USA June 2011

Photo is me in meadow after hike up Mt Jumbo to Bullion Creek Dam (Mt McDonough in background)

Camping 24-30 June then housesitting again....

30 June 2011 Thursday (Juneau Alaska)
Departed campground to use internet and telephone at the University before starting housesitting today! Dave has been fishing so had fresh salmon for dinner!

29 June 2011 Wednesday (Juneau Alaska)
Running errands downtown including visit to social security office....trying to decide whether to collect at 62 or wait until 65? Returned to campground and found all my stuff gone...appears that the Forest Service fellow decided since there was no tent nor camper, that there was no one camping even though I had already paid in full.....what a stupid guy.....we had a few words....and I will write a letter expressing my concerns.

28 June 2011 Tuesday (Juneau Alaska)
Rains have returned and I have moved to the Mendenhall campground with view of glacier from my campsite (plus it is much cheaper). I plan to stay two days then start housesitting on Thursday.....so no internet....I am now at the University doing internet.

27 June 2011 Monday (Juneau Alaska)
Another lovely day for a hike from this private campground to the Mendenhall Glacier Federal campground (about two miles) where I may stay tomorrow.

26 June 2011 Sunday (Juneau Alaska)
Driving trip to explore the end of the road and Amalga Harbor and the Shrine of St Therese and Lena Point and then to town to fetch my mail and work out at the gym....now camping at Spruce Meadows near the Glacier.

25 June 2011 Saturday (Juneau Alaska)
Wonderful hike with Marcia along the trail to the Boy Scout camp and the beach.

24 June 2011 Friday (Juneau Alaska)
End of housesitting and off to camp at Eagle Beach so no internet for a few days.....

23 June 2011 Thursday (Juneau Alaska)
Clouds are moving in with prediction of rain.

22 June 2011 Wednesday (Juneau Alaska)
Awoke to the sound of whales passing by the house...what a sight to see! Decided to give the Wednesday hike up Dan Moller trail a miss since it is over a 20 mile drive back to town (which translates to close to $20 in petrol) and there are some great trails right outside my door here. Evening tacos with Marcia who lives short 1 1/2 mile walk from here.

21 June 2011 Tuesday (Juneau Alaska)
Happy Solstice!
Early morning at the gym then back to Shirley's to pack and move out the road to housesit with Lynne at a beautiful home right on the water although many steps to access both up and down! The house is owned by David Hunsaker (playwright) and his wife Annie.

20 June 2011 Monday (Juneau Alaska)
Rainy morning then sunshine...packing up the van to leave tomorrow for another housesit out the road! Evening raw food dinner then pickup Shirley at the airport (she drove to Yellowknife with a friend then returned via plane).

19 June 2011 Sunday (Juneau Alaska)
The rains have returned! Morning at the Visitor's Kiosk greeting our visitors to Juneau.

18 June 2011 Saturday (Juneau Alaska)
Hike was out the road (38.5 miles) at Pt Bridget State Park....about eight mile loop to Camping Cove cabin....the wildflowers in the meadow were beautiful (we counted 43).....and the mosquitoes were aplenty!

17 June 2011 Friday (Juneau Alaska)
A grey day for running errands.

16 June 2011 Thursday (Juneau Alaska)
Another gorgeous day in Juneau so washed my van to get ready to go camping again (my housesitting ends next Tuesday).....also made up my bed in the van with clean sheets and freshly drycleaned duvet! Walked 1 1/2 mile across bridge to Juneau to fetch my mail and to buy some groceries....finally filled my tank with petrol yesterday (first time since arriving in Juneau six weeks ago) and it cost me almost $100 (at $4.35 per gallon)!

15 June 2011 Wednesday (Juneau Alaska)
Wednesday hike at the Mendenhall Glacier on the Nugget Creek trail to Vista Creek for lunch (about 9 miles total).....another beautiful day again!

14 June 2011 Tuesday (Juneau Alaska)
Finally, a very rainy day, to catch up on paperwork!

13 June 2011 Monday (Juneau Alaska)
Morning walk to downtown Douglas and return along the beach. Had my monthly mexican food fix at my favorite restaurant in Juneau, el sombrero!

12 June 2011 Sunday (Juneau Alaska)
Morning work at the Visitors Kiosk and afternoon assist Michelle with the Garden Tour...she had over 100 visitors to her backyard garden.

11 June 2011 Saturday (Juneau Alaska)
I will miss the Saturday hike due to free 'fam' boat trip with JCVB (Juneau Convention and Visitor Bureau) to Hoonah Icy Strait Point....and I did the ZIP!
http://www.icystraitpoint.com/

10 June 2011 Friday (Juneau Alaska)
I have been going to the gym at 330am since I arrived the first week of May but have missed two days since I am now about two miles away instead of a short half mile walk....will have to resume my visits soon!

9 June 2011 Thursday (Juneau Alaska)
Morning visit at Mendenhall Auto to install the third heater blower resistor (for free cos under warranty)...I do hope that this will be the last for awhile! Then the annual mammogram! Visit to my storage unit to fetch my file boxes and to finally spend time getting my filing organized for the past year's mail.

8 June 2011 Wednesday (Juneau Alaska)
Wednesday hike on Perseverance Trail to view the big mudslide again and to celebrate Carolyn's birthday (she brought delicious rhubarb cake)...saw a very young porcupine climbing a tree. Moved into my new home at Shirley's in West Juneau/Douglas Island (until 20 June).

7 June 2011 Tuesday (Juneau Alaska)
Another gorgeous sunny day! Spent morning dealing with aircon for our rental house in Virginia....lunch with friends at the Canton House then to fetch the key for my new home at Shirley's starting tomorrow.

6 June 2011 Monday (Juneau Alaska)
Morning eye doctor appointment that had been cancelled last week then running errands. My sister and her husband and I are having to remotely fix the air conditioner (and install a new one) at our dad's house in Arlington Virginia....good thing that it is still only June and the temps (and humidity) are not too high!

5 June 2011 Sunday (Juneau Alaska)
More rain and clouds today so spent morning packing stuff back in the van since I am moving out of this hotel to housesit for my friend Shirley. First Sunday Farmers/Artists Market for the summer this afternoon.

4 June 2011 Saturday (Juneau Alaska)
The rain has returned for our Saturday hike at low tide on the beach out to Shaman Island off Outer Point on North Douglas where the local geology expert Cathy Connor will tell us about the rocks....and then we did an afternoon hike (about 6 miles) on Perseverance Trail to view the very large mudslide that occurred last Friday eve 27 May.

3 June 2011 Friday (Juneau Alaska)
My eye doctor appointment was cancelled and moved to Monday so joined the Friday hiking group (Denise and Deb) to do Point Bishop/Dupont trail to the beach (about four miles roundtrip)....then afternoon First Friday gallery walk downtown.

2 June 2011 Thursday (Juneau Alaska)
Clouds are moving in for a cooler day for my annual checkup at the doctor's....then evening for free dinner and show with http://www.alaskanluau.com/

1 June 2011 Wednesday (Juneau Alaska)
Wednesday hike up Mt Jumbo trail on Douglas Island but not to the top yet because of too much snow....we bushwacked our way up the Ready Bullion Creek trail along a pipe from the mining days to the dam....another sunny and warm day for our lunch in the meadows with views of Juneau 1500' below!