A Summer Day In Kodiak

We have officially been in Kodiak about two weeks.  Today was a picture perfect day on the Island.  It was a balmy 70 degrees outside with bright sunshine and blue skies.  It was a great day to go exploring and have some fun. 

We left about 10am and went to Monaska. A local beach, river area and the drive is lovely. The kids and I are sure to spend time out here with a picnic and tide pooling.

Monaska Bay

A giant jellyfish

Next stop, the Kiwanis Kids Pink Salmon Fishing Derby.  Ages 15 and Under along the Buskin River.  An easy and local spot to fish.  Entry is only 1.00 and includes lunch, a hat, safety glasses and free lure :O!  It was awesome.  We ate lunch first and then hit the river.  Unfortunately, after an hour we hadn't caught a fish.  I imagine its because the fish had way too many choices on dining options. When we the left the largest fish was 5.7lbs.

Wow. A lot of kids!

parents could help cast but kids had to play and land the fish

Geared up and ready

We went on our adventure to the American River.  I wanted to drive around the Island. Its about 1.5 hours to Chiniak and Pasagshak.   The American River is a fresh water and perfect for Pink Salmon this time of year.  It was crystal clear and a beautiful day to be waterside.  Andy perfected his technique and choice of lure, while Molly had the thrill of catching a big one!  Amelia found herself busy with rocks either building towers, throwing in the river or skipping.  I had fun soaking in the sun and handing out fishing tips (I forgot my license at home :/).

American River

fish on

clear water. these fish are home free, as they are above the bridge

My favorite picture. Molly with a fish on!

We finished the drive to Surfer's Beach. It was spectacular, and completely unexpected.  The pacific ocean side of the Island.  A few surfers and several seals playing in the water.

Large, tubular looking Kelp. Very strange stuff.

A seal

canning salmon.

A long day but with happy kids and parents.  Our doorbell rang at just about 9pm from the local kids looking to play with Molly. Already asleep. I also learned not too be fooled by sunny days, as I left my windows open in the car last night and it rained.

Learning Alaskian Living

We have been on Island for just about a week and half.  Two weeks will be this Friday. We have learned so much about Island living during this time frame, that my hope is that we will be locals in no time!

Everything costs more here on the Island.
Groceries cost more here on the Island. I paid 8.00 for a head of cauliflower and 3 Russet Potatoes cost me 5.50.  This is just an example.
The Sun does not come out often and when it does, like right now at 8:15pm.  You really want your kids to stay up late to soak up the brightness and smile at it.  I will appreciate the sun on a much greater level now that we have lived without it for 1.5 weeks.
We are getting learning a new routine:  rain jacket, rain boots, enter and exit thru garage so as not to tramp wet, stuff through the house.
Preschools are hard to find. There is very little child care and/or preschool options on the Island.
Swim Lessons are only offered during the summer and over christmas break. No kidding. Why? kids are in school most of the time and they don't teach swim lessons in the evenings, as there isn't enough involvement.


Island residents and the alike are so friendly and super helpful. Everyone wants you to feel the allure of Kodiak Island and make you love it as much as they do.  I am still working on finding the love. Andy on the other hand is loving the freedom.  People just get up and go and do what they want to, whether its hiking, fishing, biking, driving etc...

Its easy to get around the Island but hard to find what you are looking for...still haven't found the local playgrounds and new community track but keep taking the given roads.  Today we did find our first small community playground. Pure Love.

Honestly, there are so many great qualities of the Island life. We are excited to get to know all of them and have met some very friendly people.  Looking forward to more exploring this weekend. 

A few pictures of the Move In...Get Settled

Don't be fooled by the pictures below....today it rains.  Its going to rain now for the next 7 days.  Everyone on the Island is loving the rain, due to the fact that its been too warm and sunny.  The salmon aren't in the streams/rivers as the water level is too low.  The Island has been too dry this summer. Can you believe it?

We have made a ton of progress even since I took some of these yesterday.  We also went and did our first big grocery shopping, checked out the library and Rec department. Kids are settling in well.

View from downtown

Unloading Crates

TV Playroom

Dining Room and living room

Pink Salmon

Salmon Fishing is a BIG deal in Kodiak.  Some people make their life's living by being a commercial fisherman and others just fish for fun and food.  There are so many regulations that a booklet is needed for every new fisherman.  AND, any fisherman under the age of 16 has a record log.  Like I said its a BIG deal.

If you've ever been fishing for Mackerel in the ocean on a good day when any lure, bait you throw in you catch a fish; then you'll understand salmon fishing in Kodiak.  This time of year the Pink's are in and in the next week or two the Silver's will be running up stream.

All of the salmon start in the ocean and then travel upstream to spawn and then they die. I think Mike Rowe, on Diry Jobs, did a show where he had to count dead fish up stream.  Its a way to see how many fish are in the river etc...

Andy checked out the fishing on Saturday. He went alone and had a great time. He caught two nice fish and then got stuck behind a local  man who lost his brakes on the rough terrain.  Two hours in the woods waiting for a tow truck and he was able to join us again.  On the bright side the local was a commercial fisherman and we got some amazing Sockeye Salmon Filets!

Today it was family fishing day.  You can imagine our gear, pole for everyone, boots, lures, etc.. We went to a very local spot and I noticed that many people take advantage of all the fish and forget the fun of fishing. The amount of Salmon carcasses and used fishing line was a bit much.  BUT, there were salmon running up stream and people fishing.

Its exciting and fun!  Amelia and I provided the entertainment when I got my lure stuck on a rock, but still caught a fish. I caught a tree branch, got a puncture wound when I stuck myself, filled my boots with water while trying to catch a fish, and Amelia fell in the river.  Andy and Molly on the other hand caught fish after fish.  We also learned that you can only keep fish that take the lure in their mouths.  Yes, there are so many fish that you can catch them by the tail!

So, we had Pink Salmon last night for dinner and it reminds me of eating fresh water lake salmon. Its light, fluffy, and full of bones. It was delicious.

Check out the pictures!

Playing with Mom's Phone after she fell in...

Catching a fish

Moving In...

We have been moving into our new house. I will post pictures when we get our wireless up and running.  The weather has been fantastic the last two days making it hard to unpack.

We started Monday with true homeowner excitement and uh ohs...

The excitement came when we placed an order for new carpet! The uh oh came when we pulled up the carpet in the basement room and realized there is a slight but worsening water problem.  So we can't move in down there until it is fixed.  We had a contractor stop by today and we will be good to go in a month. Andy has a lot of work to do in that time frame :).

Tuesday we had a great group unload our things and the house feels so good to us. We love it. We've been unpacking boxes and figuring out layout etc...

Molly has been making friends with the neighborhood kids. Enjoying the outdoors and laughs. In fact tonight we had a visit by the local ice cream truck! Amelia is just trying to keep up. She is working on finding her toys and getting used to her room.

I am starting to know my way around town.  This weekend is coast guard day and we will check out the base festivities. 

It's nice to get settled in and eat a home cooked meal!

Last Weekend In July

The last weekend in July...can you believe it?  I didn't think July would ever come for our big move and now it has come and gone and seems like yesterday that we were saying goodbye.  I am sure I will reliving our trip across country for the next year.  We did so many neat things and saw so much.  I learned a ton about the United States and found places I didn't think existed and can't wait to go back.

We've spent the weekend getting our feet under ourselves.  We started a to do list of the house and are working first on replacing the carpeting and figuring out the other types of flooring for the kitchen/bathrooms.  The outside of the house will need some new stain/paint as well, but that will be for next year. Our list isn't long and I am sure within the next year we will have most of it done.   We are excited to be homeowners for the first time in a long time.  Our street is eclectic  with single family homes for the most part and then on the end small apartment/duplexes on the end.  In Alaska they also don't deliver mail to each house, so each street has its own box in the middle.  I am finding we seen people head that way frequently.

 The sun came out today for the first time and it was heavenly.  We have met another family with two little girls and they have spent time with us at open swim and on the playgrounds.  We have eaten at the four  restaurants on the island and I have to get used to the price difference.  I realize we are on an island but when Hamburgers start at 14.00...YIKES.  The local farmers market was fun on Saturday. It was small and lively. Lots and lots of green leafy veggies and the largest Zucchini I have ever seen. Its labeled Super Zucchini. HUGE.

A couple of notes...yes its light out for most of the night.  The temperature high has been 61 degrees.   I already signed Molly up for swim lessons starting next week for a two week period before school starts.  It will give us a little something to do.  We also have Coast Guard Day and the new family welcome on base.

We hope to get out fishing in the next two weeks before the "REDS" stop running for the season. As with all new moves it takes time to feel a part of a community.  It's hard to get lost and people are very friendly.

A Kodiak Welcome!

It doesn't seem possible, but we have arrived on Island.  Kodiak, the Emerald Isle.  Its green, very green. Green is everywhere with a hint of pink from the Fire Weed.  Fire Weed is everywhere and reminds me a lot of Lupine in the New England.  Its blooms, its lovely too look at it and very hard to get rid of.  In Alaska they say, when the last Fire Weed blooms then there is only 3 weeks until Winter.

Anyway, I have digressed.  We arrived bright and early with a 5am wake-up call to only sit in our car while the carport was unloaded.  Alas, we were the first ones on in Bellingham, thus the last car off in Kodiak.  Its also interesting to point out, that to get off the Ferry the cars are loaded four at time on an elevator and lifted up to reach the pier.  I had known that two people from Andy's office were going to meet us, I was unprepared for the FIVE smiling faces.  A lovely bunch, ranging from two C-130 Pilots that Andy knew, to two people from Andy's office, and one of their spouses.

After quick introductions we headed to breakfast and it was just what we needed.  One of the families had make us cookies too!  Once filled up with good food, and friendly faces, we headed to the base to see where Andy would work.  Wow!  The Engineering building is one of the newer buildings and its lovely.  Andy's desk had been set up and a name plated ordered. Andy's got a great view overlooking the base.

As with all new locales we had to check in with the electric company, the oil company, the post office..blah, blah, blah...the boring stuff.  The girls and I were anxious to see our new digs!  We were not at all disappointed.  Its a lovely little house set in a standard Kodiak neighborhood (more on that later), with a great feeling about it.  The kids picked their rooms, ran around like chickens and didn't want to leave.  We have already planned our first home improvement project...new carpeting. 

In the meantime, we are living in guest housing on base.  Its a two roomsuite with laundry facilities.  I promised to take the girls swimming tomorrow to get the cobwebs out.  We expect to get our household goods delivered on Tuesday.  It will be nice to get moved in and sleep in our own beds.

A little bit of home popped up today too in the history of Kodiak:  The Star Of Kodiak, was built in Portland ME, and now it serves as a seafood processing plant.
http://www.alaska.org/detail/the-star-of-kodiak

I will keep the blog up as we settle into life here on the Island. I am sure we will have some funny stories as we figure out the local way...

Elevator off of Ferry

Our Arrival

Early Morning Kodiak

Our  home

Lots of Mail

This house is near us...lots of engines.

Downtown

Very Industrial. Lots of fishing, and seafood production.