The Small Flower - Big Mountain Day
We had a cool treat today as Deborah, a NP ranger had a day off and offered to show us around Sitka. So we met at a coffee shop at 8:30 and went to the end of the road at Blue Lake and picked salmonberries near there as well. Then to the opposite end of the available road and up. Way up on a narrow and rocky road. We were on Harbor Mountain. We did not go too far on any trail but did a bit of exploring and found blooming flowers everywhere. It was neat to walk on the boggy ground known as muskeg. The water and mountaiviews were endless and the air crisp with the scent of spruce. We photographed many different kinds that I likely will end up calling by the color but I am going to try and find some names. Deborah, who did not know of my underserved and completely unwarranted reputation, asked me to drive down the long mountain road. I kept it under 80 the whole way. We enjoyed a very nice lunch at the Beak and then we were on our own but with great memories of places we couldn’t have known about or traveled to without our new friend. We - and most of you will not believe this line - are headed out tonight to take more photos around the docks. But first we are walking to McDonalds because the rumor is that it’s the only place you can buy decent ice cream in Sitka after 5 pm and Tillamook Ice Cream is way better than good.
Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint
Today would have been a disaster. Utterly. Except for Ranger Deborah, who clearly adores me. So she spent her whole day taking me to see places that I might later use for Moose Rights speeches. She interviewed me all day about the rights campaign plans and looked hard for Moose but we did not see any in this non-mooselike area of the Alaska Complex. She did see that I got multiple lattes and directed me to a great ice cream dessert. I also cleverly gleaned from her that if the guides go a certain way we would see many Moose. I am working now to determine a course of action. Deborah and I had to part and I am sure she is very sad. Heartbroken probably. When I return in triumph to reach the small and downtrodden Moose population in this area, I will tell BdB to allow Deborah on the platform. That will be special for her.
