Travels of THB: Alaska Day 21, Winterlake lodge

Day 21: Winterlake Lodge

Weather Report: Raining off and on all day, otherwise cloudy with occasional sunshine, temps about low 60s

Quote of the Day: The picnique depends on the weather, no?

It’s a Covid world: One of the couples here at Winterlake went to Alaska last summer and traveled with their 3 kids in an RV. The place was deserted, people were grateful for their traveling here, mask wearing seemed appropriate. Of course, they stayed in the RV.

THB's screen at rest

Department of Tchnology: Just when things had calmed down on the computer front, the camera throws THB for loop: the pics load with the second half first and first half second. Read at your own risk.

THB and DB have the usual breakfast, with the NoLa couple. They are hiking today, we are going rafting on the Happy River. Due to weather, are departure is delayed until 10:30.

Now picture yourself transported to a different place and time: somewhere mid-stream, wet, overcast, with people you barely know and yet are counting on for your survival. You've just entered the Canon Powershot/Dell computer zone.

There are two rafts awaiting us – no not one for THB and one for DB -as it is a Lodge policy to have a “rescue” boat along. The second boat has another raft guide and one of the kitchen crew who is celebrating his 30^th birthday today. They trail us the entire float.

converted weedwhacker used to inflate rafts

J is our raft guide/oarsman

The river is choppy, there are no real rapids, and we only get splashed a couple of times. J, our guide, sits in back with oars, we sit up front to get the thrill of an unblocked view of the canyon. We’re on the river a total of 3 hours, with a break for our and the zillion mosquitoes’ lunch. This swarm was the worst THB saw in Alaska, a surprise since there were pretty high winds on the river. THB and DB have nets that fit over you hat; so the choice is we eat and the mosquitoes dine on us or neither group gets what they want. Everybody eats.

Rescue boat; at one point they are so far behind us we have to beach our boat

almost fully submerged, a merganser accompanies us for long stretches

do we eat and get eaten?

Dall Sheep fluff

B'day boy gets to fly down a shale hillside

Back to the Lodge via helicopter, the pilot, b’day boy and DB see a brown bear, THB misses out on that sighting and all of us see a black bear, which looks like a small black lab running in the grass of a meadow.

Much time in the Lodge awaiting appetizers and dinner, packing, reading, e-mailing, etc.

Tonight. THB and DB dine with another couple, clearly older than us, who tell tales of seeing Wrangell – St Elias NP via 4-seater small planes. Whoa! THB learns during their tale they are 5 years YOUNGER than us. Guess the four days of small planes (including one where the pilot opened the door to get a better photographs) ages you very fast. THB and DB considered this in our pre-visit planning and it sure sounded like the paying guests were limited to sitting on each other’s lap (leaving one seat for the survival gear?).

Dinner is excellent (sorry no photos). Another sign that THB is also aging quickly. He heard Chef R describe the first dish as including chard leeks. THB, inquisitive as ever asks if that came from the Lodge’s green house. Ohhhh, Chef $ said charred leeks.

The next course arrives and Chef R is serving seared venison. THB asks if “seared” is really a euphemism for burnt, just like charred is when describing the preparation. Chef R hurries on to the next table.

The next table is composed of 6 adults, 5 of whom are imbibing. Very loud. Too loud for a suddenly very old THB.

Now picture yourself transported to a different place and time: somewhere just after breakfast, it's raining outside and some guy you don't know is examining your feet. You are just about to re-enter the Canon Powershot/Dell computer zone.

Hey, it’s another helicopter ride and this time DB is upfront and helping out as the co-pilot. A bit bumpy, mostly due to the wind. THB was much smoother yesterday in his hops around.