Sam And Saundra's Year Long Adventure - Part 157

Sam And Saundra’s Year Long Adventure – Part 157

Alaska

7/16/08-8/8/09 - Bye to The Boys

When it was time for Joe and The Boys to leave, we opted to drive Joe to the airport in Anchorage.  A full day of travel time.  It was worth it.  The time that Joe spent with us in Alaska was precious to Sam and I.  We would love to have been able to have all the family up here with us.  We hope he was able to take a well-deserved rest from work.  It is weird-to-the-max that this trip comes just a few months before he gets to go to Australia on a cruise.  Life is funny.  But he better be relaxed by the time he returns, or we will have to find another retreat for him.  He is deserving of all the good things in life.  The grownup, stoic one in the family and we love him dearly.  We found out that he is a persistent fisherman, who is generous with his time and actions as a son and a fisherman. He genuinely loves Alaska. 

Joe Driving As We Drive Him To Anchorage Airport

We drove behind The Boys all the way back to Anchorage.  At least we tried. The Boys had a rented truck, with their boxes of fish in the back, each box wrapped with a garbage sack.  After scurrying to get their truck packed, they only traveled a few miles before they had to stop on the side of the road to retie and add duct tape to the de-sacking boxes of fish. Back on the road, only to stop again. This time not only to re-fix the packaging but to allow for some of The Boys to go pod in the wild.  Back on the road, only to stop again. (Joe was snoozing in the back of Brutus, missing all the action.) Some of The Boys used the wild pod, then rush in a circle around their truck, with Russ ending up in the driver’s seat (much to Sam’s dismay). Back on the road again, only to stop yet again. This time to get gas and check out indoor plumbing. Then --- they poofed!  We lost Russ when he decided to rush though a yellow.  They vanished. Even phone contact was garbled. By this time, I was thinking that the title “The Boys” was apt.  But they did make it to the rental place, then to the airport, on to the plane and home – on time and with their fish.  Way to go guys!!  We plan to come and do it again – HOW ABOUT YOU?  I cried only a little as we left the airport. Some of it was laughter; some was sadness that Joe had to go back home.

Following The Boys To The Airport

I thank Russ for introducing my ‘Boys’ to Alaska on a prior fishing trip.  It made a big impression on them and instilled a love of Alaska. I also want to thank Russ for his salmon bits dinner, his sense of style, the information on shipper’s license and his absolutely fabulous recipe for smoked salmon brine.  We even used it as a marinade for grilled salmon and were thrilled with the results.  Thanks Russ!!

Some Views Are Better Then Others

 We opted to have brunch before returning to Soldotna.  Brutilla told us that a Village Inn Restaurant was the closest, so we went there.  We entered and right there, seated and ready to eat, were the couple, and their boys, who we met at the Klutina River. They live and go to church in Soldotna.  Anchorage is such a Big City.  We were amazed.