We live about a mile and a half away from the shop. Gas here is $3.50/gal. I have been walking to work on nice days, because it is good to be outside, and it is nice not to have to worry about waisting the gas on a 3 mile round trip commute. Jason has been riding his bike to work; even on the rainy days. I opt to drive on the rainy days, because my bike has been out of commision - - since, oh-you know, LAST Memorial Day weekend when we took them to Moab. I have needed a simple tube replacement in my front tire. Something my husband has promised to take care of everyday since we have been here.
I really wanted him to do it yesterday because he left today on a 7 day camping trip. He didn't. Which is fine, I was just going to have to do it, and have someone help me install it. Jason took the car to the shop this morning because he needed to carry all of his gear with him. I walked in this morning, with the intention on driving home, and stopping by the bike store to get a new tube. Jason left on his trip before I got to the shop, and only like Jason could; he took the keys with him. Luckily he didn't lock Alo inside of it!
So here I am with no bike, and no car, and a forecast of rain for the next 7 days. Fun! I did go pick up the tube, and just had them install it for me. Alo and I rode home tonight. This is a challenge. I haven't done much biking outside of a spinning class for some time now. Now I am doing it with a backpack, in the rain, with my crazy dog on a leash. All was alright. I made it about 2 blocks before Alo saw something move. For all I know it was a misquitto, or maybe a rock... but it was interesting enough for her! Off to the right she goes, and right off my bike I go too.... I was able to catch myself, and didn't totally eat it, but it was close.
I thought this would be a great picture painted for you guys. Here I am, a girl that just over a month ago was dressing in professional clothes, driving my Jetta to work, in an office where casual Friday's did not exist. Today, I am a girl that wishes I had a reason to get into some nicer clothes without getting a look (really, not even a resturaunt around here calls for more than what you just got off the fishing boat in) riding my bike to work in rain gear, holding my dog on a leash in one hand, and coffee mug in the other.
Anyways - I thought this was funny. Hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Training Trip
Again, I apologize for the lack in keeping you all up to date. We are still trying to figure out the Internet thing. It is $90/month here!
Last week we took a 3 day training trip with the Pangaea employees. It was so much fun! The first day it rained, and blew so hard. I was so miserable. We kayaked about 5 miles, and then got to shore to set up camp, only to find that all of our things were wet. Fun... The next morning the sun was shining though - It was the makings for an amazing day.
We packed up camp and went out to Columbia Glacier. This glacier is a very active glacier, and is caving (shedding ice) on a daily basis. In the last 13 years this glacier has receded 8 miles. So what that means for kayakers, is that there is 8 miles worth of icebergs to paddle around in. That was quite the experience.
Alo had quite the adventurous day this day. Of course she went with us. our plan was to leave her, and the other Pangaea dog (Abby) on the boat while we kayaked. Alo had another idea. She wanted to come with us. When we left the boat, and were a good 100 yards away, she decided to jump in the ocean after us. Mind you, Alo is not a water dog, and has never until this moment, ever volunteered to get in the water on her own. Thankfully someone was on the boat, and she realized very quickly that she had mad a big mistake. They got her back on, and she decided that she was ok with being left on the boat from then on. When we got to camp that night, she ran off to explore as she normally does. Here, on Saw Mill Bay, Alo met Mr. Porky Pine. Mr. Porky Pine didn't like Alo. Alo tried to eat him, and then came squealing back to us. She wasn't as bad as I have seen. She had about 1/2 dozen quills in her snout, and another dozen or so in her paw and leg. The worst one was in her nostril. She was humbled by that experience pretty well, and hasn't really wandered off since.
Day three was another beautiful day. We went to Shoup Glacier and paddled there for the afternoon before heading home. We set out shrip pots the first day we went out and got about 10 HUGE shrimp. Seriously, they were about the size of my foot. They brought 30 back yesterday. Too bad I dont each shrimp. We have a picture of Jason kissing one before he killed it. I will try to get that up soon.
This link is from one of the other guides. I haven't been able to get my pictures up yet, but they are a lot the same. I am in the light blue jacket, and black hat in most of these pictures. Yes, there is a picture of a bunch of us sitting on an iceberg!
http://www.flickr.com/gp/7423775@N08/8Gp033
Hope everyone is well! We miss you!!
Check out this link for
Last week we took a 3 day training trip with the Pangaea employees. It was so much fun! The first day it rained, and blew so hard. I was so miserable. We kayaked about 5 miles, and then got to shore to set up camp, only to find that all of our things were wet. Fun... The next morning the sun was shining though - It was the makings for an amazing day.
We packed up camp and went out to Columbia Glacier. This glacier is a very active glacier, and is caving (shedding ice) on a daily basis. In the last 13 years this glacier has receded 8 miles. So what that means for kayakers, is that there is 8 miles worth of icebergs to paddle around in. That was quite the experience.
Alo had quite the adventurous day this day. Of course she went with us. our plan was to leave her, and the other Pangaea dog (Abby) on the boat while we kayaked. Alo had another idea. She wanted to come with us. When we left the boat, and were a good 100 yards away, she decided to jump in the ocean after us. Mind you, Alo is not a water dog, and has never until this moment, ever volunteered to get in the water on her own. Thankfully someone was on the boat, and she realized very quickly that she had mad a big mistake. They got her back on, and she decided that she was ok with being left on the boat from then on. When we got to camp that night, she ran off to explore as she normally does. Here, on Saw Mill Bay, Alo met Mr. Porky Pine. Mr. Porky Pine didn't like Alo. Alo tried to eat him, and then came squealing back to us. She wasn't as bad as I have seen. She had about 1/2 dozen quills in her snout, and another dozen or so in her paw and leg. The worst one was in her nostril. She was humbled by that experience pretty well, and hasn't really wandered off since.
Day three was another beautiful day. We went to Shoup Glacier and paddled there for the afternoon before heading home. We set out shrip pots the first day we went out and got about 10 HUGE shrimp. Seriously, they were about the size of my foot. They brought 30 back yesterday. Too bad I dont each shrimp. We have a picture of Jason kissing one before he killed it. I will try to get that up soon.
This link is from one of the other guides. I haven't been able to get my pictures up yet, but they are a lot the same. I am in the light blue jacket, and black hat in most of these pictures. Yes, there is a picture of a bunch of us sitting on an iceberg!
http://www.flickr.com/gp/7423775@N08/8Gp033
Hope everyone is well! We miss you!!
Check out this link for
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Valdez
Well, we are here - in our new home of Valdez. Sorry we haven't updated in a while. We don't have internet at our house yet, so we have been hard pressed to find something that will work long enough to let us write something.
We are here, and half way settled in. My parents are bringing the rest of our things up tomorrow. We have been working hard with our new boss (Kenny) to put together tents, buildings, shelving units, boats, and lots of other things. The winter here really takes a toll on things, so it is a good 2+ weeks of repair, and clean up before anything else can happen. The shop is really cute. It is small, but it will work wonderfully as my home for the next few months. It is across the street from the harbor, so my view is of the water, watching boats come and go, backed by huge beautiful mountains. Our house is about a block from the ocean, and also backed by huge beautiful mountains. The sights are unbelievable. The weather, on the other hand, is something to be desired. Colorado defiantly had us spoiled. It has been low 50's, with enough of a breeze off of the water to make it cold. I am wondering if I will ever be able to wear my shorts...
The town is really quiet right now. Everyone around here shuts down for the winter - so we are all trying to get things together for the first hurd of tourists. Which should be this weekend. There is an air show in town. It will be nice to see people moving around. We are really anxious for the guides to get here, and to make some more friends.
We are planning on getting out on the water for the first time tomorrow, and next Wednesday is our training trip. We will be gone for 3 days. It should be fun. Interesting but fun. I am finding my self doing things that I don't normally do. Like using a power drill, and digging trenches with a shovel. Yeah, a shovel. So much for the mani I got before I left... I guess I used to do this stuff when I lived here before... but I think my brother always got the short end of that stick, because I would always play the girl card. Jason isn't really letting me play that here. O-well. I guess it is good for me.
Well, it's late - light, but late, so I am going to sign off for now.
We miss all of you back there in Colorado. Please stay in touch.
~Richell
We are here, and half way settled in. My parents are bringing the rest of our things up tomorrow. We have been working hard with our new boss (Kenny) to put together tents, buildings, shelving units, boats, and lots of other things. The winter here really takes a toll on things, so it is a good 2+ weeks of repair, and clean up before anything else can happen. The shop is really cute. It is small, but it will work wonderfully as my home for the next few months. It is across the street from the harbor, so my view is of the water, watching boats come and go, backed by huge beautiful mountains. Our house is about a block from the ocean, and also backed by huge beautiful mountains. The sights are unbelievable. The weather, on the other hand, is something to be desired. Colorado defiantly had us spoiled. It has been low 50's, with enough of a breeze off of the water to make it cold. I am wondering if I will ever be able to wear my shorts...
The town is really quiet right now. Everyone around here shuts down for the winter - so we are all trying to get things together for the first hurd of tourists. Which should be this weekend. There is an air show in town. It will be nice to see people moving around. We are really anxious for the guides to get here, and to make some more friends.
We are planning on getting out on the water for the first time tomorrow, and next Wednesday is our training trip. We will be gone for 3 days. It should be fun. Interesting but fun. I am finding my self doing things that I don't normally do. Like using a power drill, and digging trenches with a shovel. Yeah, a shovel. So much for the mani I got before I left... I guess I used to do this stuff when I lived here before... but I think my brother always got the short end of that stick, because I would always play the girl card. Jason isn't really letting me play that here. O-well. I guess it is good for me.
Well, it's late - light, but late, so I am going to sign off for now.
We miss all of you back there in Colorado. Please stay in touch.
~Richell
Saturday, May 5, 2007
I drive a Wagon!
Not your typical granny wagon... We decided that we did not need a huge truck just to drive back and forth from Palmer to Valdez on an occational basis. Gas prices around here are about 3.21 a gallon and that just wasn't going to work for a truck that gets 10 miles to the gallon. So we are selling the truck and last night we bought a 2003 Subaru WRX wagon. Its really fast, and we got an amazing deal on it. Some idiot at the dealership messed up and quoted us the wrong price so they had to honor it. After it was all said and done, i think they actually lost money on it. The truck is up for sale and we have almost sold it. I am showing it to 2 potential buyers this morning. It all works out well because it was great for the drive and hauled the trailer excellently and now we can sell it up here for more than we bought it for.
I will take some pictures of the car and post them later on today.
It just rained alot so maybe we will go get muddy somewhere today.
We leave for Valdez tomorrow afternoon. My next post will probably be from there. Wish us luck!
I will take some pictures of the car and post them later on today.
It just rained alot so maybe we will go get muddy somewhere today.
We leave for Valdez tomorrow afternoon. My next post will probably be from there. Wish us luck!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Airplanes, 4 wheelers, and Sunlight
The days up here keep getting better. They also keep getting longer. It is getting dark now at about 10:30 at night and it is taking a little getting used to. I love it. I just keep going and going and then i sit down for a minute and wonder why i am ready for bed when the sun is still out. Then i look at the clock and its 10pm.
I went 4 wheeling with Ricki yesterday. We had an awesome time. We got them stuck about a dozen times. But that is what we set out to do any ways. Those of you that know what the muddy season is like in Colorado can multiply that by 1000 and it will give you an idea as to what the muddy season is like here. Kris made us strip in the front yard and take our clothes to the laundry mat to wash them. Good times. More of that to come tomorrow.
Today Frank took me flying. What an amazing experience. Stay tuned for a "Juice Takes Flight Lessons" post. We flew out over he Matanuska and Suprise Glaciers and through the mountains in search of bears. We only spotted a few moose and a bunch of mountain goats. The bears wil probably start to come out in a few weeks. They probably know that it is hunting season and are hiding from all the horrible animal killers. Did i mention that i want to go bear hunting. I will let you know how that turns out. Frank let me fly for a little while and that was awesome. 
More pictures at http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t212/jcarmichael0483/
Ricki and I are off to the top of Lazy Mountain on the quads.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Heaven
This place is awesome. There are so many places to run and to smell. And there is moose poop everywhere. I am just glad to be out of that stupid car. This morning Dad didnt tie my leash on very well and i got to run off. I only explored for about 15 minutes before he caught me though. Next time im gonna head into the woods so he cant find me. And they have a cat here which is pretty cool, but dad yells at me evrytime i chase her too. He's no fun. Ok i have to go sniff some more moose poop.
-Alo
-Alo
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