W addicted to violent video games?

I often wonder if such photo and headline placement is intentional. I, for one, got a bit of a chuckle from the association of the headlines to the picture. An article about video game addiction below a photo of our illustrious leader surrounded by computer screens, lights and switches, then an article about Manhunt 2(Bin Laden perhaps?) being suspended becacuse of violence. This appeared in the Anchorage Daily News yesterday. Too funny.

My first You Tube video

Yesterday I had a nice vantage point to take some video of a few planes taking flight. I never get tired of seeing them claw their way into the air. Check out the first one, he must have been loaded down, he was only about 20 feet up when he passed the end of the runway. First time doing any video so don't expect much in the way of production values. :-)

Home Sweet VHF Omnidirectional Range(VOR)

Interesting spot we visited yesterday. While waiting for some equipment to do their thing we explored the village a bit. The structure in the photo above is a decommissioned navigation aid, either a VOR or VORTAC from the looks of it. Someone decided it would make a nice house, so they ran power to it and attached an oil drum for heat in the winter. The FAA sign is still on the door. Who'd have thunk it?

Flower on the Tundra.

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Just a quick rewind. When speaking with a local pilot at Tatitlek, he mentioned that he's sort of like a flying Costco for the village. He said that one of the things he had recently delivered was street signs. That struck me as rather odd because the village has less than 100 people, and only about 10 cars or so. There were maybe 3 or 4 intersections. It might be just me, but it didn't really seem like there was a big traffic control problem there in Tatitlek. I just thought it was interesting.

While exploring Larsen Bay we saw this sign:


My first thought was that it should read something like this:

What is that? Is it alive? I think it's a dog. It's Rasta Dog!

While spending some time at the South Naknek International Airport:


We came across this lump of matted hair:


It has a tongue, I think it's a dog:


Oh no, it's after us:


It wasn't just a dog, it was Rasta dog, this pup had major dreadlocks. I guess when you live on the Tundra every bit of hair helps.

The Eagles Have Landed, and Flown Away

A few shots of the local denizens near Larsen Bay, AK.

Pose for me:


Just gorgeous:


Hey what about me?


Buh-bye now:

I Just Love Smoking Mountains

Here's a shot of the Augustine Island Volcano:

Portage Pass and Whittier

On Monday, we had some beautiful weather to fly Portage Pass and over Whittier(known as the strangest town in Alaska).

Approaching the end of Turnagain Arm:


Portage Glacier on the right:


Portage Pass on the left:


In the pass:


Whittier coming into view with a cruise ship alongside the pier:


Whittier, most of the town lives in the single building near center that looks like a hotel.

What an interesting place that must be in the winter. A couple of local facts: Whittier was established because the harbor was ice-free year round and because (fact #2) the weather is always "shittier in Whittier." Since it's almost always cloudy it meant that during WWII, the Japanese (and perhaps future enemies) would have had a hard time bombing the port. It's now accessible by car from Anchorage as well and serves as a ferry terminal as well as a cruise ship terminal.

Al Dente and a Perfect Portion

Just finished watching the finale of Sopranos. It's been a great ride. Early on I never bought into the series because I only caught an episode here and there while in a hotel with some time to kill. About four years ago we opened a membership with NetFlix and started with Season 1, Episode 1, watching a dvd of episodes(usually two or three) on Friday night over beer and homemade pizza. "The Family" became like a member of our own little family. Close friends that came over to start the weekend off right. Once we caught up with the series we anxiously waited with the rest of America for each new season. Last year we ordered HBO just for the time the show aired. This year we did not. I caught the earlier episodes and missed a few in the middle, rejoining last week, and just in time for the finale tonight. Glad I did. I absolutely loved it.
There's been a lot of analysis about the series, and I will not attempt to duplicate or expound upon here, but the show had a touch of magic to be sure. It's like no matter how exotic a life one leads, in the end it's just full of the same ups and downs, small victories and petty bullshit. Most of us can relate all too well. I know I can, and I think that is why it struck such a chord with me,
For the finale, I will offer no spoilers, but to me it was precisely on target. And so this story of the North Jersey Family exits, poetically mundane, just as it should have been. Well played Mr. Chase, well played indeed. There will probably be a movie, but if anything I hope it's a prequel to the series. Not unlike an exquisite dining experience, the finale, like the series has left me delighted and satiated but not full. The perfect portion.

Tatitlek, AK Pop 91(give or take a few)

Here's a photo of Tatitlek from the air:

Note the airstrip on the left. The Exxon Valdez ran aground not far from here. This just might be the smallest town I've ever visited. Everyone was very nice. They get air service from Anchorage on a fairly regular basis. Sort of a flying Costco as someone put it.

$500 dog? One fellow offered to sell me this little guy for $500. Tempted though I was, I had to decline.



Some local wildlife:

Enroute photos

Here's a couple of photos from the trip out to Tatitlek:

Bear Valley near the end of Turnagain Arm


Peaks in the clouds.

Back in AK

After setting what might be a ground speed record(at least my own personal record) in a Twin Otter of 234 kts :


We landed at Anchorage.


Nearly 19 hours of sunshine today. It was a beautiful afternoon. Even at 8:00 it felt like early afternoon. Last time I was here I hardly saw the sun at all; I hope today is a precursor for things to come.

Gratuitous Mt. Rainer Pictures

No trip through Seattle is complete without some photos of the glorious Mt. Rainier

Dam It All

With over 400 dams, the Columbia River Basin is the most dammed river system in the world. Here's a shot of one of them, the Umatilla Rapids Dam near Umatilla, Or.

A Place of Evel

Somewhere near here is where Evel Knievel was supposed to jump the Snake River. This shot is of Twin Falls, ID which is perched at the rim of the canyon.

The Perrine Memorial Bridge is at the center.

God's Game of Reversi

These things always remind me of giant game Othello:

Fire on the mountain....

Near the Utah border we passed a wildfire. Take away the hills and its just like Florida right?


Another shot.


Flames!



On to Salt Lake City. One more stop in Seattle then North to Alaska.

....and Lightning in the air, near Colorado Springs

Enroute from Little Rock to Colorado Springs we were rerouted slightly to avoid Mr. Thunderstorm.


It was close, but luckily we were able to get fuel before they put a lightning hold on operations. Below is a picture of one of the culprits.


A full tank and off we go over the Rockies. So nice to see snow in June.


On the way up we picked up just a bit of icing in some of the clouds. No worries.

Chasing the sun and leaving a storm in my wake.

Finally after all too much time on the Cape and not nearly enough time at home the winds have carried me onward and upward once again. I departed this afternoon as the leading edge of Barry started caressing the Bay area with that lovely liquid lawns long for. This trip takes me yet again to the great Norther north wester west we call Alaska. Should be some great photos to share and the project will take me to some out-of-the-way places. First leg of the journey was to depart as the winds started blowing and the rain started down as we took wing for Little Rock. No photos just yet, but thanks to Barry we made good time. Aiming for Salt Lake tomorrow, hopefully the skies are a bit clearer. Stay tuned.