Ferry Kari

A month ago I was blessed to have the opportunity to go to Anchorage over the weekend. In all my time in Alaska I had never really spent any quality time in Anchorage, except with it's airport. So a couple months proir when I was getting "island fever" I was able to devise a plan out with my friend Adrian (AKA Cupcake), who would be driving back to the lower 48 to move there. I would ride up on the ferry (a new experience for me) to Homer with him then roadtrip a few hours to Anchorage where he went let me do my shopping thing and he would continue on his journey and I would later fly back to the island. The plan had a couple hiccups in it's execution but it was overall successful. I had such a great time shopping. It had been so long since I had been able to shop in actual stores! Ha! I was also able to partake in some great food at new-to-me restaurants. =) It was about 70 degrees while I was there as well, which is the hottest outdoor temperature I have experienced this whole year! This compelled me to buy a skirt at REI.... Worth it.

The Kennicott after it landed us in Homer

Cupcake peacing out to Kodiak

Kodiak, the Emerald Island

 The famous Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer

In downtown Anchorage

And sadly my camera died before I could take anymore pics of Anchorage.....

It was a must needed mini vaca away from Kodiak and was well worth it, even if it left me a little sleep deprived. As great as this summer has been, it has been sad having to say bye to friends that I've made over the course of my time in Kodiak. I met a lot of them this winter when I was solo in representing the Refuge in the seasonal department and I didn't have many Refuge peeps to hang out with. I had a lot of great times with these guys & lady that I wouldn't change for anything. Now I'm just happy to have friends all over the U.S., so I always will have someone to visit no matter where I'm traveling at at that time! =)

With Laura, Stefan, & Texas prior to their departure

Thank God for all the new friends I've made and the old friends that continue to bless me. I look forward to the many adventures that await me and cherish my favorites from the past. For reals, I'm one lucky lady for ALL the people that are in my life, whether I met them in Montana, Oklahoma, Kodiak, or any other random place.

And can I get a what what for Pitbull coming to Kodiak!!!! 

Ahh... Catch Up Time!

Okay wow, as a blogger I am failing big time. So it's time to catch everyone up! I've been busily working as the director of the camp that I was an instructor for last year; it's been pretty fun seeing kids from last year and new faces as well. The instructors for the camp and other seasonals for the refuge came in early May. It was weird to think that that was the position that I was in exactly a year ago! Liz, a coworker from last year and friend, returned to the rock as well, so it has been great to have a good friend back in my life. The SC instructors went through training, prep, and currently we have been through four sessions of camp and on two village trips. Below are some snapshots I took from the training weeks in May, seeing Kodiak through the eyes of someone(s) new to the place....

Out on a boatin excursion 

Learning about Ft. Aber

Mossy tree/ Dr. Suess tree

Shelly enthusiastically posing on the wrap-up trip of training out at Fossil Beach

Whale watching on a rainy day

This summer has been an interesting mix of people in my life. It included my refuge family that I grew to knew last year, my coastie friends that I hung out with this winter, and new faces working for the refuge this summer, plus church and other local peeps from last year. It's been going pretty fair here in Kodiak, can't complain about the view. Time is blazing past me though! Is it really mid-July!? I feel like it should be late April! Anywho, like I mentioned previously, I have been on two village trips for work: Larsen Bay and Akhiok. I went to Larsen Bay last year so it was nice to be familiar with the village. Ali (one of my wonderful camp instructors) and I were shown great hospitality by some people there and were given the opportunity to relax in a hot tub and eat some good salmon and halibut. It was like I was on vacation and not work! Ha! We did work though, and the children were really great! We had kids ranging from 2-15 yrs of age. We were suppose to fly out on a mail plane there but were given the pleasant surprise of going via float plane! Ali was stoked, which I could completely understand considering I was in the same shoes last year. Here are some pics that share that experience in Larsen Bay..

 Leaving Kodiak on a float plane

Got to love living on a beautiful remote island sometimes

Larsen Bay cannery

With Ali!

The cannery at Larsen Bay, pretty neat little place..

Enjoying the hot tub & view

Larsen Bay 2011

Larsen Bay 2012

I thought it would be neat to take a pic in the same place as last year and I'm glad I could share them both with you =)

Well I've catch you up some but I have way more to share and that should be coming soon. Hope you are all well and that you have a blessed day.  =)