fast. Our glaciers may not be around in 40 years. If anything, check out the icebergs!
Mendenhall icebergs as big as houses!
Mendenhall icebergs, again?
How can we tire of Mendenhall icebergs? Check out that shade of turquoise!
Can you see the profile of a dude in this rocky cliff sporting Nugget Falls at the Mendhenall? This dude even has a double chin - he's saying to himself: "ha, so what's with all the water!?"
Sep 22, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Jellyfish Horizon
Have you ever seen a beached jellyfish? We think this was a sunburnt jellyfish – got caught by the Indian Summer weather at Eagle Beach near the Boy Scout Camp out here in good ole Juneau, Alaska. Check out the sunflower character looking like a jello mold!
Checking out the alien...
You asking how big this thing was? Maybe 18″ diameter. Do jellyfish get bigger than that? I have never seen a jellyfish out of water so I cannot gauge what this one would measure when it’s in the ocean. What does the jellyfish feel like? jello? I don’t know. We shoulda poked it as any normal human would.
Jellyfish Swirl
Jellyfish Close-up
What do Jellyfish and sunflowers have in common?
Sep 14, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Mt. Roberts trail head signs
I cannot remember the last time I hiked Mt. Roberts Trail: 10 to 15 years ago? I done see some new improvements during the entire hike beginning right at the trail head. In the “olden days” there weren’t the modern conveniences of a metal stairwell up the first part of the trail head of Mt. Roberts, let alone signs telling you where you are, what to do and how to behave! Gawd! Like have we advanced or what!? These amenities musta been the result of the City and Borough of Juneau accommodating to the few walking tourists…I have to say that walking up the metal steps at the trail head is sure a lot easier than the steep, and often times slippery and muddy path that once was. Aren’t you glad we have tourists? !^P
Log Walkway
A covered rest area!
The covered rest area has a view!
This view has overgrown indeed – time to cut the entire forest down so we can see what we’re looking at from the rest area, doggone it!
Another log walkway
For you "cheechako's", remember that Devil's Club berries are poisonous!
What's up man, like holy cow! - To how many walkways do I subject you guys!?
It's just not true that once you've seen one root and log walkway, you've seen 'em all!
Getting closer to the tramway, there are still lots of blueberries ripe for the pickin'
View across to the town of Douglas, Alaska
A Spruce head
Tramway view looking down at the Gastineau Channel
Looking west from Mt. Roberts tramway to the beloved Chilkat Range
Sep 8, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, To See or Not to See |
The name sake sits in the woods at the edge of Eagle Beach
At one time, there must have been more eagles at this beach. Lots of ducks, lots of seagulls, even Canadian geese, however only one eagle; like what’s the deal? How come nobody give the names “bird beach” or “Geese Beach?” What happened to all the eagles? Are they out fishing in other rivers plump with spawning salmon. Isn’t it too late for spawning salmon; aren’t we at the tail end of all that? Too much road construction for the eagles? Too many hikers, campers and beachcombers? Too much noise? One eagle, folks, that’s what was out here on a beautiful early evening. Better enjoy it while we can!
The tide is going out catching the reflection of another glorious sunset
Aerial Mushroons are like most mushrooms, they suddenly appear, then the go back from where they come
Some clouds erupt like volcanoes
I swear, like all the other photos on this blog, I DID NOT photoshop that lovely sight directly above us in the clouds!
"Rear Mirror Rissy" in her Alaskan safari style scoping the dramatic scene
The sun has set; do we really have to go home?
Sep 3, 2010 | Honoring Others, North Tide |
Juneau artist Arnie Weimer stands aboard his scaffolding at 2nd St & Gold
What kind of normal people would work in Juneau weather? Laborers, gardeners, construction crew, long shoremen, city maintenance folks,…and, and…artists? I can’t say I know very many Juneau artists who are willing to design and paint an art installation entirely outdoors. I’m sorry folks, but Juneau’s weather gets to me; unless of course, I am working in the weather, then for whatever the psychological/emotional reasons, I can stand the constant rain.
Hey, what is this photo essay about? Juneau’s weather or Arnie Weimer’s latest endeavor!? Gadzooks, get on with it!
What’s Arnie doing this mural for? What’s the name of it? Why is he doing it? Who commissioned him? Or is this mural a donation to the city because the big wall needed some action? What’s the story on this mural? Who is Arnie, anyway?
A few dabs of paint while he poses for this photo
Obviously, the mural portrays aspects of Juneau’s diverse cultural history (i.e. miners, totem poles, fishing vessels and “no parking” signs. I think I’ll give Arnie a call and get some info, eh? Or would you like to respond with answers?
Last of the traditional Chilkat weavers Jennie Thlunaut
Arnie included his boat from long past in this fishing scene
The mural measures 20 ft. high by 120 ft. wide
Rain or shine, Arnie plugs along
Aug 27, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Relationship Overdrive |
Jan and Greg
I played match-maker for two of my friends, Greg Garrison and Jan Parrish. I was driving up to Alaska from Colorado in mid-March 2007 and brought Jan with me to meet Greg. Since, they’ve been two peas in a pod.
Up to the Reliance
I’ve known Greg for a long time; he’s born and bred in Juneau. We home-schooled our kids together back in the late 80’s. Owning Harbor Marine in Hoonah since the mid-90s, he’s the only boat mechanic/refurbisher of his caliber in the entire Glacier Bay area. He bought the famed “Reliance” sail boat years ago; it’s a beauty. Being on board the Reliance reminds me of my childhood days fishing with my father and living across the street from the Juneau Float. I wonder about having a boat when I permanently move back to Alaska – in Haines, of course!
Hooray for Greg; he is finally making time to remodel and rebuild his own boat. I look forward to her first sail!
Jan, Greg and Clarissa
Greg explains how the engines took 3 entire days to move from one part of the ship to the other
The diningroom will be able to seat 8 comfortably
Jan and Greg stand in one part of the livingroom
A suggestion in the bathroom
The Reliance's hull
Hull colors
Best wishes for Jan and Greg in completing the Reliance's remodel
Aug 27, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Relationship Overdrive |
Greg and Clarissa act as if they're gonna eat a berry while Jan keeps the bucket from tipping over
Like I said in my previous blog entry yesterday, instead of celebrating Hoonah’s veterans and doing the ANB Hall fundraising event, I chose berry-picking on a sunny day in Hoonah, Alaska!
Blueberries, Black & Red Huckleberries are there for our taking!
The red huckleberries are Jan's favorites - a good year for plump ones
Our berry-pickin' view couldn't get any better
4 gallons of berries in a silver bucket
Between the three of us, we picked about 6 gallons of berries in 2 hours! - whadda day!
Aug 18, 2010 | North Tide |
A one-man submarine with a canon? We've seen it all!
Among many things, my father William Lampe was a commercial fisherman. Sometimes he would take his kids out fishing, or just “steer the boat!” His boat, the “Clarissa Rizal” was moored at the Juneau Float which was down the Carrol Way stairs and across the street from where we lived – most convenient for him as well as I, who loved to be down at the harbor. Walking Auke Bay’s boat harbor, I reminisce the days of being in the company of boats, high tide, the aroma of saltwater sea and salmon, and folks dressed in fishing attire and the Juneau boots. Then there’s the addition of the modern, eclectic, sensible statements aboard some vessels…
Always remember to take your grill and gloves when fishing...!
Christmas colors in August...
In Alaska, a man's boat IS the "other woman!"
