Nome/Iditarod

Visited Nome today. Reminds me a lot of Fairplay and South Park.



Brutal place to spend a Winter, founded by gold miners, and lots of dirt roads still.

The race ends on their main Street. Their big claim to fame.

SUMMER SOLSTICE!.....did u stay the ''night''?.... post says 1:49.....AM OR PM. Because in Fairbanks
u still have daylight and forget it's early,early AM. Did u see the NEW ARCH THEY ERECTED? TAKE A PIX, IF U R STILL THERE......snow machines, with skids, to go out on the sea ice.

The sad part of native life up there is substance fishing.....the large corp come and employ large net fishing and literally annihilate the food supply of salmon....cold smoked salmon (jerky) is a mainstay. sadly their way of life is vanishing....then they come into "town" to relocate and are adrift in the modern
mess, called Fairbanks or Anchorage. Alcoholism and Eskimo women r victims of "modern liviing".

I have a large piece of BALEEN ...signed by a native,because they r the only individuals allowed to harvest or possess whale products. Baleen is the large sweeping "broom" attached to the mouth, to "sweep" in plankton for food....it's their "fork".....the reason I have it? My brother was at a stop light on the corner, an Eskimo male selling them FOR BOOZE......HE BOUGHT THREE. so common,when they come down into town. Eskimo women are in EXTREME danger when in the city...they just disappear.

Their fish processing plant seemed busy. Both small fishermen and gold miners were out in the seas.

Right now we are just south of the Arctic Circle. It is 11:18 pm. Will stay up to see if it actually dips below the horizon on the Solstice.

One of the Nome natives, about 60% of the population was drunk and on the seawall cursing at us. Sad to see another life ruined by alcohol.

Another beautiful night or dawn.

Looks like a pretty sweet cruise, Fred. I think that’s the only cruise I’d be interested in. I’m planning a trip to Kodak in September with some buddies I used to crew with and fish for a week. If I had a way to make a living at my age, I’d move to Kodiak till be end. Have fun man.

Going to see Kodiak on Wednesday I believe. Hoping to see some bears but it will require luck. We liked Nome but I would not want to live there. The Winters are brutal.

Kodiak has milder winters than Colorado, which seems crazy but true. I saw a lot of bears during salmon season because we were always near rivers… lots of cubs this time of year.

True. That Japan current brings in the warm waters.