Our Adventure Continues

Hello friends! Wesley and I have been extremely busy lately. We are learning the ways of Alaska which includes to drop everything if it's a pretty day and go fishing, and even when it's not pretty, drop everything and go fishing. Funny, but pretty much true. We have adapted to this lifestyle easily...especially Wesley.

On our very first fishing trip we went with Todd, Amy, and Hollyn to the mouth of the Nome River. This is where the pinks were running and silvers were starting to run. It is so neat to learn about the fish because there are SO many of them that you can see their backs out of the water sometimes, and they jump like crazy! Todd brought his fish grillers so we built a fire out of driftwood, caught some fish, and grilled them up!

This spot is really cool because it connects to the sea, so we were fishing in the river, but we were on the beach! It was awesome! Todd had his truck blaring music and, of course, "Sweet Home Alabama" played, so we felt right at home!  Wesley caught the first fish of the day only after he lost Todd's fish because he wasn't quick enough with the net!

Hollyn, Amy, and I went to collect another friend, Chris, and when we were pulling back up at the river, Wesley came running with a huge fish in one hand and a big blue wrapped thumb on the other! He looked so proud with his fish! It was his 3rd one of the day! His big blue thumb?? He sliced it open while cleaning the fish! He is better now. Anyway, we fished, ate, drank, and jammed out for a long while and then it was time for Todd to take Amy to the airport. She was a traveler and this was her last time fishing. It was a great day.

I should probably mention that Hollyn, Wesley, and I worked the night before and all we had planned to do that day was move Wesley and me into our new apartment and crash, but like I said before...when someone mentions fishing in AK..drop everything, and that's what we did! Todd and Hollyn helped us move into our new apartment before we went fishing though. We love it here! It is such a great apartment. It is so clean and open and reminds me of a condo. We have really started to make it feel like home here.

Lets see, we have received lots of packages in the mail so far. Paula Andrews has sent us 3 already! I was so surprised to get her packages! She bought us a set of 5 pyrex dishes and a set of 5 baking pans! We really needed these things so we were so excited! Also, she sent us a box of food items and a book! Thanks Paula! We received boxes of things we ordered from Columbia and Cabelas which is always fun to open! Wesley's Dad and Sisters sent us a box too! It was full of food!!!! haha Our pantry is looking good now! Rachel also clipped us some coupons and we got those, too! Thanks guys!



Wesley on a late night at work!



We have been working a lot! I got to watch my first baby being born, so that was incredible! We don't use epidurals at our hospital, so don't come here to have a baby! haha We got to hold the baby all night after the delivery so that was fun! Wesley is starting to really like working in the ER. I thought that's where I would want to work, but I like the inpatient unit just as well. I'm not comfortable enough to do ER, yet. I am still on training right now. Hollyn is my preceptor and she is awesome! We are starting to become great friends! Sometimes we all go eat breakfast after work in the mornings so that is a lot of fun!



"White Alices" on the top of Anvil Mountain from the Cold War



One morning, we were all going to eat breakfast, but decided to drive around a little bit before we went to eat. Hollyn owns a 4-runner so she took us just about everywhere! She drove us to the top of Anvil Mountain and all around town. She showed us the jail and the highschool. We had so much fun. Then we went to go eat, and she had a nail in her tire, so we went to the tire shop. Poor Wesley was "dying" of hunger at this point, so we went to Airport Pizza for breakfast instead. Then, we did tons of errands all around town! We went everywhere! We just had a great time that day driving around and going to all kinds of different stores!



Todd, Hollyn, Wesley, and I went on a ride through Banter Creek and up to Pilgrim Hot Springs with some stops in between. That was SO much fun! We saw 2 moose, a red fox, birds, and 3 grizzly bears. (I fell asleep and didn't see the bears, but everyone else did!) Our ride was 12 hours long! Talk about a good time!

We stopped at Salmon Lake for a bit and the views were breathtaking! We made it to Pilgrim Hot Springs and, of course, got in! When else are you going to be able to jump in a volcanic hotsprings in the middle of the tundra in Alaska! It was so hot!! The mountains were all around us. We could have stayed there for ages! We drove around through the wilderness. It was so invigorating knowing that we were the only vehicle around for who knows how long! The cool thing about this road is that it is only accessible in the summer by vehicle. You have to drive a snow machine to these areas if you want to access them in the winter. We had so much fun being a bunch of Southerners in such a Northern state!! We all felt so free!

  

Hollyn and I hanging out @ Salmon Lake

On the way back, we stopped at a bridge and, of course, did some fishing!!!

We caught a BUCKETFUL of fish... probably about 20 or so! In this particular place there were tons of "dog fish" which, I think, are the same thing as Chum salmon. They have been running longer, so they are older. Once Salmon spawn, they start to die, so these particular fish were old and rotting! haha They were HUGE though. Whenever you caught one, you just have to throw it back because they aren't as good to eat as the Humpys (pinks) we were catching too.

There is this nurse at work, CC, and she is an amazing cook! She loves to try new things, and we are fine with that! She asked us to bring her some fish and by-golly we did!! Actually, when we got home from our trip, it was about 2am and we didn't have her number so we gave all those fish to Mollie. Well, we promised CC some fish, so we went back the next day and got her another bucketful! We brought those fish to CC, and we can't wait to see what she is going to cook up! Wesley attemped to cook 1 fish for dinner the other night. We just don't know how to do it well. haha!



Dredge Number 5



Yesterday, we went on a 4-wheeler ride with Dr. Ledford through the mountains! It was incredible! (a little scary, but awesome) I was so nervous of bears...Wesley and I need a gun! We first went out to this old dredge and went exploring in there a little, then went on Glacier Creek road up through the backside of Anvil ountain. It was an awesome ride, and he convinced us to buy a Can-Am 4-wheeler. We are going Monday to get it! We can't wait! Our 4-wheeler won't even crank now... you live and learn!

Today, well, today we are resting! haha Wesley has to work tonight, so we are hanging out here. Later, I'm going to call Hollyn to see if she wouldn't mind taking us to the grocery store. Walking there isn't so bad, but walking back with tons of groceries proves challenging.

Till Next Time,

Maddie and Wesley