Charlie, the Wannabe Eagle

Photo by Jacob Hoff

Charlie, hanging out in a spruce tree on a summer's day, dreaming of soaring like an eagle.

The Kenai Runs Silent

 Devastating low King Salmon returns caused the State of Alaska Fish & Game to close the Kenai River to King Salmon sport fishing last Friday.  It was eerily silent at the popular river in the pouring rain today.


Rose Hips drenched along the banks of the Kenai River



Sunny Solstice

My window at 10 o'clock at night.  Don't need to turn the light on.  I will not see the sunset til August since I go to bed too early.  The good part is its light out when I wake up at 4am.  Happy Summer Solstice! 

IRON MOOSE

Iron Moose at Kenai Penninsula Community College

Cow moose with twin calves by Jack's Cabin at Jimmie Jack's Lodge



Cow moose with twin calves off of Funny River Road




Boy in front of Jimmie Jack's Lodge sliding glass window with the cow moose & twin calves in the yard one morning.  The boy was sitting on the couch waiting for breakfast when he looked up and saw them looking in the window.

 The fishing season is going great guns on the Kenai.  I've been taking lots of pictures but not a lot of time to upload & post them.  I will do my best to keep this blog up & running this summer. 

Oysters are back!!!

I like to nuke mine just long enough to pop open the shell, cut the muscle, squirt with lemon & enjoy!

Got me 2 dozen.  1/2 doz down tonight.  YUM!  They make me feel so good.

Fish Fashion

Morgan, making a fashion statement, at Jimmie Jack's Lodge

Caribou City

Three young members of the Kenai Penninsula caribou herd munching out on the side of the Kenai River Bridge Access Road inside the Kenai City limits.

I feel sorry for caribou.  They have to constantly migrate.  Eat & move so the mosquitos don't eat them alive. 

No Doubt that's Mt. Redoubt

It was a wear your pajamas outside kind of day!

Summer Begins

Winter is officially over for me on May 15th.  Summer is here at last!  Took this pic of the sunset last night about 11pm. 



Check out the BIG white cooler on top of my van.  It is empty.  My landlord in Wasilla loaned it to me.  He said I needed to fill a bigger cooler.  I agreed.



You can't be on Alaska's Kenai Penninsula long before you spot a moose.

Back at Jimmie Jack's Lodge for the 2012 summer season.  Made it through another Alaskan winter!  (That makes 32.)

Let summer begin!

Boat Crack

This guy must be a plumber getting his boat ready to go fishing.

Canning Again Soon!

On one of my many trips to Valdez this year I picked up my canning equipment.  I'm going to take it down to the Kenai this summer and can Kenai reds.  Its been a while since I have had the opportunity to can salmon.  This picture was taken in 2007.  A Jalapeno fresh pack.  Fresh out of the water & into the can.  Also, these were the famous Copper River Reds.  Kenai reds are almost as good.  But I don't tell the Kenai fisherman that.

more pics & full story here

New Road

There's two seasons in Alaska.  Winter & Road Construction.

By the time I get back from summer fishing on the Kenai the road job by my house should be finished.  I won't be around for all the detours, closures & dust.  Oh, darn.

New Valdez Blog

Living Alaska Project

Lots of pictures of Valdez, the local foods & lifestyle.  The Northern Lights time relapse photos are awesome!  Check it out.  Tell them FishTaxi sent you!

Old Tsaina Lodge Phone Booth

I got a thing about phone booths so whenever I see them I take a pic. 

Phone booth in Cold Bay, Alaska

Red Phone Booth

Tok Thai Food

Though the name is "Tok Thai Food" this food truck is by the Hub in Glennallen.  (Tok is on the Alaska Hwy almost to the Canadian border.)  And the woman who does the cooking is from Laos, not Thailand.

Close enough.  The food is excellent & everything is 10 bucks.  Special - 10 bucks.  Egg Rolls - 10 bucks.  Spring Rolls - 10 bucks.  All good.

She was open all winter & last time I went by she was still open at 10 at night.

Slammin' berry

The city of Valdez opened up "Salmonberry" ski hill this past winter.  After a 20 year hiatus the kids have a place to learn to ski.  Why the locals call it "Slammin' berry."

6th Snowbank on the Right

When I was in Valdez last week I drove by my old house & snapped this pic.  With all the snow this year it is buried.  The mountain behind it I named "My Mountain".  That way, anybody looking at it could say "That's My Mountain!"

I have to say I am glad I'm in the Mat-Su valley where the snow accumulation is dissappearing fast.

Beautiful Earth Day



Gillnetter heading towards Valdez Harbor with the named peak in the Chugach Mountain Range "Sugarloaf" in the background.



Hippie 420!!!

New Summer Tennis Shoes

Love this time of year when the studs come off & the summer tires go on for a smoothe quiet ride.  Last fall, when I had my winter tires put on, the guys at All-Around Tire threw my bald summer tires away.  Today they gave me a good deal on  4 used (new to me) Michelen tires for $200 AND switched them out ($50) as part of the deal.  Also, if anything goes wrong I can go back & they will fix it for free.  Course, their shop is in Wasilla and I will be on the Kenai this summer fishing!  They look like good tires with lots of tread so I'm not worried. 

I'm ready to roll this summer.