Here i am... back in Durban! I find it hard to call it home, cos for some reason i walk around here and i just don't feel like i am at home... that'll probably change with time i suppose.
Well nothing much has actually changed since i've been gone... everything is still pretty much where it was, with a few additions here and there! The first couple of days i was back, my head was spinning... i wasn't use to walking around hearing South African accents, i had to keep reminding myself that i as indeed back in SA!
There is so much that i need to do and it has me all a little stressed at the mo... job hunting, studying, moving flat, trying to organise a drivers license (which is a total cock up) and just trying to keep focused... it's all a little much at the mo, but one step at a time!
Anyway, thought i'd just update everyone on my where abouts and yes i know i haven't finished my recap on Alaska... will get there with time!
Hope you are all well :)
Robyn
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Thursday, July 06, 2006
(Day 6 and 7) Last night in paradise
We arrived at our campsite late afternoon (altho it looked like mid morning) and man was it windy! It was quite a challenge getting the campsite set up, everyone had to chip in! Once that was sorted we all huddled up the pebbled shore with beer in hand and discussed our week long adventure amongst other things! As usual Marla (the Irish gal) had us in stitches! Whilst we were all chillaxing, Mike our trusty guide was cooking up a storm.... fresh Halibut (caught by some of the people on your trek in Homer), potatoes and salad... it was a great last meal and we worked out had cost $900 (9 people went fishing and $100 a head)! :)
The rest of the evening was spent around the bonfire, drinking, chatting, laughing... get way to end a very long, tiring but absolutely amazing week! At about 2am, the frisbee made an appearance (bear in mind it's still light at this time), so the lot of us stumbled around the camp catching and throwing this frisbee whilst trying not to make to much noise... hehe (didn't succeed very well)! Most of us were in bed by 3am!
The final morning dawned and we all packed up our tents for the last time, most of us with heavy hearts... i was very sad at the thought of leaving this beautiful part of the world! Everyone loaded into the van and made our way North toward Anchorage (a 4 hour drive). We stopped at Portage Glacier for lunch (sandwiches again). Glaciers are amazing things... they are so big. We then made a quick stop in a small ski resort called Alyeska, which was dead due to the fact it was summer!
On our final stretch towards Anchorage, a damn State Trooper spoils our fun and pulls the van over! Mike was going 11 miles over the speed limit and he got a fine... that put a dampener on the day!!! Once we arrived back in Anchorage, everyone dispersed to their hotels or hostels and no doubt the first item on the agenda was SHOWER! I think in those 7 days i showered 3 times... up to the nose, smells like a rose! We then all met up in downtown Anchorage for a final dinner... most people had King crab, not me... ribs all the way! :)
After a few goodbyes, a few of us headed to a local pub and we spent the night drinking, laughing and playing darts! It was a fantastic way to end the tour and i want to thank all the people in the group for contributing to an amazing experience and of course to Alaska for being so damn amazing!
Photos are now available on my Flickr page, so check them out! :)
BTW, got my exam results... i kick arse!!!!!
The rest of the evening was spent around the bonfire, drinking, chatting, laughing... get way to end a very long, tiring but absolutely amazing week! At about 2am, the frisbee made an appearance (bear in mind it's still light at this time), so the lot of us stumbled around the camp catching and throwing this frisbee whilst trying not to make to much noise... hehe (didn't succeed very well)! Most of us were in bed by 3am!
The final morning dawned and we all packed up our tents for the last time, most of us with heavy hearts... i was very sad at the thought of leaving this beautiful part of the world! Everyone loaded into the van and made our way North toward Anchorage (a 4 hour drive). We stopped at Portage Glacier for lunch (sandwiches again). Glaciers are amazing things... they are so big. We then made a quick stop in a small ski resort called Alyeska, which was dead due to the fact it was summer!
On our final stretch towards Anchorage, a damn State Trooper spoils our fun and pulls the van over! Mike was going 11 miles over the speed limit and he got a fine... that put a dampener on the day!!! Once we arrived back in Anchorage, everyone dispersed to their hotels or hostels and no doubt the first item on the agenda was SHOWER! I think in those 7 days i showered 3 times... up to the nose, smells like a rose! We then all met up in downtown Anchorage for a final dinner... most people had King crab, not me... ribs all the way! :)
After a few goodbyes, a few of us headed to a local pub and we spent the night drinking, laughing and playing darts! It was a fantastic way to end the tour and i want to thank all the people in the group for contributing to an amazing experience and of course to Alaska for being so damn amazing!
Photos are now available on my Flickr page, so check them out! :)
BTW, got my exam results... i kick arse!!!!!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
(Day 4 to 6) Where the land ends
On the road again and heading way south to a town called Homer and the long, thin stretch of land that expends into the sea known as Homer Spit! It is a fantastic place to camp because you are surrounded by sea and mountains.... absolutely amazing!
The camp ground was pretty windy and chilly but nothing a bonfire (started by myself) and an excellent bowl of chilly (thanks Mike) couldn't fix! Once we were all settled in, a few of us who weren't getting up at 5am to go Halibut fishing went across the street to the local... Salty Dawg Saloon! Very cool and interesting place, it had thousands of $1 bills stuck to the walls that people had signed and left... so of course i followed suit! Myself and an Irish girl, Marla were the last 2 standing and after a few good beers and come interesting conversation with drunken fishermen made our way back to camp at about 330am... and for the first time in 5 days i saw Alaskan darkness... it was very weird!
Morning arrived far to quickly and it was time to pack up again and make our way across Kachemak Bay on a water taxi... it was a very bumpy but very enjoyable ride, to a small group B&B called Across the Bay for a chillaxing day and night in "luxury" accommodation! It was a stunning little place... absolutely amazing scenery and very relaxing! After 5 days of really roughing it most of us were really excited just to have a pillow for the night... hehe! We spent the afternoon and early evening drinking beer and playing horse shoes. Tony, the owner cooked us a mighty fine salmon dish for dinner with salmon freshly caught that afternoon and i even tried rhubarb pie... getting a little adventurous in my old age!
After a comfy sleep in a bed we were fed and then it was sea kayaking time! After a quick sea kayaking 101 lesson it was all systems go. I was in a single kayak because there weren't enough doubles and i'm not scared of a little adventure... i kicked arse btw!!! :) We paddled for about 2 hours stopping to watch sea otters and harbour porpoises... they are so cute! Once we got to where we were going, there was a quick picnic lunch and back out again. There was also a very cute harbour seal following our boats... apparently it had been rescued and released in the bay and it loves to follow the boats around!
On the way back i got chatting to our kayak guide, Katie and she was telling me about the native people and the problems they are having, it's pretty sad really. All they do now is drink and gamble! I also learnt something very interesting... in Alaska the men out number the women 7 to 1, and there is a saying in Alaska... the odds are good but the goods are odd... hehe!
Anyhoo, the kayak was a wonderful experience, def something i'd like to do again! Once we returned it was pack up and go time again... back in a water taxi (altho some in the group took a float plane) and back to Homer! Once we got back on dry land, it was back in the bus and a 45 minute drive North to another small town called Ninilchik for our last night in the Alaskan wilderness!
The camp ground was pretty windy and chilly but nothing a bonfire (started by myself) and an excellent bowl of chilly (thanks Mike) couldn't fix! Once we were all settled in, a few of us who weren't getting up at 5am to go Halibut fishing went across the street to the local... Salty Dawg Saloon! Very cool and interesting place, it had thousands of $1 bills stuck to the walls that people had signed and left... so of course i followed suit! Myself and an Irish girl, Marla were the last 2 standing and after a few good beers and come interesting conversation with drunken fishermen made our way back to camp at about 330am... and for the first time in 5 days i saw Alaskan darkness... it was very weird!
Morning arrived far to quickly and it was time to pack up again and make our way across Kachemak Bay on a water taxi... it was a very bumpy but very enjoyable ride, to a small group B&B called Across the Bay for a chillaxing day and night in "luxury" accommodation! It was a stunning little place... absolutely amazing scenery and very relaxing! After 5 days of really roughing it most of us were really excited just to have a pillow for the night... hehe! We spent the afternoon and early evening drinking beer and playing horse shoes. Tony, the owner cooked us a mighty fine salmon dish for dinner with salmon freshly caught that afternoon and i even tried rhubarb pie... getting a little adventurous in my old age!
After a comfy sleep in a bed we were fed and then it was sea kayaking time! After a quick sea kayaking 101 lesson it was all systems go. I was in a single kayak because there weren't enough doubles and i'm not scared of a little adventure... i kicked arse btw!!! :) We paddled for about 2 hours stopping to watch sea otters and harbour porpoises... they are so cute! Once we got to where we were going, there was a quick picnic lunch and back out again. There was also a very cute harbour seal following our boats... apparently it had been rescued and released in the bay and it loves to follow the boats around!
On the way back i got chatting to our kayak guide, Katie and she was telling me about the native people and the problems they are having, it's pretty sad really. All they do now is drink and gamble! I also learnt something very interesting... in Alaska the men out number the women 7 to 1, and there is a saying in Alaska... the odds are good but the goods are odd... hehe!
Anyhoo, the kayak was a wonderful experience, def something i'd like to do again! Once we returned it was pack up and go time again... back in a water taxi (altho some in the group took a float plane) and back to Homer! Once we got back on dry land, it was back in the bus and a 45 minute drive North to another small town called Ninilchik for our last night in the Alaskan wilderness!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
(Day 3 and 4) We found Hope in Alaska
So we packed up the camp (which will become a pain in the ass as the trip goes on) and headed towards the forgotten town of Hope, Alaska (a one horse town that never had a horse)! Main St consists of 4 buildings, one being a house, another the local store, then there is the Seaview restaurant where we took over the place for dinner... i had Halibut & chips and an Alaska Summer Ale in a jar... very yummy! The last building (if you can call it that) it this very very rustic cabin, held together but spider webs and that was home for the night! We all opted to pitch out tents and camp in the garden instead!
Before i left for Alaska i was warned about the mosquitoes and how they would carry me away (they are the size of dragonflies). Having been eaten alive back home i decided to stock up on Deet but to my surprise and absolute joy they don't like me! The mosquitoes in Hope were deadly.... hehe!
Day 2 in Hope arrived and a couple of us decided to go for a 10 mile hike whilst the others went white water rafting (i didn't go cos of cash and the fact it was grade 5 and i've never been before). The hike was stunning and the views over Turnagain Arms at the end were worth every step i took... absolutely beautiful!!!
Everyone was finished by mid afternoon and it was pack up and move along time again! Next stop Homer and the Homer Spit campground!!!
BTW, i'll post all the pics on my Flickr account as soon as i return to Denver! :)
Before i left for Alaska i was warned about the mosquitoes and how they would carry me away (they are the size of dragonflies). Having been eaten alive back home i decided to stock up on Deet but to my surprise and absolute joy they don't like me! The mosquitoes in Hope were deadly.... hehe!
Day 2 in Hope arrived and a couple of us decided to go for a 10 mile hike whilst the others went white water rafting (i didn't go cos of cash and the fact it was grade 5 and i've never been before). The hike was stunning and the views over Turnagain Arms at the end were worth every step i took... absolutely beautiful!!!
Everyone was finished by mid afternoon and it was pack up and move along time again! Next stop Homer and the Homer Spit campground!!!
BTW, i'll post all the pics on my Flickr account as soon as i return to Denver! :)
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