June 12th

I had off today so decided to check out the other end of the island. When you bike all of Sitka in a few hours you really do realize how small this place is. I had to stop when passing the Theobroma Chocolate Company to purchase some sweats made right here in Sitka. It’s definitely a better deal going to the Theobroma factory vs buying one of their chocolate bars somewhere else. You can get a larger bag of odds and ends chocolate that didn’t exactly turn out looking perfect for the price of a few normal bars. They don’t look as pretty but taste just as good.


-Theobroma Chocolate Factory.


-My goods.

When you pass the Sitka industrial park the road turns to gravel for the next few miles. I biked till the end of the road until I reached the End sign by Silver Bay. The road then turns into a small trail leading to a power plant or at least that's what I have been told. I also heard there are a lot of bears beyond this point so decided it would be best to not explore further on my own with out the company of the others.




-Big spotted banana slug.






-Beautil falls right off the road.

That night Richard and Kerstin had a party at their house. I was highly delighted at the amount of dogs that were there. Richard has a huge labradoodle named Dartanian, Kirstan recently adopted a husky mix named Refer and Zoie’s new mastiff puppy Sitka was there as well. At one point the neighbors tiny yellow labrador made an appearance.


-Kirstan and Refer.


-Morgan, Reece and Steve gathered around the roaring fire.

June 11th

I was ridding my bike to Whale Park today and discovered a terrier following me on Sawmill Creek Road. The poor thing looked super lost and very out of it’s surroundings. I was concerned that the small dog would get hit by a car so I lured it away from the highway with my lunch, a BP and J sandwich. Almost getting hit twice, the terrier came close enough to grab. After a few minutes of sitting, petting and having her unleashing a few scared bits to my hand, she allowed me to pick her up. For the next half an hour I knocked on various homes asking if they had seen the dog before. Finally I found a man who believed the dog lived on Wolf RD., a block down. A few knocks latter, the pup was safely retuned to a rather ungrateful owner. I should have taken “Bridget” to the pound to find a new master.

In other news, Morgan caught a fish today, a greenling I believe. He let me try a bite and boy did it taste good!




-Kiss me.

June 8th

I got a bike, well sort of. I’m borrowing Adam’s bike for a few days. I had an itching to head down to Mosquito Cove and bike along the waters edge. B.E.A.utiful! This is where I saw my first whales a month earlier, no whales today though. However, a mother grizz and two cubs have been seen in the area.

June 7th

One small ship in town makes for a super slow day. Never the less I find ways to amuse myself at the center. Now please remain seated and hold your applause while I introduce Stuff the Eagle and Anna his handler.

June 6th

-O'Connell Bridge.


-Island homes, view from bridge.

June 5th

Sitka and Volta visited the river together today. All the centers wildlife interpreters were there with cameras. These eagles must feel like real stars always getting their pictures taken wherever they go. Here are some images from river visit #3.


-Volta has such a good time playing in the water.




-Sitka is very distinguishable from her male friend Volta. She reminds me of a lion.


-Volta reminds me of a chicken. I love him.

June 3rd

I was a tourist today on Wolf’s walking tour! This three hour adventure started at Crescent Harbor where we then walked to the Raptor Center, through muskeg, the National Forest and end at the Russian Cathedral. Wolf, a very German accented Sitkan who works for Sitka Tours, hooked me up on one of his tours. I learned allot on my walking tour about plant species, the towns history and the native people of the island. It’s pretty cool to learn the names and purposes of some plant life in the area. I also learned about a few plants not to mess with. There's a bush that I see all the time when I’m out exploring and I had no Idea till today that it can give you second degree burns if your expose to intense sunlight after coming in contact with its pollen.


-At the Alaska Raptor Center.


-Wolfgang!


-Through the muskeg.


-Wolf really gets into his stories.


-Inside the Russian Cathedral.

After the walking tour and a brief nap, I was ready for a good hike. Lindsay had told me earlier that all the snow was now melted near the falls on Indian River trail. It was an absolutely perfect day with temperatures in the mid 70’s. My keys jingled on my belt and I sang the entire way to the falls, just incase a brown bear was out for a stroll as well. Three hours latter I arrived at the falls. The water level was definitely higher than my last visit as a result of the melting snow. I plan on exploring the backside of the falls during my next visit.