Alaska!

I've arrived, safe and sound, and I'm lovin' it! I'm the most tan I've been in quite a while, and life is good! Currently I'm sitting on a dock in Juneau, looking across at the Safari Spirit, a Coast Guard Ice Breaker, and a 2500+ passenger cruise ship. The sky is clear and blue, with a warm hue of orange creeping over the horizon as the sun disappears into night - along with the warmth. I'm listening to Pandora.com, and preparing to upload the pictures you see above... Today I did a full day of work on the Spirit then went to work on a skiff that Winston Warr is letting Christian and I borrow for our adventures around Glacier Bay for the next couple of weeks. Anywho, we had a great trip coming up here, a bit of bad weather, but nothing to really complain about. Wildlife is great as usual, and I regret I didn't have more images converted to JPEG's before starting this post (they're on my external drives). Like I said earlier, my friend Christian is sailing his Ericson 27/32 up to Alaska this summer, and when I talked to him this morning he was on schedule to arrive here in Juneau this Friday evening (maybe Saturday if weather is crummy). Last week when we were in Glacier Bay I got our permit for using the park, so all I need to do now is pick up some supplies (groceries, an outboard engine, etc) before we head out for two weeks. I'm hoping to spend some good time in G.B., but would also like to see some other places for their more abundant wildlife (and looser viewing restrictions). We'll see what we can get done, and everybody pray (or chant, poke dolls, etc) for sunny weather and fair winds! : )

Alrighty, enough writing! It's picture time! Oh, and FYI, from this point on, ALL photos posted will be taken by me, unless written otherwise. I also found a way to embed a watermark on my images as well, so in future postings (but not this one) there will be a "Copyright Danny Blanchard 2009" in each image.

Cheers,

Danny

PS - my phone is dead, but I can pick up messages with our boat phone (at least until Saturday).

Oy Vey!

So not much blogging activity has happened in the last couple of weeks, and I don't honestly expect much to follow in the next few either. After finishing class a couple weeks ago, I took a week-long sailing trip on my dad's sailboat Augusta with my lady Aimee, and friends Christian and Jesse. We bashed to windward half the time, cruised pleasurably downwind a quarter of the time, and spent the remainder motoring about. We did, however, spend nearly 100% of the time freezing our asses off. Twice the slow-globe soap dispenser froze solid, and blowing smoke rings without smoking was always an option. Yet we prevailed regardless. Fun was had, animals were observed, noises were made, fires were built, meat was eaten, and new memories shaped. Our route took us north as far as Bellingham (well, technically Matia Island), and although a week may seem long to some, it was really just a bite-size portion of a much more satisfying meal that is the entirety of the San Juan Islands (Canadian and US). Anywho, I'm back in the real world now, and today I did a sea-trial on the Safari Explorer which lasted most of the afternoon/evening. I officially start work tomorrow, up at the butt-crack of 6:00am to get started on a full analysis on the Safari Spirit's five engines. Whee! With only 3 weeks left to wrap up my life at 526 N 102nd St, I am a bit stressed out. On my platter I have 3 main events: 1. Moving out of the house, terminating lease, doing restorative housework, etc. 2. Get the Safari Spirit completely ready for the 2009 Alaska season (maintenance, cleaning, supplies, etc). 3. Get my 4Runner street legal and driving. All of this has to be done by April 30th - yikes! So if posts are infrequent - do not let your faith wain, for I will be back in full picture-posting, story-telling, audio-recording business soon after this D-date. Until then, take a peek at some pictures!

Cheers,

Danny