Little Alaskan Man

David and Nelita brought back these bib-overalls and XtraTuff boots from Alaska. Zeke was pretty proud to wear them today and ended up getting completely soaked (as usual). When I went outside to see what the guys were doing, he came running up to me with the familiar squashing sound of rubber boots full of water.

In many ways, I can't believe that he's never even been to Alaska. Of course, Lincoln hasn't been there either and Robb has only seen Kotzebue, which isn't really anything like where I grew up in the Southeast. I was thinking about this the other day and decided to look up the logging camp. I guess they call it "Loggerville" now and charge $85 for a guided tour. I would love to take that tour, but I have a feeling that it would make me melancholy.

Duck Duck Moose

Happy little handsome men.

Hi there, friend of mine.

Last time my mom was down here from Kotzebue, AK she brought these matching outfits for the little guys. Nelita and I have been meaning to get them together for a picture for months now, so today was the day.

Arctic Alaska Day 9

Mom makes her famous Taco Salad!

Janella, Ben, Robb and Jess

Our brief visit to Nome, Alaska.

Yay! Sabbath again. We had a great song service, lesson study and a fantastic potluck. Then off to home for a quick nap before our visit to the Kotzebue Senior Citizen Center for an afternoon of singing. It was time for goodbyes before catching our evening flight out. We will truly miss this place.

Kotzebue Driving

So, the vehicles here are pretty amazing. Since there are no actual roads into Kotzebue, everything has to be brought in on cargo ships. Pretty much, if you can start the vehicle, that is all that matters. In point of fact, you don't have to have license plates or driver's licenses. Driving down the street the other day was a forklift carrying a pallet with a guy riding on top. The local sheriff drove by at the same moment and only waved. Everything goes.

Arctic Alaska Day 8

Dad refuels in the rain.

Native fish drying rack.

Our first drizzly day! We had been expecting this kind of weather the whole time, and it reminds me quite a bit of Southeast Alaska. We walked to the office and relaxed most of the day. Dad and mom actually got off of work early (6:30 pm) so we headed home to make gluten.

Arctic Alaska Day 7

Our self-guided four-wheeler tour.

Robb having fun flipping photos.

Local elder Willie Goodwin sits in his family tribal seat.

Dad's photography.

Dad's photography.

Today was pretty chill. I helped mom do her weekly cleaning. Robb got an early start, being deputized to guide clients to their flights. He made friends and was gifted all sorts of jerky and moose sausages. We checked out the art gallery and decided against the $1000 mukluks. Dad went out on an afternoon archeological expedition with the park services and a native elder. They went to Desperation Lake, where an ancient tribal meeting ring is located (the largest of it's kind to be found in North America). He took his camera along and shared his photos with us.

Arctic Alaska Day 6

Front Street (soon to be paved).

Levi and Rosie pose for a parting shot with Mom and Dad.

Since it was supposedly mom's day off, we decided to do the tourist thing. We got a tour of town, including front street, the post office, park services office, the grocery store and a special guided tour of the local hospital from Ben, Janella and Vienna. Mom baked fresh bread then we dropped in to the office and it was swamped there, so we ended up spending some time there and got to meet Rosie and Levi. We even got mom's hair permed and Robb took yet another flight with dad. He is certain to be a pilot soon at this rate.

Arctic Alaska Day 5

Dad grabs a quick bite to eat in between charters.

A HUGE moose rack awaits departure.

By load three, the hunting group already has camp set up.

Today was a "Go to work with your parents" day. Northwestern Aviation ended up having a terribly overbooked day, with very little ground support staff. We stood in and drove the fuel truck (that also doubles as a snow plow) back and forth with clients and gear. Dad took me on one of his last flights out to a lake in the seaplane and let me fly both ways! Best time ever.

Arctic Alaska Day 4

Jess got a little tired of sitting and decided to wash the windows.

One day this will be mine.

Labor Day! So of course, dad and mom were working. Dad had three charter flights in a row to take a large group of hunters and all of their gear out to a lake, so we got to see a fair bit of float plane work. We took it pretty easy, hanging around the office, then home for a 9:00 p.m. supper of mom's creamed peas and potatoes and a hallmark movie.

Arctic Alaska Day 3

Looking down on the continent of South America!

Dad and mom's duplex is the cream one with a brown roof.

Our night at the bed and breakfast was delightful. We woke up to dad making breakfast from leftovers—grilled cheese and questadillas. The fog had lifted a bit, so we had a nice flight back to Kotzebue. Pretty much as soon as we got back dad had flights scheduled, so Robb and I headed back to the apartment for a nice long nap. We took a nice trip around the 7-mile loop on the quad and then dad headed out to Noorvik on a Northwestern Aviation charter with dad. He was pretty excited, cause he got to fly the whole way back. Finally had dinner around 9:30. Our day keeps getting later and later.