Wednesday, September 30, 2009

This is the gate to some bright place beneath the sea. The sun was burning through some of the sleety clouds. Kinda neat. It was about a mile from the plane as we landed or was it plopped? These pictures went on the blog in the opposite order I placed them. Go to the last and progress to the first. Then you should be able to follow my comments better.
Looks like the sea shore of the Bering Sea. I can't wait to walk there tomorrow. I had to ride in the back of the truck from the airport and got sleeted part of the way. It is much colder than Emmonak.
Is this the other gate? Looks like an infected spear wound on a seal that is smoking a little.
Is this the Gate to Heaven? If this rattle trap plane goes down, I sure hope so!! We flew through clouds most of the way and I kept thinking will I survive the 5,000 fall after we hit a goose or bigger? Will it hurt? How can I get Susan out before the plane sinks? Will my broken leg flop around and embarrass me at the in-service?
On the way to a teacher in-service at Hooper Bay on the Bering Sea one hour by air south of
Emmonak. I am glad to get out of the village. I am bored this year. Oh no, that is what the kids are always saying!!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

OUR HOUSE IN ARKANSAS
SEA TOUR

YUKON RIVER
MISS THE MOST


Saturday, September 26, 2009

HERE IS OUR FIRST SNOW FALL

WE HAVE BOTH OF THESE STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSES, BOTH FUN LEARNERS
FROM OUR RIVER TRIP.
WE ARE GOING TO HOOPER BAY NEXT WEEK FOR A TEACHER IN-SERVICE. IT IS RIGHT ON THE BERING SEA. I WONDER IF SUSAN WILL GO IN AGAIN.
SUSAN AND I WENT TO AFTER-SCHOOL TRAINING IN ANCHORAGE LAST WEEKEND. I WONDER WHAT MAKES THE COLOR OF THE FLOWERS IN ANCHORAGE SO VIVID
SOME OF THESE FLAKES WERE HALF-DOLLAR SIZE. BELOW IS A VIDEO OF THE EVENT

Sunday, September 6, 2009

We were cozy in the boat cabin, while the world burned in the background. That is our principal and guide in the foreground. I think up here instead of the world being burned the word is "frozen'". It was cold enough to drive all of us into the cabin. Seems like the boat would go sixty miles an hour. With the flat bottom the boat just skims along driven by a powerful outboard motor not unlike a swamp boat.
Looking for a moose for the principal to shoot with the moon leading the way. I think it was around 10 pm.
Seal hunting. People in another boat looking intently for the seal to surface. Most in our boat were praying for the seal's good luck. If caught, nothing would go to waste, but can't just one get away? This is on the Yukon River.
Here our guiding moon ray from another perspective. The water is as muddy as the Mississippi. Last year it was much clearer. The ray might lead us to food and survival for the winter, if we were in times of old.
Closing in on the seal. The hunters use a spear which is thrown by hand-held piece of carved wood. It was easy to imagine the hunters using the same technique centuries ago.
We are enjoying 4 days off from school. We did, however, have to work on Friday at a teacher in-service. Some of the teachers have a virus and are spending the time trying to get over that
unfortunate virus, like Susan and I. Oh, the seal's stars were in the right position on this day, but if he stays in this part of the Yukon I have little hope for him. The Yupiks are very skilled hunters and have the determination driven by stomachs hungry for a meal. My students say seal is their favorite.