Deer Mountain on Purpose

While I have been away at work this time, I have made every effort to stay in shape so that I can keep up with at least one or two of my friends (and my wife)when I am next home. I am very disappointed to hear that, as soon as they have seen that I am having a go, they try that little bit harder! Re doubling their efforts so that they can continue to hang on to their precious positions in the Sussex Men's Fitness league. David, even ran up the steep side of the South Downs, SEVEN times in a row! This would be the Sussex equivalent to completing the Grouse Grind.

Well my friend, you had better get out there and pop up the side of those Downs another 14 times because I went up to the top of Deer Mountain yesterday for a second time in three days!

Deer Mountain by accident

Deer Mountain is a peak that stands overlooking Ketchikan at 3001 feet or 914 meters.
I saw from the guide book that there is a trail leading to the summit and so while I was on an after work run, I decided to go and see where the trail began, fully intending to return on the weekend if there was time. A couple of hours later I found myself sat at the top of Deer Mountain surveying the wonderful view with wide eyes.

After I had sat for a while and looked about me, the crisp blue sky and incredible scenery had absorbed my mind, until that is, I noticed how low the sun was getting! Then I started to think about bears and wolves, getting back before dark and what the hell I would do if I twisted and ankle or something on the way down…This really is not the best place to be on your own, in your running gear when no one knows where you are. I blame the Canadians. I would never have gone up a mountain that is nearly as high as mount Snowdon this unprepared before! (Snowdon is 1085 meters, but you don’t climb it from sea level!). I didn’t even bring a friend who is slower at running than me.

If it is nice, I might go up again on the weekend but this time I will take my walking boots and a backpack with water, a camera and a phone!!

An Alaska Donkey Kick

Yesterday evening most of the crew went ashore to the pub and after frequenting 'Fat Stans' bar for a few hours, one of the lads asked the very buxom bar maid what drink she would suggest he tried. She replied without hesitation, 'An Alaskan Donkey Kick'. Being slightly over refreshed, that sounded like a good idea and so he promptly ordered one for himself and one for one of the other lads. The girl came bounding happily from around the back of the bar, told him to knock back the drink, which he promptly did and before he knew what was what she slapped him around the face with the full force of a scorned woman. As it turns out, An Alaskan Donkey Kick, is a shot of local liquor followed by a swift slap across the face by the bar maid!

I have not seen anything so funny for quite some time! I nearly fell off my stool bent over and crying with laughter along with the rest of the crew and not least so because of the look on the face of the poor lad who was yet to enjoy his drink.

Small towns are always fun! Stans bar was supposed to shut at ten last night but because we were all having fun they stayed open until we rang the bell for ourselves and called it a night at about 2am.

Air Reconnaissance

I am once again lost for words

The guy who ownes and runs the dock down here suggested checking out the area by float plane. At first I just thought he was just trying to sell us a trip but as I thought about it it made total sense. It is such a vast area which would take weeks to explore by boat, so today I went with him to check out some anchorages and cruising areas.

We landed high up on a mountain lake, soured through the mountains and spent two most incredible hours in a place that is untouched and vastly unexplored.

More pics of Alaska

Testing out the Man Skills

This is brilliant! There isn't really any sport to it either, so although I would like to boast and tell you how honed my man skills are, any fool could catch a fish here! As a result we have eaten steamed salmon, salmon pie, sushimi and now we have found a guy who will smoke it for us, so we can keep eating the stuff well after we leave.

Tomorrow I am going to see some of the area by float plane!

The Inside passage to Alaska

I hope that a few pictures will capture the atmosphere of our trip up through the 'Inside Passage' to Alaska. It was just two days but the changes in weather and scenery at every turn made this relatively short passage very memorable.

and to sea once more

It is funny that 6 weeks in a beautiful place and not much to write about. After a morning at sea the proper adventures has already started.
Not more than an hour had passed and we spotted our first pod of Orcas, killer whales playing just off the bow of the boat. It was beautiful.

Then shortly after lunch we responded to a May Day radio call. We were fortunately just 7 miles from the small sailing boat that had a medical emergency. We launched one of our fast boats and sent our nurse with two crew who were able to revive the gentleman. The poor bloke was a diabetic and had passed out due to low blood sugar. Anyway he was stabilized and eventually transfered to a coastguard boat and taken ashore, we are now on our way again.

'Bean' there and done it Again!

It is wonderful to be in one place for a while and Vancouver has to be one of the best. I generally like to find a small, quiet place with friendly people, who get to know my name. A place where I can go and relax away from the boat. Here in Vancouver it was the 'Bean' coffee shop, The Bean Around The World was virtually at the top of the boats gangway and the staff and customers made me feel really welcome. This is my new favorite. As if anyone would care about Daren's guide to worlds best coffee shop hangouts.

#1 Bean Around the world, North Vancouver

#2 Sentient Bean, Savannah, USA

#3 Esperanto, West Village New York

The last day in Vancouver started with a coffee at the bean and then we over did it a bit on the exercise. We cycled the 50 minutes to the foot of Grouse mountain and had a final go at the 'Grind'. Powered by Canada's finest Java I made a small improvement on my time... I have managed to climb to the top of Grouse Mountain in just under 54 minutes! Thats it now. I have done that! I can't see me beating that time unless of course one of my friends from home manages to do 53 mins, then I might be tempted back to beat them but for now I'm all ground out.