Eatin' Out...

No not at the "Y", just forget about it, it's the local restaurants we're talkin' bout here. Not a big fan of going out to eat, so we go maybe twice a year, at our anniversary and Andy's B-day. But this month we had the relatives up, Andy's nephew, his wife and their kids. We originally planned to have them over for a barbeque, maybe some other stuff too, but then just before they got here, she slipped in the garden. It'd been raining a lot, and in trying to catch herself, landed on her right arm and cracked a bone at the wrist. So after getting X-rays and a full cast, they didn't think a partial would work, it was off to meet the relatives at one of the local eating establishments. Fortunately, they're pretty easy to please and the kids were reasonably well behaved, but even so, it seemed like an interminable wait for the food. The only consolation was drinking some pretty good beer while rekindling friendships with rellies. The next day we went out to a different place and had to wait almost half an hour for a table for six. The place was half empty and couldn't even get a beer to ease the pain!

Since they've left, we've been out a few more times, mainly breakfast, I guess cause that 's easier and quicker than me messing up the eggs. But tonight it's good home cookin'... turkey franks'n sauerkraut. I'm beginning to suspect Andy's getting a little tired of my fine kitchen skills,

Heat wave..

Well I guess we've gotten our heat wave; from the NWS:

Temperatures will rise into the 80s and may even reach 90 near the AlCan Border today. Record to near record high temperatures are expected east of Manley Hot Springs and south of Fort Yukon.  High pressure remains over the area with very warm air aloft pushing west and north over the interior out of Canada. The Thermal Trough lies along the north slopes of the Alaska Range today and will drift north to the Upper Yukon Flats tonight.  Several record highs were recorded yesterday and Fairbanks tied its record of 88F.

Officially it hit 88°F, but it was a lot warmer in the sun.

So took advantage of the warm, dry weather and refinished the deck with wood preservative stain. Maybe I can get out on the Moto Guzzi, now that's finished.

Finally reported..

Spent the last two weeks reviewing, checking, and summarizing hydro survey data from a project that I worked on years ago. Seems like there's a potential lawsuit, so they want all the information verified in a final report. But for me, reading the notes is like a time machine, bringing back memories. While I don't remember everything, there's 20 field books that cover over 15 years of survey work, there's still a lot of remarkable stuff to recount.

There was the time we almost sank the survey boat. We had just finished the cross section and while unhooking the boat from the tagline, it swung side ways to the current and started to tip over as it filled with water. The woman working with me immediately jumped overboard, but I was finally able to get the line free from the boat before it sank and motored the half filled boat to shore. Poor B. had to wait on the far bank, soaking wet, while I bailed out the boat and retrieved the gear that went overboard. She probably still hasn't forgiven me. Too much fun.

Then there was the winter trip when, after s series of landings to drill the ice and get water measurements, the battery apparently died and the plane wouldn't start. We took turns hand cranking the motor, but it didn't even fire. After discussing options, the pilot tried one more time and wonder of wonders, it started. It apparently was flooded, so just needed some time to clear the carburetor. Kind of an exciting take off, since by then it was almost dark on the river, but a lot better than sleeping out at twenty below.

Then there was Larry, river guide extraordinaire, who was always ready to get us to a remote survey site, help fix some broken equipment, or put us up in his cabins down by the river. He had a quick smile, a funny story, and a strong opinion on most everything. Larry passed on a few years ago and is missed by all who knew him.

June weather...

Fairbanks June 2018

Mean monthly temperature was 58.8°F, which was 1.6°F below normal. The observed maximum temperature was 86.0°F on the 21st of the month, the minimum temperature was 36.0°F on the 12nd of the month. The total monthly precipitation was 0.6", which was 0.8" below normal (Alaska Climate Center).

June started out warm, then had a week of cool, rainy weather. Didn't break any records, but the usual cold spots reported frost. That was followed by the warmest day of the year so far. Crazy weather, you'd almost think there was some kind of climate change thing goin' on. Fortunately our great president is right on top of things. He's sure that it's the Chinese causing all the weird weather, manipulating the jet stream, so in response he's imposing the Trumpian tariffs. Surely it'll make America great again!

Finally got the 850 Moto Guzzi out for a ride. Switched out the battery from the 650 and headed out of town on Chena Hot Springs Rd. Unfortunately, everybody must have left work early and driven two cars; it was real busy, but nobody was in a hurry, so traffic was going around fifty. Maybe Friday afternoon's not the best time to take a ride? Kind of ironic cause when I take the pickup into town, it seems like everybody wants to go 70-80, so get tail-gaited and passed a lot. Anyway, once I got turned around and headed home, had a good ride since all the traffic was going the other way. Having an open road with "clean air" makes all the difference!