Alaska dispatch: Back to life, back to reality
This is my current view.
After exactly four weeks in Alaska, I’m back in Roanoke.
The trip back was long, but uneventful. I got to the airport in Anchorage at midnight Monday night and landed in Roanoke 16 hours later.
It was great to see Mary and the girls waiting for me outside security at the airport. It was also great that all of my bags arrived in one piece.
After a long night’s sleep, and I mean a loooonngg night’s sleep, I am back at my cubicle. I was relieved that my Roanoke Times security badge still worked!
It was odd to see the sun this morning, and to experience 80 degrees.
Regular readers are probably tiring of my tales from Alaska. They are about to end. But I do plan at least one more thing, an analysis of techniques that worked up there, and how those techniques can translate to fishing (mostly) in Virginia. The piece, to run on the Outdoors page in The Roanoke Times on Friday, will be speculative, but I think some of the things I did up there will work great here.
Thanks again to all of you who tuned in to my postings from Alaska. My blog readership numbers were solid — and the many supportive comments certainly didn’t hurt, either — and that certainly helped ensure that my badge still worked this morning. As you all know my outdoors coverage focuses almost exclusively on the region, and it always will. It was nice to be able to do something extraordinary (as in the location) and still have people interested.
Don’t get used to it, or worry that I will start jetting off to exciting locales on a regular basis. Mary has also let me know that four weeks was too long, which I take as a good thing that she actually likes having me around. Also, I footed this bill on my own, and it took a big bite out of my fun budget for a couple years.
That said, Alaska is an attainable destination.
Yes, if you go all out and set a trip up through an outfitter it can get pricey, especially if you’re talking about something like hunting brown bears or dall sheep (which require an outfitter).
But it’s possible to do it for a relatively modest amount of money, especially if you travel with friends and share costs. Maybe I’ll try to do a piece that breaks down the costs and planning.
Now, back to focusing hunting and fishing in Virginia!
September 26, 2012 - 2:54 PM
Welcome back! I enjoyed reading your posts. Did you ever get to do any hunting? I recall you were including hunting gear early in your preparations but didn’t see any reports about killing a bear or caribou.
We’ve been hunting squirrels and doves and getting our stands setup for deer season. Trout stocking starts next week. I plan on chasing some trout in the streams and going after some fall crappie in SML.
Hooray, you made it back!! Love the desk shot, lol. I sure enjoyed following your adventures from my safe, dry, sunny, warm locale. I’m sure your family is VERY very happy to have you back..maybe not your laundry…but you!
So where does Mary get to go on her four week vacation?
Welcome back!
Ranger — The only hunting I did was to go out with my bow looking for grouse. Now, the only reason I even considered it is that the spruce grow are incredibly dumb. They fly into a tree and sit there and look at you. I had them do that to me on several occasions during the trip. But never when I had my bow! I bet the SML crappie bite should turn on soon.
As for laundry, Cort, it’s not a terrible pile. I didn’t take many clothes! Wool is my new best friend. Wear for days on end and doesn’t stink (too bad).
Huh? Did not know the spruce grouse was a democrat.
Welcome back. Enjoyed following your adventure. Time to hunt VA now. Good luck.
Welcome back Mark, loved reading all your updates from Alaska, bet you need a vacation from the vacation now……..
Welcome back to reality! A trashed desk is indicative of a sound mind.
Al, since you made your political insult on an outdoors/hunting/fishing blog, I’ll bite. Yes, the birds must be democrats…If they were republicans, some of the 47% that survived would fly over and offer to reload the hunter’s gun for another shot.
Political BS (my above comment included) belongs somewhere other than on this blog. Henceforth, I will keep such comments to myself…if you will.
Ranger — Maybe I need to include more political chatter. It seems to help the visitation numbers for a few of our other blogs. On the other hand, nah.
Ranger. It just was one of those instant flashes of total brilliance on my part. Kept me laughing for several minutes. Bet you wish you would have thought of it. Yours, on the other hand remains a puzzle. Normally, I stick to the topic but this was just too good to pass up and, quite honestly, should a similar opportunity materialize I’ll probably do something like it again.
Mark, welcome back to the home region. I can’t talk for others, but I did not tire one bit of your dispatches from your trip.
As for the political chatter, I like to think this blog is above that. Well, I know this blog is above that.
I’m rather envious. I still have yet to figure out why I haven’t made a trip out west or to Alaska a priority.