Story Aunt Gus and Little Bear's Adventure Book 3 (Complete)

[Kathy in FL]

Re-Cap From the End of Book 2

As calm as I could, hiding how close to breaking I was, I told him, “Look Squirt, I need to get some gas for the van and some sugary energy for my own tank before we get back on the interstate. You want anything?”

“Gummy worms? Please?” He asked hopefully.

“All right. I’ll even get you a blue Slushie, a small one. But … no more questions for a bit okay? I’m still pulling the plan together in my head.”

“Sure Aunt Gus!”

I hated lying to him, it always cut me so deep, but I needed him to stop asking questions too. Little kids are so oblivious about stuff. I on the other hand was shaking bad and trying to hide it. I was still almost painfully angry … but fear was in there too. So was despair and a lot of other things.

I pulled in and all the pumps were busy, so I took a parking space and told him to stay put, that I was going to get his worms first. As I was about to get out Benny says, “Hey look! Lev is still here!”

I turned and looked and sure enough, the man who was supposed to have been gone yesterday was sitting in roughly the same place he had been the last time I saw him.”

I locked Benny in the van and walked over. “Lev? Didn’t your ride show up?”

Obviously not in a good mood he snapped, “Does it look like it? What are you doing here? I don’t need pity.”

He looked tired and stressed but being I was in the same condition I let it pass. “Getting gas and trying not to feel sorry for myself … or let Benny know how freaked out I am at how upside down my plans have gone.”

He stopped feeling sorry for himself just that fast and gave me a good look. “Aw hell, you look like crap. What happened?” he asked while he scooted over so I could take a seat on the bench beside him.

“Gee. Thanks. And to answer your question, my world caved in. Or at least the part of it that I thought was under control. Need a lift some place?”

“Is Benny okay?”

I blinked. Then sighed. Someone got it. I wasn’t completely alone in this universe. “Yeah. And … thanks for asking. You’re the only one that has.”

“Which way are you going?”

“I have absolutely no freaking clue,” I told him in complete honesty.

He looked at me again. “Aside from the fact that since you are crazy enough to offer and I’m crazy enough to accept, are you okay to drive?”

“Yeah. As long as it is out of here. Memories are crowding and … and I need to find someplace that I can think without little boys with big ears figuring out enough that Aunt Gus is going to take a high dive off the pedestal she has been sitting on.”

“Nah. At least on that part. As for the place to think. Come with me to Alaska.”

How To Get There From Here​

I hope to the Creator that I am doing the right thing. Lev and I have a deal. Then again, I thought I was working on a deal with Rick. And for sure I thought I had a deal with Uncle Daniel. Not to be a drama llama, but if this “deal” falls through with Lev I think I’m off men for the rest of my life no matter how stupid and melodramatic that may sound.


Lev is actually going out of his way to prove himself. Maybe too far. I’m not sure what to make of it, or I’m not ready to consider what he’s willing to make of all of this. He even offered to sleep outside in a tent. The guy is nuts. He would have roasted, and I need him tip top to spell me on this lunatic road trip we are on. I am not putting Benny at risk.


On the other hand, he seems to be thinking of Benny for a lot of things. It is really bizarre how he sits down and goes over the route to make sure it isn’t all about him or us, that there are things for Benny to do as well. And he seems to get a kick out of it himself. I mean I know I do but sometimes I feel like a Den Mother, even more than when all of us were on the Florida Assignment.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 4th – Starting with a Bang​

“Wow! Look Aunt Gus! Look Lev!”

I smiled. Not without some effort, but I did smile, and I wasn’t faking it. One year ago today, Benny and I were in Yellowstone. If I had known then what I know now, would our lives be any different? Probably, but hindsight is 20/20 and I’m not sure how things would be different. And maybe we needed things to happen the way they did … to learn some lessons and to make some connections. I’m still figuring that stuff out, the Creator doesn’t always make things easy. And I’ve heard preachers say that he does it because humans in general are total hardheads and only seem to learn things the hard way.

From behind me I heard, “How do you want your steak Gus?”

Without thinking I responded, “Cook it long enough that it stops complaining and short enough to avoid the 2nd Coming.”

I heard a thud and turned around to find two beers dropped and Lev having fallen back in the lawn chair he’d apparently been sitting in howling in laughter. I looked over at the Grillmaster and said, “Sorry Mr. Hargis. I’ll pick him up.”

The man lost his surprise and laughed, “Naw Girl, if he ain’t got sense to stay out of the chiggers he deserves what he gets. Will your boy eat steak?”

Said set of big ears heard and said, “Yes Sir. I’m like James Lee. I’m a carney-vore! Aunt Gus can I help James Lee pick up the cornhole games?”

“Does James Lee mind if you help him?”

The boy in question, roughly ten years old going on sixty, slowly walked by and said, “He’s bound to be better at helping than Tommy. All he cares about is looking at Morgan Lister ‘cause she grew jugs.”

Mr. Hargis said, “Harrumph.”

“Sorry Granddaddy but it’s true. All his sense has done leaked out of his ears. Ask Momma if you don’t believe me.”

I said with a laugh, “You’ll take your turn.”

“Naw. Uh uh. I don’t want all that heaving and sighing. They’re being stupid. They didn’t even watch the bottle rockets.”

Trying to be helpful since all the males around could seem to do was either be embarrassed or try not to laugh too loud, I said, “Well, for your mother’s sake avoid calling them jugs. If you must bring them up, you can call them bosoms for now. ‘Cause if that is your mother heading this way you might just have some bosoms heaving for the wrong reason.”

Glancing over the boy got an irritated look on his face. “C’mon Benny. Let’s get out of here. That ain’t just my Momma coming. Dat burn why did Tommy have to invite Morgan and Lindy anyway. Lindy don’t know how to leave a guy alone either. Besides, after we finish picking up the cornhole games Uncle Raymond said we can help churn the ice cream.”

Benny looked at me and I shrugged. “I don’t know everything Little Bear. See if James Lee will teach you.”

Benny then turned to look hopefully at James Lee who said, “Well … sure. You really don’t know how?”

“No.”

“C’mon if you want to. Peepaw Dixon is in charge of the ice cream this year. He makes the best homemade ‘Nanner ice cream.” They were about to run off when Tommy stops and asks, “Can he eat it?”

“Does it have cookies or anything like that in it?”

“Naw ma’am.”

“Thank you for thinking to ask, and yes he can.”

They ran off and I walked over to pull Lev up off the grass he was still laying in. “Thanks,” he said still getting rid of the last of his chuckles.

“Do I owe anyone a beer?” I asked.

“They didn’t spill. And don’t worry about Little Bear. I texted Cheryl and she’ll keep an eye out. Why don’t you sit down? You look tired.”

I shrugged. “Been a crazy couple of days.”

“I’ll keep an eye on the kid if you want to take a break.”

“Uh uh.”

Quietly Lev asked, “Need to talk?”

“Not … especially. And you need to spend time with your family.”

“C’mon. Come sit in the swing with me.” We walked over to a swing that was tied to a large maple tree and sat down. Once we sat, he toed us into a gentle motion. “What’s bothering you?”

“Noth …” I stopped and backtracked so I wouldn’t lie. “ … okay. Your family is nice.”

“But?”

“No buts. They’re nice.”

“And you have a problem with nice?”

“I have a problem with them thinking I’m taking advantage of you.”

He snorted. “You’re kidding, right? Most of them don’t care about me one way or the other. Aw … stop. Let me finish before you think I’m feeling sorry for myself. I’m not related to most of these people here. Some of them are probably even wondering who I am. Uncle Cyrus is my uncle … my great uncle … but most of these are his wife’s people. The man everyone calls Peepaw is some kind of shirt tail cousin to Uncle Cyrus and my grandfather, but I couldn’t tell you how except to say they grew up together. My sister Eileen and her husband live in Carthage which is about two and a half hours east of here and she mostly sticks with her husband’s family since Mom died, and she didn’t feel forced to make nice with this side of her family tree. She was supposed to be here but apparently something came up … probably me being here.”

“Lev …”

He kept going like he hadn’t heard me. “If there was time, I’d take you and Benny to the old home place over in Bumpus Mills which is on the other side of the river. Uncle Cyrus farms a couple of acres on it for tax purposes but doesn’t live there, but on this place which is his wife’s parent’s place because believe it or not they’re both over a hundred – that’s them holding court up on the porch – and still kicking and only need a little help to stay free and independent. The Hargis Place that I’m talking about is nearly 200 acres of forest and fallow land that my grandfather left me. But it won’t really be mine until after my aunt – the one that was horrified I was living in sin until you set her straight there at the gas station where you changed her tire faster than the attendant was interested in doing, and wasn’t her reaction a hoot – and Uncle Cyrus pass on. They have life estates. You know what that is?”

“Yep. And stop it. You aren’t going to run me off by telling me horrible family stories because I’ve got my own and you know it; and heard a few driving up here while I had to explain that mess back in Florida. And I know you don’t want me to feel sorry for you so that’s not happening either.” He started to grin, and I almost put my elbow in his side. “I just don’t want any of your people whether blood related or not, to think I’m taking advantage of you. I pull my own weight.”

He gave a grin. “I know it, which is the important part. And I was serious, if you need a break …” he stopped and stretched looking for Benny then got an irritated look. “Dammit. If they’ve dragged him down to the creek …”

“Creek?” I asked standing up and setting the swing to wobble.

About that time I spot Benny coming out of the trees screaming, “Aunt Gus!”

# # # # #

It wasn’t any of the kids. At least not kids from the Hargis family party. It was tweenagers that had gotten away from their parents and gotten lost on the river. Found out later they got in the water at Barkley Lake and couldn’t figure out how to turn around and then a snag hit their canoe and they started taking on water. Worse … or more stupid … they weren’t wearing life vests and the canoe was nearly swamped when Benny spotted them.

I got to Benny faster than anyone else, but Lev wasn’t far behind.

“Where?!” I demanded.

Benny led the way with Lev and several of the other adults, now worried because they realized something was very wrong. “I don’t see ‘em Aunt Gus! I don’t see ‘em!”

“Calm down Benny,” I told him, hearing him edging into panic.

It was James Lee that pointed. “They’re on the other side of that snag!”

I grabbed a canoe off the rack that was sitting there and had it in the water and paddling out to them before anyone stopped me. “Stay with Lev!” I ordered Benny.

It didn’t take but a second for me to realize that the current was going to rip the kids off the snag before another few minutes passed. Instead of the kids coming lose, the snag came loose, dragging them with it, and I had to chase them down. They almost tipped us all over getting into the canoe, but I managed to pull it off while keeping control of the canoe.

By the time I got back to shore Benny had organized the first aid. Even Lev listened to him. Call local authorities, blankets to wrap the near drownings in. A piece of paper and pencil to write down their names and contact information in case they lost consciousness. My first aid bag out of the van.

The kids were shocky and exhausted, but that’s about it. They were already coming around out of it when the authorities arrived. And when their mom and dad arrived, I made room because I knew what was coming.

After the ruckus was over and we were all trooping back to see if the food on the grill was salvageable, James Lee asked, “Why did you move like that?”

“Would you get between a car and a wall it was about it hit?”

“Huh?”

“Those kids were about to get righteously steamrolled, and they deserved to get squashed. First, they snuck out of camp. Second, they snuck down to the lake. Three, they stole a canoe since even if they called it borrowing without permission it still didn’t belong to them. Four, they didn’t even take a flotation device of any kind. Five? You look smart enough to know what’s likely coming when they get home.”

“But they didn’t die. Don’t that count?”

“They got lucky.”

One of the girls said, “God was looking out for them.”

I shrugged. “Above my paygrade. He could have just as easily let them reap the consequences of the stupidity they sowed. Rules are made for a reason. And they are old enough to know right from wrong.”

“That’s harsh,” I heard one of the adults say.

“Life is harsh,” I said as my own adrenaline started to bleed off and I was glad that these people hadn’t had to learn just how harsh life could be and I’d already had to experience that enough times I wasn’t in the mood to do it again for a while.

# # # # #

Food was eaten. Fireworks shot off. Everything picked up and put away, including leftovers, some of which came our way. Lev was looking around in the dark and asking, “You sure you’re okay with this?”

“It’s fine. As long as no one thinks that we’re making like bunnies with Benny right there.”

“I’ll be honest. Some of them probably think that something is going on, but most don’t care one way or the other.”

“Fine. Can’t stop people from thinking.”

“You sure?”

Rather than try and be funny I answered, “Lev, don’t push. I know you aren’t really trying to but … you are. Let’s just … do this our way instead of worrying about trying to please everyone else. As long as there is no trouble for Benny, I can live with what people think … so long as you can also since some of them are your family. People are people and, they’re just going to think what they want no matter what we say.”

He relaxed. “Fine. Then if you don’t mind, can we just go ahead and … er … hit the hay? We got a long day tomorrow and this time I’m going to help drive.”

“Fine by me. It will give me time to make a grocery list.”

“We also need to talk about the Alaska assignment but not tonight.”

 

[DIMDAL]

Yeehaw! We're going to Alaska!

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 5th (Part 1)​

I’m used to being the first one up, but I got out of the van for an early morning stretch to find that Uncle Cyrus and his wife were already up and sitting on their porch with a cup of coffee. Sun wasn’t up yet but they waived me over.

“Lev said you like early hours. Apparently the boy got it right.”

“Yes Sir. Did we get everything picked up last night? Anything that still needs doing?”

Mrs. Hargis said, “No Honey, and thank you for helping even though you didn’t have to. Another pair of hands is always welcome. You all have everything you need?”

I heard the van door shut quietly and watched Lev walk towards the outhouse. “Yes ma’am. Lev says there are some places he wants to stop that are a few hours down the road, but I made corn muffins for just in case.”

“Well for heavens sake, when did you have time?”

I shrugged. “They cooked while I got Benny clean and checked over for ticks.” I chuckled. “He had a head full of hitchhikers and I was a while combing them out. Lev fell asleep while Benny was telling me how great your grandson James Lee is. Please tell him I really appreciate that he was nice to Benny. I’m glad he had an older boy to set a good example.”

“You know I think I’ll just do that very thing,” she said. “I’ll tell his momma too. She’s worried about the boy. She thinks he’s young for his age.”

“’Cause he still thinks girls have cooties?” They both snickered. “He notices that girl Lindy. It’s just that the girl is a little … obvious … for his taste even at the grand ol’ age of ten.”

I heard a sigh from behind me. “Please don’t be telling stories on me this early in the morning.”

I turned to find Lev walking up. “Your ears are as big as Benny’s. Why do you think I’m talking about you?” I asked just to poke the porcupine a bit.

Rather than being irritated he grinned and said, “’Cause I’m worth a story or two … just not first thing in the morning.”

I rolled my eyes and the two older folks chuckled at his nonsense. “Want some breakfast you two?”

I turned to watch Benny leave the van and high tail it quickly to the outhouse. I left Lev to give our answer and went to check to make sure he didn’t have an upset stomach. Turned out the answer to that was no, he’d just had too much “Nanner Ice Cream” and it told on him but that taken care of he was extra hungry.

Finding out that Lev said we had time to stay, I volunteered to help with breakfast so it could be taken to the Ancients who were just about finished having their quiet time.

“My goodness Child. I may just have to keep you. Where on Earth did you learn to cook like this?”

I explained about my shipmates and crewmates. “My grandfather had a sign on the wall of his shop that read, ‘You can’t be a captain ‘til you learn to clean the bilge tanks.’ And that was pretty much how I was raised. Dad didn’t speak quite the same language, but he definitely felt the same. I cooked a lot … from home to helping my grandma to the years I was a cadette and part of a ship and the time I lived with my brother. Then when Benny wound up needing a special diet … it has all just kind of built on itself.”

“Lev said you were thinking of joining the Navy.”

“Past tense and I’ve learned to live with it. Benny changed my life’s course.”

“Children will do that for a certain. And I can’t believe that Lev hasn’t had any stomach problems. You must have the magic touch.”

I snorted despite it not being especially ladylike. “No, I just helped Mr. Table Vacuum figure out what not to eat. He’s got a fast metabolism, so he knew he needed to eat but it is crazy to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. Now that he knows he needs to stay away from gluten he should be fine.”

“If he will. Boy has a stubborn streak a mile wide.”

“He’ll fall off the wagon. We all do. But it won’t take much to make him hop back on from here on out now that he knows what feeling better feels like.”

“Seems a shame to have to give up bread. Don’t know if I could do it myself.”

“He doesn’t have to give up bread, just certain types. He certainly can eat your cornbread,” I said with an eyeroll. The amount of cornbread that Lev had consumed yesterday was worth an eyeroll or four.

Mrs. Hargis laughed and then I showed her that my grandmother hadn’t just taught me to cook, she’d taught me to move food like a diner waitress as well. She just laughed again – the crinkles on her face said she did it a lot – and said she’d get the dishes after breakfast, but Lev, Benny, and I helped clear off and made short work of the morning mess. After that it was a hustle to get going and Benny and I waved goodbye while Lev took a moment to give a more personal one.

# # # # #

 

[Mr Bill]

"Road Trip"

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 5th (Part 2)​

Despite a cooked breakfast, we were on the road before 6:30 am. Things were quiet at first as Benny dozed back off for about an hour, but then the mood changed. “Aunt Gus?”

“Hey, Little Bear has come out of hibernation!”

He laughed then asked seriously, “You think those kids are okay?”

He went to sleep with them on his mind and apparently woke up the same way. “I’m sure they’re okay. The question is, did they learn their lesson.”

“I hope so,” he said. “Somebody might not see them next time.”

“You got that right. That’s one of the reasons why it is important to follow the rules.”

“Are there rules for Alaska?”

I let Lev handle that and he seemed surprised. “Well, sure Benny. There’s rules for everything. But if you are asking if there are particular rules … yeah, there will be some. Wanna help me go through some of the plans?”

“Me?!”

“You help your Aunt Gus.”

He gave a grin so bright I could see it in the rearview mirror. “Sure! I’ll help!”

All three of us talked about it. First came the weather. Summer in Alaska is really variable, but it is still the best time to visit the national parks there. It can be hot (or at least what some visitors consider hot) or it can be cold (or at least what some people consider cold). They have blizzards in July on occasion. A couple of days later it could be in the 80s and no one will blink.

Lev said, “We’re going to need to be prepared for all of it. Wet, dry, cold, hot, breezy, humid, and buggy. Very, very buggy.”

“Is buggy the weather?” I asked before realizing how silly that sounded.

Benny thought it was funny. Lev shrugged. “I’ve been to Alaska several times. I’ve never seen it without bugs. In the summer they can be really bad. A lot worse than what we saw in Florida, worse than those blasted no-see-um’s until we got the smudge pots set up yesterday. I know you have head nets, but I’d like to get thicker ones for just in case.”

“How much do they cost.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he muttered as he typed something on his tablet.

“Lev?”

“Hmm?” he asked absentmindedly.

“I need a budget.”

“I have one.”

“No, I said I need a budget.”

He clued into my tone and looked over. “The expedition has a budget. It includes outfitting the staff.”

“Benny and I aren’t staff.”

“Actually you are. I wanted to talk to you about it over lunch … when we took a break.” I glanced at him and realized he meant he wanted to talk when Benny was otherwise occupied.

“Yeah?”

“Er … yeah. When I called in on the 3rd to make sure that they would let you come with me … on my dime. They asked for particulars and when they found out who you are …”

“What do you mean, who I am?” I asked suspiciously.

“Your blog and the work you did for the state park system in Florida …”

“The work you did. Benny and I just did our normal thing. We had fun learning, you did all the photography and stuff.”

He snorted. “I still can’t get you to understand how easy you two made it on me. And I’m not going to argue about it. And I’m not the only one that recognizes the work … your work. Bob was enthusiastic about you coming along but wasn’t going to be able to swing another full salary and we are going to have to be careful about Benny because there are rules for minors for this kind of stuff. I asked if he could swing outfitting the three of us, travel expenses, and some help with food. In return we … uh … you would provide a van that would lower the cost of housing.”

“We would provide,” I told him correcting him back to his original phrase.

He gave me a small, pleased smile and said, “We would provide the van.” He then continued, “Bob took everything to the producer, and I got a tentative agreement yesterday and then this morning at the gas station I got the green light with bongo drums and crashing cymbals. The one thing I said was that I’d provide shots of Benny from the back or a shadowed silhouette, but I wouldn’t do up close or identifiable head shots. The director was actually relieved because, like I’ve said before, there are a lot of rules for having kids in the industry. Same rules we had in Florida. You still copasetic with that?”

“Same rules? No head shots that can be altered?” He knew I was referring to protecting Benny and his likeness from predators.

“I wouldn’t do it otherwise. And you are still going to be you, you don’t have to worry about anyone treating you like a Barbie doll and playing dress up.”

I snarled, “I’d like to see them try.”

Lev gave that bark that passes for a laugh, so I let it go. Anyone who wears makeup and hair gel while camping was going to be in for a surprise, especially if the bugs were going to be as bad as Lev implied.

“Is this in writing?” I asked.

“It will be. We’re meeting someone in Sidney, Nebraska. They’ll have the contracts there and a notary public with them. Oh, and the meet up is set for Cabela’s parking lot where the National Pony Express Monument is. That will be on the 7th. Hey Benny, guess where we are going today?”

I gave him side eye since it was also news to me that we were stopping some place today.

“Where?” Benny asked.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum. It is in this place called Mansfield, Missouri. You know the book Aunt Gus was reading to you? Farmer Boy?”

“Yeah,” Benny asked like he was waiting for the surprise. Well, he got one.

“The man that the story was based on used to live at the house where we are going, and it was his wife that wrote his story into a book. And maybe, one of these days, your Aunt Gus is going to write your story the same way.”

“Wow!”

“Lev …”

Quietly he said to me, “Please let me do this. I’ve always wanted to have a family to do a road trip with.”

“You mean you didn’t get enough of it in Florida all those months?”

“No. I … I really didn’t Gus. And it is different this time. It’s … just us and Benny. At least until we meet up with the other team members, and the potential other stuff that I’m not going to talk about because you said no pushing and even though I don’t mean to it is hard to stop.”

I had to chuckle because he was turning a little blue by the time he got that run on sentence out. “Fine. You can push a little. A very little. I’m not up for more.”

He grinned and nodded like he was satisfied with my answer, and we got back to discussing the weather and how it may affect what Lev is calling the Alaska Assignment. We’re going to be flying. I’m not talking any of the big-name carriers. I’m talking some of the national parks can’t be reached by driving. And we’re going to be flying in a small float plane.

“Say what?” I asked, not sure how to take all the plans getting taken out of my hands.

“Er … that’s how a lot of people get around in Alaska; small plane aviation.”

“And when were you going to mention this?” I asked.

“After a mug of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows?” he answered obviously finally accepting that I just don’t drink because of Benny.

“Better be a dang huge pile of marshmallows,” I told him, trying to keep things light because I didn’t want to scare Benny.

Still, it seemed that Lev wanted to take my concerns seriously. “I’ve flown to the backcountry multiple times. The reason why it is safe is because pilots just won’t take off if there are potential visibility and wind issues. Didn’t you tell me you went out on a sailboat by yourself when you were in high school?”

Quietly, not to draw Benny’s attention, I responded, “Yeah. I was a kid with no real responsibilities. I have a big one now and I’m having to think beyond the adventure factor.”

Looking troubled he asked, “So is flying out?”

“No. I just want to do my own research instead of just counting on someone, even if I trust them, telling me how things work.”

“So … you trust me?” he asked hopefully.

“You wouldn’t be in this van now much less all the times you slept inside it while in Florida. Keep that in mind.”

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 5th (Part 3)​

He nodded thoughtfully and we tried to get the conversation back on track. “This next bit isn’t really weather either but summer in Alaska isn’t like summer in Florida.”

“Have to admit that I’ve realized that is likely to be the case,” I chuckled trying to put things back on a lighter track.

He grinned but kept it serious when he explained, “What I mean is that there are days that the sun never goes down, or should I said it goes down during the time we are going to be there but not as much as you are used to and there is a lot of twilight time.”

Slowly I nodded while Lev tried to convince Benny he wasn’t telling a story. Afterwards I asked, “How much of this are we talking about?”

“Give me a sec and let me do what you call the maffs. Today is the 5th. I’m estimating we arrive in Seattle to stock up on the 10th. That’s not written in stone, we might be a day or two later than that. But let’s assume … we’ll head to Bellingham that evening and get in line for the ferry. Once loaded it is 38 hours to Ketchikan.”

“Thirty-eight hours?!”

“We’ll camp on the ferry’s deck.”

“Oh really.”

“Er … we’ll work out the logistics, just kinda go with me.”

“We’re already going with you … I just want to arrive in one piece with my sanity intact.”

“Trust me Gus.”

“We’ve already had that discussion. Just get to the maffs.”

He smiled cautiously, realizing that I needed to be a little more informed. I rolled my eyes realizing once again that I had a control issue but trying to fix that didn’t mean giving up all semblance of commonsense. So yeah, we needed to talk.

“Okay my estimate is that we arrive in Ketchikan on the 14th … but I don’t know what time yet. Traveling by ferry means you sometimes make port at … er … odd hours. But let’s just go at arriving in Ketchikan on the 14th of July. Sunrise that day is at 4:25 am and Sunset is at 9:20 pm, but there is twilight on either side of that. The table says that it starts getting light around 3:30 am and doesn’t get full dark until 10:15 at night.”

Deciding to think about that later I asked, “So is it a day in Ketchikan, do we stay on the ferry, get off, just what?”

“The ferry docks in Ketchikan for about 3 hours. I’d like us to get off, if you don’t mind. We’ll have to take our backpacks with us, but the tent can stay taped down.”

“Taped down?”

“Yeah, to keep it from blowing over overboard.”

And he said it oh so matter-of-factly. I was definitely going to need to have a discussion with Lev. Just because Benny and I had become well-traveled and used to some craziness didn’t mean I was big on those kinds of surprises.

I was a little topped off and needed to give traffic my attention so Lev went back to figuring and we arrived at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home about noon but thanks to the fact that Lev was in the van traveling with us he and Benny ate leftovers they fixed for themselves from the cookout while I drove, and I nibbled odds and ends they fixed for me before we arrived so didn’t have to waste time figuring that out.

Grandma Barry would have loved this place. Little House on the Prairie was one of the first full book series that she and I read together. From Little House in the Big Woods all the way through to The First Four Years and then all the spin off book series for Laura’s ancestors. And I must have watched every episode of the TV series at least ten times growing up. The books and the vids are some of the few things that not even Lawrence questioned me holding out from putting in storage. I “outgrew” them soon enough as I went on to the more physical activities of scouts and cadets, but they are still one of my comfort items, just like Benny’s still-secret woobie, and that’s why I had brought the digitized versions with us on our adventures.

Grandma Barry had also used this curriculum called The Prairie Primer to help home school me before I hit middle school. We did one book a year and I had just finished with the last one right before she passed away. Gah! The memories burned a bit as we toured their homes on Rocky Ridge, the Wilder–Lane museum, the vegetable garden that used heirloom seeds from plants that Laura herself grew while she lived, and the hiking paths between the various places on the grounds.

“Wow Aunt Gus, how did you know all the answers to the trivia questions?”

I laughed. “My grandmother … your great grandmother … and I used to try and stump each other.”

“Huh?”

“It was a game we played with each other. It is how I … remember I told you that it was hard for me to be in a regular classroom and that our family helped me to learn and grow despite being different?”

“You were homeschooled. Like you are homeschooling me instead of getting stuck inside and sitting all the time.”

I nodded at his explanation. “Well … a little more than that. I … had a short attention span. And a few other learning challenges that I’m helping you to avoid as much as possible.”

“Like we’re dislexia.”

“We both have dyslexia. Yes, that’s one of them. But I sometimes … let’s just say my OCD could occasionally act like ODD.” I explained to him what that meant. “I could be very challenging even though I didn’t mean to be bad.”

“You … you were bad?” he asked incredulously. He’d heard the stories I’d told him, but I don’t think he really understood them.

“Could be. Mostly it was caused by boredom and … and stubbornness that would jump to hardheadedness pretty fast. Grandma Barry came up with a way to … she said they were called unit studies. All my academics were structured around a topic, story, or whatever was catching my interest at any given time. Sometimes we went fast, and the unit study was finished in a day. Sometimes the unit could stretch for months. In part that is why I learned so well in Sea Scouts and Naval Cadets. By being focused on a badge, award, or rank that had narrow parameters and a concrete way to get from point a to point b I learned better … especially because I understood why I needed to do something rather than it just feel like busywork.”

He gave it some thought then it clicked. “Like how I learned to read so that I could understand what was in all of my Junior Ranger books and what was on the sign-thingies!”

“Bingo Little Bear,” I laughed. “And now that you are older you can expand your horizons and learn about other stuff as well. At some point we’ll need to use more structured curriculum for you to learn math and things like that.” When he made a face. “Oh relax, you’ll do great. You’re smarter than I was at your age. You’ll just need to find out how or why you’ll use what you learn. Then it will click. Assuming you don’t fall in love with the stuff on your own. Your dad was killer on the maffs. Way better than me. He helped make Physics fun when I was in high school.”

“I don’t like math or that psychics stuff.”

“Physics. And sure you do,” I laughed. “You like roller coasters don’t you? And you like skipping stones on the river.”

“That’s not math. No way.”

“Yes way. Remind me some other time to tell you about when your dad helped some of my friends and me build a catapult and we tossed … er … well I’ll tell you some of it. At least as long as you promise not to get as silly as we did.”

“What did you toss?” He asked like it was funny that I’d been naughty.

I rolled my eyes and whispered, “Watermelons. Cantaloupes. Pumpkins. And … me.”

“You?!” he laughed in surprised disbelief.

“Yeah. Lawrence didn’t know about that last one until they called him from the ER to tell him nothing was broken but that he had to come pick me up because my wrist was sprained and my … uh … backside was a little bruised. That was the end of the catapult. But then he helped us build a trebuchet if we promised not to toss each other with it.”

“What’s a tray-boo-shay?”

“A lesson for another time. Let’s go see what is in the bookstore.”

“Can we really go look there too?!”

“Indoor voice Benny.”

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.”

“Yes, let’s go look.” I tossed a look over at Lev and then nearly stumbled. He seemed … enthralled? Is that the correct word for it? I used to catch him giving us that look in Florida, but I put it down to him liking the camera shots he was getting. Maybe not. I’m thinking that Lev is a lot more starved for affection or something along those lines than even I have realized up to this point. Please Creator, don’t let me hurt this sweet man. I have a good idea of what he wants, I just don’t know if I’m capable of giving it to him, capable of giving it to anyone. Us Barrymores don’t have the greatest track record with relationships; not always our fault but we tend to have a target or we make a target. I don’t want either. All I can do is take it day by day and do my best not to let anyone get hurt.

While Benny was looking at some of the things in the bookstore I whispered to Lev, “Um, trying to not be a controlling person but it is getting a little late, the museum will close soon, and kinda wondering how much further we have to drive tonight.”

He grinned, “How about we stay here?”

I felt like Benny when all I could say was, “Huh?”

He looked so happy. “Surprise! We’re boondocking at the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. They had a cancellation and … Er … that’s okay, right? Oh, maybe you want a hotel room and …” I could see he was growing unsure again.

“Relax. It sounds perfect. No pricey price tag.””

“And no more driving. We can … uh … hit the hay early,” he said using my turn of phrase. “Make sure Benny rests after getting wound up. That’s the way you worked it in Florida. Right?”

“Yeah. It is.” He saw a lot more than I gave him credit for.

“I thought so. Benny is a great kid, but I think that is because you give him some structure. That’s a lot cooler than my mother did for me. Hell, I raised myself when I wasn’t on the farm and even there … meh … never mind.”

Trying not to bring up touchy subjects for both of us I said, “I have to have some kind of structure Lev. Benny does as well. But to be honest, I probably need it more than him. It just helps me to … not … Er …”

“Hey, it’s cool. I get it. Figured that part out in Florida, even if Rick didn’’t.””

“Lev?”

“Yeah?”

A little uncomfortable but realizing I’d need to be the one to bring it up I said, “Let’s leave Rick out of what is going on here. He had to do what he had to do, and I don’t want to turn him into the bad guy. But I don’t want to drag him around like a ball and chain either. It’s done. To be honest it never really started. Let’s just …”

“Hey, I get it. I don’t want to exactly discuss … uh … never mind. Shutting up now.”

I chuckled. “Stop trying so hard. No damage done. I just don’t want to make it out to be more than it was even if I made the mistake of thinking it was at one point. Pages have turned and … I just want to move on.”

“Together?”

“You’re pushing again.”

“I know. Just …”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop looking like I’m about to kick you please. Let’s just … go slow. Okay?”

With more understanding than I was comfortable with he said, “Gotcha. I’m … satisfied that we are at least moving. Just don’t let me drag you or … or …”

Deciding to clear another issue up I said, “And no, I don’t feel sorry for you. I just need there to be an ending with what came before … um … just in case there is a beginning here.”

He grinned and then Benny came over and asked if he could have some water, that he was thirsty, and thankfully the subject changed.

Benny and Lev have both been asleep for almost an hour and I think I’m ready for that state myself. No, I’m not uncomfortable with Lev in the van as weird as that seems. I think it is just that while I’ve known him for 9 months this is something new and I’m not quite sure how to take it yet.

Resources:
Home - Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum (lauraingallswilderhome.com)
Prairie Primer | Cadron Creek Christian Curriculum | 9780965251105 (rainbowresource.com)

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 6th – World’s Largest Ball of Twine​

Drove over nine hours today including the stopping we did to get to … believe it or not … the world’s largest ball of twine. Once we finally made it there, I thought Benny and Lev were going to fall over laughing. They were completely fascinated. Yeah, I had a hard time understanding but I suspect that it is a male chromosome thing. That’s one point for keeping Lev around … he speaks Y-Chromosome. I can come close, but Biology 101 tells me that a guy is a guy, and I’m not one.

The ball of twine came into existence in 1953 when this farmer got tired of all the twine littering the floor of his barn and instead of sweeping it up and taking it out to the burn barrel like most people, he just started winding it up and into a ball. Yeah. Like that wasn’t more work than the work of simply tossing it onto a fire would have been which was his initial justification. But there must be something in the water in those parts because his neighbors started bringing him their bits of twine that would have been too much work to simply throw away as well.

According to an informational sign thingie it goes something like this: Proud of his accomplishment -- and running out of room in his barn – Frank the Farmer hauled the ball into town to be part of the 1961 Cawker City Centennial Parade. It was such a popular attraction that a year later it was placed on a concrete slab next to U.S. Highway 24. It's been there ever since, under a series of ever-larger and sturdier outdoor shelters. Guinness World Records certified Frank's ball as the World's Largest in 1973. He died a year later, proud of his accomplishment. But in 1978, Guinness knocked Frank's ball down to second place. It had been surpassed by a bigger ball of twine in Minnesota where there is apparently the same kind of crazy. Cawker City at first didn't feel compelled to defend Frank's legacy. But the idea of the twine ball just sitting there didn't seem right either. So in 1982 the town began to hold an annual Twine Ball Days festival, where everyone could come and add to Frank's ball. Gradually, an idea began to take hold that people should be able to add twine year-round. Cawker City's ball now weighs over 13 tons and contains over 1,600 miles of twine. If you rolled it westward, you'd still be unrolling twine when you reached San Francisco.

It is a good thing we had something else to discuss after the drive to see the big ball of twine or Aunt Gus may have thought her two traveling companions needed a checkup from the neck up. Today’s topic? Camping with bears in Alaska. Yeah, and this is where some of the more significant rules come into the picture we are traveling towards.

Black bears and brown bears are both present in large numbers in all Alaska national parks. According to Lev it is imperative that bear safety issues be taken seriously and that we follow all rules and recommendations put in place by locals and the park service. He actually used the word imperative before explaining, “This is for our safety as well as the safety and protection of the bears.”

“Fine, but how at risk will Benny be?” I asked remembering some of the rules in Yellowstone National Park and other parks we visited with wildlife.

“None if I have any say,” Lev growled, surprising me just a bit for no reason at all. I’d seen how he’d been in Florida. He wasn’t just going to change tack suddenly. He continued, “You either, for that matter. They want pictures of bears they can get them without the two of you in the shot.”

As he explained it, exact regulations vary from place to place but there are some general guidelines including:

• Carry bear spray – similar to pepper spray, if a bear attacks you can defend yourself in a non-lethal way.
• Respect all trail, campground and other area closures – if an area has been closed due to bear activity, there’s a reason, do not enter it
• Never approach or feed bears, ever (Duh!)
• Never store food, cooking equipment, toiletries or anything else with a scent in or near your tent. These items should always be in a bear cache or locker or bear bin (these details vary by the system each park has set up for bear safe storage). Never leave these items unattended for any amount of time.
• Never run from a bear, it is like putting out a dinner sign for fast food.

“Please tell me we aren’t going to be tent camping in grizzly bear country. I’m no Chicken of the Sea but that doesn’t thrill me with Benny along. I’ve read some real horror stories. Was told some when we went on this tour in Montana to see them in the wild. And when we were in the Smokies, a bear broke into a tent and injure a three-year-old little girl and her mother.”

“I remember you mentioning it. And not my plan, but always be prepared. Camping in bear country isn’t impossible, people have been doing it for centuries. But I understand your concern. We’ll always have emergency equipment in the packs, but you just never know. We could run into a weather event, someone could sprain an ankle on a trail, an animal could be blocking our path and delay us until after dark, anything could happen. Best practices is something we should always know ahead of time.”

“You’ve done some camping,” I told him, remembering my suspicions a few times in Florida.

“Yeah. More importantly most of that camping wasn’t just done in Uncle Cyrus’ backyard. I have experience in the backcountry in the US and in primitive locations in foreign countries. I know what I’m doing and I’m not going to let any idiots put you and Benny in danger.”

Well. It appears that Lev has hidden depths. Or at least a lot more stuffing than I’ve given him credit for having.

We both quizzed Benny with what he would do if faced with different situations in Alaska and later Lev suggested that we continue to do that to make sure that Benny didn’t get into a situation where he couldn’t get himself out of if at all possible. He wouldn’t be wandering around alone, but as Lev said, “You never know.”

“That’s the very thought that started me on teaching Benny survival skills. You never know.”

“So … you don’t have problems with this? I don’t want to scare him.”

“That’s what you … and I … are trying to keep from happening. We’re helping him to build his own personal, safety manual that he can pull up in his head. Because … you never know.”

Speaking of, we had intended on backtracking a couple of miles and staying the night at Glen Elder State Park. Even had a reservation but when I called to confirm it mid-day turns out that there was some issue with the water and plumbing so the campground was closed. I did my thing and found us another location to camp that was a little further down the road. It wasn’t a spectacular option, but it wasn’t craptastic either and the bonus was that it was free.

“We could find a hotel room,” Lev offered.

“Uh uh. The local motels are probably already full because of the camp closure. And even if they aren’t, why spend the money if we don’t have to.”

“’Cause I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

Trying to have patience since I knew he was trying to be nice I told Lev, “You are being strange again. This is a sleeper van, let’s just save the money in case something happens down the road.”

“So it’s not me paying for things that is a problem?”

I snorted. “Lev, I’m trying to save you some money, and all of us a potential headache in the process. We’ll have to drive out of our way to find a hotel, assuming we can find one with a vacancy. And no, you are not going to sleep out in a tent for the bugs to carry you off just to prove that you are willing to do so to protect my virtue or whatever you are imagining. We should be beyond that issue by now. Stop trying to make it an issue again.”

He slowly chuckled. “You are definitely a different kind of girl Gus Barrymore.”

“Tell me you aren’t just now figuring that out.”

He just chuckled again and whatever had been the problem evaporated and we continued on.

Smith Center Roadside Area is for all intents a county park. However, it is also off of KS-36 so it is used as a rest area and overnight parking area. We weren’t the only ones trying to find a spot after Glen Elder closed so were happy to find one and just appreciated it for what it was. Most people, once they found out it was a “dry camp” meaning it had no water, restrooms, or hookups turned around and left. As the day wore on people were less picky.

Lev and Benny tried to help with dinner, but it was about four helping hands too many, so they sat at the small folding table I’d picked up in Florida for those camps without a picnic table or when I needed a prep table; and they worked on planning the next couple of days.

I finished up dinner. I made Spanish rice with ground beef and some veggies mixed in for the main course and a gluten-free version of Mango Banana Bread in the solar cooker[1]. After the dishes were washed, all three of us started cleaning and reorganizing the van. We will be picking up our equipment and food for the start of the Alaska trip tomorrow and the idea of just throwing it anywhere it will fit gave all three of us the heebies. “Ha!” as Lev would say. If we are going to have issues at least all three of us have similar ones that run the same direction. I wasn’t happy with the attention some people were throwing our way but as it turns out, one woman was giving us the stink eye because I guess her partner or whatever had shamed her into cleaning up their RV and the other people just likely thought we were weird or homeless or something. No one bothered us and finally it was time to shut down for the night.

I think I’ve finally gotten rid of all the last of the flotsam that I’ve been dragging around since Key West. I got rid of all the clothes that weren’t good for much more than rags. My crazy medical backpack has been winnowed down into something that makes better sense so needed reorganizing. I bagged up the last of Benny’s too-small clothes to be dropped at a donation center tomorrow. Everything else got cleaned, organized, and rearranged. Just like in Florida, Lev’s photography equipment fit in the garage storage in his big hard-sided trunk, and I rearranged my gear to give Lev a couple of deep drawers for his personal items.

“You sure you don’t ….”

Before he could worry the next “imposition” to death I stuck a slice of the Mango Banana Bread in his mouth. Benny snickered and Lev got the message.

Both Benny and Lev are snoring quietly – have no idea how they manage to do it but they do – and I’m sitting here trying to decide how much to post on the blog or if I should shut down any new updates. I don’t want to. It is a source of income. But I have to be careful in terms of what is posted with respect to the job. I’ll ask for sure tomorrow.

Resources:
World's Largest Ball of Twine, Cawker City, Kansas (roadsideamerica.com)

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[1] Mango Banana Bread Recipe for Solar Oven Cooking

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 7th – National Pony Express Monument >> Amanda Lamme Historic Sign >> Chimney Rock >> Scotts Bluff National Monument (Part 1)​

Left the rest area and drove to the National Pony Express Monument. And yes, the thing is indeed located in an old Cabela’s parking lot. We met Lev’s contact to sign contracts and to pick up our supplies and some gear. Holy shopping spree Batman! It was like Christmas and food poisoning all wrapped together. Shopping is not my favorite activity to begin with. This isn’t like the vendors or sponsored items in what Lev refers to as the Florida Assignment. This stuff isn’t a type of commercial within a video. Nope, this is a different kettle of fish. And letting someone else control the purse strings was a huge lesson in both patience and humility.

Lev and I took turns driving every two hours with me starting and finishing the drive of six and a half hours. It gave both of us time to go over our notes. I admitted to myself and him that Benny and I were going to need some new wardrobe pieces. I still had things that would work from last year when we started and the weather was cool, but Benny has outgrown nearly everything he has, certainly everything he had back then. He has a couple of items (like t-shirts) that will be kept as keepsakes, but he really needed everything from the skin out as less of the clothes are fitting than I had expected had we remained in Florida. He has a couple of hoodies that still fit but that is not going to cut it if I’m understanding what Lev has said. I was just hoping that we could find what we needed. It is July; that’s not exactly the time to look for winter clothes. Then again, it isn’t going to be cold all the time either. Lev said focus on layers and I’m definitely going to need his guidance. Benny and I have never lived in your stereotypical “winter” environment. This is going to be an entirely new experience. I remember how challenging Maine was for us, Alaska might be similar in effect but for a longer period of time.

Turns out that we did manage to find most of what we needed, but it wasn’t cheap.

“We could have found a thrift store,” I said wondering if I should have objected more.

“And if we were paying for it, I’d be all over that like stink on manure, but since the Production Company is picking up the tab, and they have rules about what kind of receipts they will accept, and what brands can appear in shots, we’ll just go right on ahead and stop at places like Cabela’s. Normally most of us wind up with an expense account we draw from and just buy it ourselves out of that, but with this being part of a grant the paperwork must be to a particular standard. Bogus if you ask me but that’s just the way this ball is rolling. And … er … let me do the talking with the rep? They can be kinda full of themselves and your low tolerance can be legendary.”

“I can put up with pencil neck desk jockies.”

“Ha! That’s what I mean.” He stopped and cleared his throat. “Uh … I mean I know you can, but these guys get butthurt way too easy.”

Curious I asked, “And you like working with people like that?”

“Not particularly, but it pays the bills, and I don’t have to do it near as often as I did there for a while. I can’t exactly write my own paycheck for every job, but I do get a few more perks than when I started.”

“Like dragging along a couple extra people to be your props?”

He realized I was just stating what I thought were the facts and not ragging on him. “Hey, you aren’t just props. And, don’t take this the wrong way, but a lot of ‘props’ I’ve worked with cost more money than you and Benny combined. You are bringing experience and a sense of realness that some affordable actor wouldn’t be able to recreate. And the way Benny looks at things is just too cool for words. I would have done a lot to have a friend like him at his age. I don’t think I’ve ever really heard the kid complain.”

“Oh he can complain, we just have rules that if he feels the need to, we do it in private so we can talk it out.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. A few of those times he needed to get away and it be just the two of us was when he needed to express himself, if you catch my meaning. It’s the rules I had as a kid and I’m just sort of passing them along. Saves everyone some embarrassment and it means that the kid feels like they are being listened to even if their feelings can’t be adjusted for.”

“Amen and hallelujah. I’m not real good with kids that make an intentional spectacle.”

I’m kinda surprised how honest Lev is all things considered. Then again, he is fairly transparent. He also seems to know how to keep his emotions in check. That I really appreciate, especially under the circumstances; circumstances that I’m still not sure how to process completely.

At Cabela’s we got:

• Waterproof boots for all three of us
• Some additional fishing tackle that got stored in the hidden bumper compartment (Now that was funny watching Lev’s face when I showed it to him.)
• Upgraded sleeping bags and sleeping pads
• Bear spray (giving me lots to think about)
• And a new yoga mat for me as my old one is getting thin in places and more duct tape than not in others.

Clothing Items

• Wool Socks. The warmth, cushion, and absorbency of thick wool socks are important. Cotton is fine and useful especially when you are relaxing around camp but wool socks are recommended when you are out on your fishing and other activities. And they had several brands of toe socks and I admit I splurged.
• Long Underwear. Cotton is recommended for sightseeing and hiking but for activities such as kayaking the polypropylene is better. Got both and was happy to see they had them in Youth size as well. I got Benny some with growing room just to be safe.
• Pants. Jeans work fine but I also wanted the type of scout pants I was used to only in thicker fabric. Instead of finding that I found some yoga type pants that could layer … yoga pants next to my skin that would wick away sweat, then long underwear, then scout or Columbia style pants that are quick dry and/or semi-waterproof. I tried the same for Benny but decided he did need jeans for just in case and that went on a wallyworld list I was making as we went along.
• Shirts. A few long sleeve shirts; both button down and wicking type t-shirts. Those I had though I got another two of my preferred unisex style since I didn’t know what laundry facilities would be available and we were going to be there from mid-july to the end of September.
• Other Shirts. Short-sleeved and long-sleeved T-shirts. Two or three for longer trips is what was recommended and this was definitely a “longer trip.” Benny and Lev found what they needed on the first rack they looked at. Unfortunately all they had in the women’s section was “fitted” and they didn’t thrill me, especially the colors. Finally found what I was looking for in the men’s section. Wound up with men’s medium in a brand and style that fit me in the chest and shoulders at the same time in khaki, green, and navy hues. Color me happy and pardon the pun.
• Comfortable Shoes. The rubber boots were surprisingly comfortable and got added to my shoes. Benny needed all new shoes except for flipflops which were going to be useless where we were going except for maybe shower shoes. And this is also where Lev seemed to go off the rails in my opinion.

“Lev, I do not need all these shoes. I already have hikers that fit, crocs for camp shoes, tennis shoes and …”

“Gus …” He shook his head and rolled his eyes, but I could see the grin lurking. “I have got to teach you how to just say thank you and accept a gift when it comes your way.” He stopped, looked at me then looked at Benny and appeared to weigh his words. “Gus you do not want to use all of something that is yours and when a job is over have to replace your entire wardrobe because it gave its life in service of the assignment. Think of it as a uniform. You need it to perform the job. It is part of the contract. And because it is part of the contract don’t think like you need to save them money. Just stay under budget and they’ll be happy. But don’t stay under budget at the expense of health and safety.”

My feelings tried to get involved. “Now just a …”

Remaining calm Lev tried to explain. “Trust me on this. The bean counters have skinnied these numbers down way more than necessary just in case production costs run over which is much likelier to happen than you buying too many shoes. Delays because someone gets sick costs them a lot more than paying up front for proper footwear and other gear.”

I thought about it then asked, “Am I being ridiculous and emotional?”

Lev shook his head, then appeared to be weighing his words. “No. Thoughtful but … inexperienced. And I know that must sting like hell to hear it so at least pretend you understand I’m not saying these things to hurt your feelings. It is just part of the job. This will be a good gig. And the production company is getting a good deal. You aren’t asking for an arm and a leg, and you aren’t playing diva or making unreasonable requests for Benny. Trust me, they know it, they just would never admit to it, or they’d be afraid of giving you ideas. They just don’t know you like I do. And because I do know you, I’m going to make sure that you and Benny aren’t taken advantage of.”

I almost laughed until I saw how serious he was.

“Fine. But there’s actually stuff on this list they don’t have here and there’s a wallyworld not too far away and I want to at least look there before I try and hit any more specialty stores.”

Lev knew a compromise when he heard one and said, “Deal.”

• Sweater or Fleece Jacket to act as an insulation layer. I was fine between all my various pieces, but Benny needed all new since he’d outgrown all of his cold weather clothes.
• Rain Gear. Did I have rain gear? Was I born in Florida? Land of tropical storms and hurricanes? I was a naval cadet, though that is getting further in the past than I am comfortable with. So yes indeedy I do have rain gear. I even have some for Benny he hasn’t outgrown but I did not say no to a new Rain jacket and rain pants for him in a size larger for growing room.
• Warm Hat, ear covers, and gaiters and mufflers. Had all of mine and they were still just fine but I agreed to several new options for Benny including a warm hat in hunter’s orange. He opened his mouth to say no thank you but I said, “Not this time Benny. I know the color is obnoxious but think of it like a piece of safety gear. You don’t get it because it looks good, you get it because it does the job you need it to do.” I got a close-fitting synthetic beanie and then the orange monstrosity in wool. I told him, “At least it doesn’t have a pom-pom on top, right?” That gave him pause and he then made a face like a cat about to cough up a loogie, but got the message. I considered it a win given his occasional texture and clothing issues. I cut him some slack as much as possible since I have my own issues in that respect, but sometimes you don’t get to pick and have to learn to deal. Nevertheless, I got a cotton beanie as a liner just in case. I’m trying to teach him flexibility, not how to suffer through any cruelty.
• Gloves. Light cotton gloves work fine for hiking, biking and other leisure activities. For fishing and kayaking it was recommended to get lightweight neoprene diver’s gloves. I had both, including thin gloves that acted as a liner. Benny had fingerless gloves the same as me, but he needed gloves for warmth and a new pair of neoprene diver’s gloves for just in case.
• Shorts. For sleeping, relaxing in a hotel room, and warmer days. These both Benny and I had in spades, in good Columbia types and canvas cargo types, but I put new sleeping clothes on the list for wallyworld. I also didn’t say no to a couple of new pairs for Benny.

Underwear and other foundation garments were something else I put on the wallyworld list. My sports bras were unraveling from all the handwashing with the Lavario – still chugging away and not a chip, crack, or leak after so much heavy usage – and the elastic was giving out on the ones that weren’t unraveling. I don’t have much, but what I do have I like to keep from bouncing around uncomfortably. Grandmother Barry understood and always took me on a girls’ day out a couple of times a year and we’d go to Tallahassee and make a real production of it. Sigh. I admit I miss the attention she used to show me despite the fact I was a Tomboy on steroids, but she taught me even being an extremely active female didn’t mean I had to give up comfort and support, or even looks. In other words, I like my armor and I’m particular about it. Wallyworld carries the brands I wear the most, I just hoped they had them in my size. I might be an “A/B” cup, but I’m broad through the back and can’t stand to have my shoulders bound up. On top of that I prefer t-backs that don’t get in the way of my range of shoulder motion. Particular? Why yes I am, thank you very much for noticing.

One of my real splurges were polarized sunglasses for Benny. He’s outgrowing the little kid type glasses and we are outside so much it is important to protect his eyes even more. I also got safety cords that will help keep them on his face or around his neck. I got one pair of regular sunglasses then got him two pairs of Seahawk kayak sunglasses with the scratch resistant and shatter proof lenses and rubber frames with built in harness that keeps them on and in place.

Other things on the list that I didn’t buy because I had better already included binoculars. Even Benny had a pair better than most of what was out for sale at Cabela’s. They were Lawrence’s and he treats them nice, so they’ll last for years. Same for pocketknives. Dad’s Swiss Army knife with the million and one attachments is still my constant companion but I do carry a buck knife for more everyday use. I gave Benny one of my early Cubbie type pocketknives and haven’t had to take it away because he has kept to his promise of always following the rules while it is being used. I saw a couple of stainless-steel Kershaw pocketknives that made me drool but I couldn’t justify them when I already had so many I couldn’t carry them all at once without wasting weight in the backpack.

 

[Mr Bill]

Did I mention Lev as the right guy for Gus several(many) chapters ago?

 

[sssarawolf]

Great, thank you.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 7th (Part 2)​

Then we hit up another area of the store; we got some camp food (all gluten free) for the ferry trip and beyond, including some brands that were new to me right along with the new meal flavors. And didn’t Lev have fun picking that stuff out. I swear he is nearly as OCD about the gluten-free stuff as I am now that he has identified what his problem has been. A lifetime of gut issues suddenly gone will do that I suppose.

Alpine Aire

• Santa Fe Black Beans and Rice
• Pepper Beef and Rice
• Grilled Chicken Gumbo
• Sweet Potato Grilled Chicken
• Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Grilled Chicken Jambalaya
• Himalayan Lentils and Rice

Mountain House

• Rice and Chicken
• Breakfast Skillet
• Chicken Fried Rice
• Scrambled Eggs and Bacon
• Fajita Bowl
• Chicken and Mashed Potatoes
• Granola

Wild Zora (Paleo, Grain free, Gluten Free, No Sugar Added, but thankfully not tasteless)

• Palisade Pineapple Mango Paleo Porridge
• Bedrock Beef Chili
• Mountain Beef Stew
• Butte Cacao Banana Paleo Porridge
• Caldera Chicken Curry
• Summit Savory Chicken
• Coconut Berry Paleo Porridge
• Apple Pie Hot Cereal
• Banana Bread Hot Cereal
• Carrot Cake Hot Cereal
• Blueberry Muffin Hot Cereal
• Tropical Tart Hot Cereal
• Savory Beef Instant Soup
• Mushroom Beef Instant Soup
• Picante Beef Instant Soup
• Tuscan Chicken Instant Soup
• Lemon Chicken Instant Soup
• Apple Pork Meat and Veggie Bar
• Curry Turkey Meat and Veggie Bar
• Taco Pork Meat and Veggie Bar
• Mediterranean Lamb Meat and Veggie Bar
• BBQ Beef Meat and Veggie Bar

Munk Pack Granola Bars, Nut & Seed Bars

• Blueberry Almond
• Honey Nut
• Coconut Cocoa Chip
• Peanut Butter
• Almond Butter Cocoa Chip
• Maple Pecan
• Sea Salt Dark Chocolate
• Macadamia White chocolate
• Coconut Dark Chocolate Almond
• Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
• Caramel Sea Salt
• Pumpkin Seed Cinnamon Almond

Backpacker’s Pantry

• Kathmandu Curry
• Chicken Fried Rice
• Rice & Chicken
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Chicken Fajita Bowl
• Pad Thai with Chicken
• Chicken & Mashed Potatoes
• Breakfast Skillet
• Three Sisters Stew

Nomad Nutrition (gluten free and plant-based)

• Hungarian Goulash
• Indian Red Lentil Stew
• Irish Shepherd’s Pie
• Caribbean Curry
• Ukrainian Borscht (apparently something Lev grew to like on another assignment. Ew.)

Various other meals/brands

• Sweet potato curry
• Chicken Pho (Good to Go brand)
• Chicken Creole with Brown Rice
• Mango Sticky Rice
• Cuban Rice Bowl (Peak2Go)
• Chickpeas Marsala (Peak2Go)
• Mexican Quinoa Bowl (Good to Go brand)
• Fruit Smoothie Pouches
• Smoked Three Bean Chili
• Adobo Rice and Chicken
• Sweet Pork and Rick
• Lemon Berry Granola Breakfast
• Coconut Mango Granola Breakfast
• Orange Pecan Granola Breakfast
• Chocolate Strawberry Granola Breakfast
• New England Corn Chowder (Good to Go brand)
• Jack Link’s beef strips
• And enough chickpeas, lentils, and curry meals to go dot-not-feather

Lev obviously knows me. He went over everything and showed me that as outrageously large as the final ticket was, it will still save money in the long run, and we purchased nothing that wasn’t needed for the job that was before us. It still gave me indigestion but then he said to think of it like the logistics I would have been faced with had I gone into the Navy. And didn’t that completely turn my attitude about what we were doing inside out. It gave me a perspective that I hadn’t been using.

We stored what we’d bought from Cabela’s in the nearly empty tubs and just walked to the wallyworld to burn off the wiggles since it was across the roadway. We didn’t plan on buying much but I brought the reusable bags just in case. Good thing I brought all of them. In addition to the “foundation garments,” warm sleeping clothes for everyone, and a few extra odds and ends for Benny, I tossed in some new art supplies, from a school supplies clearance row, making Benny very happy and promising he wouldn’t open them until he finished using up what he already had.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 7th (Part 3)​

We hit the RV section back in Auto and Tools and I got the water filters I’d wanted. Then I sighed and pulled out a list I had titled “maintenance wants” and considered my budget before putting a couple of other things in the buggy. We didn’t need new hoses, but I didn’t want to take a chance being out in the boonies with no way to fix a broken one, so I picked up a blue for fresh water and a black for the black and grey water tanks as well as the tape that would seal a minor leak if a repair didn’t require a full replacement, or I couldn’t do it immediately. Speaking of the black water tank, I grabbed a bucket of formaldehyde, biodegradable drop-in tabs to keep the sewage from smelling like sewage. I’ve been using those things like religion between dump stations and so far have never had a back up or odor problem. A new 30 amp drop cord and surge protector made me wince but if the van was going to be our long-term residence it wouldn’t go to waste.

One of the refrigerator bars that keeps things from falling out when you open the door is giving up the ghost, so I had to pick up something to replace it over near the curtain section. Tension rods. There were only two the right size and I took one and Lev put the other in the buggy.

“What?”

He said, “What is it you kept saying in Florida? One is none and two is one.”

“I’ve got a budget.”

“And so have I. Consider it rent.”

“Now wait a doggone minute,” I responded in surprised indignation.

“No,” he said right before grabbing a case of the zero-sweeteners mineral water I drink when it is available and putting it on the bottom of the buggy. He had such a “so there” look on his face I almost asked if he was going to stick his tongue out too. Nearly did until I saw Benny watching with extreme interest. Lev and I are going to need to have a talk.

Some of the other items that we picked up were a huge restock on the bug repellents. I wasn’t able to find the Buzz-away but I found something similar that had good online reviews. I also got some eucalyptus oil (good for more than repellent use), and dear Creator that stuff was expensive. Lev suggested that we get the deet stuff anyway because the bugs really are seriously bad. For Benny we would just spray areas on his clothes rather than his skin and save the “all natural” stuff for skin contact.

I bought a twenty-pound bag of popcorn kernels and Benny and Lev’s eyes lit up. LOL. They’d eat the stuff morning, noon, and night. It is cheaper than other junk food so I reached over and got a second bag. The stuff keeps forever but I had a plan. I also loaded up on the StarKist Tuna Creations and Salmon Creations flavors – plain, lemon pepper, hickory smoked, and Ranch mostly though I did pick up a couple of chipotle and hot & spicy varieties since Lev insists on treating his stomach like a volcano’s caldera on occasion.

In paper products I got the biodegradable TP in the economy pack and then doubled that because when you gotta have it you gotta have it. Unscented trash bags in a couple of sizes for lining day packs and back packs to keep things dry even on rainy days. Seal-a-meal bags because I was going to see if I could put together some one-pot meals that I just had to dump together and cook with a minimum of fuss.

Then in the cleaning supplies I picked up a few things and then it was on to the unscented toiletry items that would hopefully keep us clean without hanging a buffet sign out for the bugs. But just in case I also picked up some citronella candles, oil, and what have you. I also restocked the first aid kit’s OTC meds and then doubled the supply because Lev warned that pharmacies were only found in the larger towns, and they could be expensive. What I’ll do is if I have two bottles, I’ll combine them and either chuck or repurpose the newly emptied extra bottle. I also restocked the vitamins that Benny and I take and then looked at Lev and he reached over and grabbed a duplicate of my bottle after I told him they were gluten free, similar to the gummies that Benny takes at breakfast.

For food I grabbed three large cans of Nido as well as some canned evaporated milk. Some canned cheese, some gluten-free jerky, some more gluten-free baking mix, and the normal round of rice, dried beans, and lentils, that I could break down into smaller portions, put in the seal-a-meal bags, and hopefully have everything lasting longer and tasting fresh. That would make room for more of the canned meats that I added to our supplies. For dinner tonight they agreed to a hearty salad with grilled chicken strips, bacon, hard boiled eggs, and other goodies added in that came from the deli … and popcorn as an after-dinner snack.

Lev wandered away to look for some of his own personal stuff while I wondered how we were going to transport all our purchases back to the van, and when he came back with his own buggy, he also came back with some popcorn flavoring in shaker containers.

“Lev …” I said after also spotting several packages of gummy worms.

“I checked. They’re gluten free,” he whispered while Benny was looking over some crackers that purported to be gluten-free. I just kept looking at him and he sighed. “Let me?”

“Let you what?” I asked, once again getting indignant.

With that earnest puppy face that gets me every time he said, “C’mon. The kid has been good and it’s not like he’s going to eat them all at once. You can do that surprise thing with them.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are trying way too hard. He likes you. He trusts you. Just as importantly I trust you. And … I like you. You don’t need to buy us.”

He frowned. “Not my motivation Gus. This … whatever this is … is just way too cool. I’m not … whatever you think I’m doing. I just never had anyone to buy presents for before.”

I had to cough away the laugh that was coming out. “Er … girlfriends? And don’t say you’ve never had any. There were way too many different names when you and Rick would bring it up between you.”

“Not the same thing,” he muttered in embarrassment. “They always told me what they expected me to give them. This … you know, little surprises here and there … it’s fun.”

Giving in when it was probably the last thing I should have done I told him, “Fine. But do not teach Benny those puppy dog eyes. He’s way too good at it as it is. Got it?”

Lev knew he’d won that round so smiled like a happy hound. Then I spotted the Maple Nut Goodies in the buggy and he pushed the cart forward a couple of feet and said, “Hey Little Bear, what are you looking at?”

I swear. I know I should say something but … doggone those puppy dog eyes anyway. Where is gruff CPO Barrymore when I need her?

It totaled quite a bit more than I had expected and budgeted for, but none of it was frivolous except for some of the junk Lev purchased, or at least that is what I am telling myself. The purchases pinched but didn’t really depress me. It was all stuff that would get used, eaten, etc. eventually and would keep me from worrying how I was going to feed the two eating machines I was apparently now the Den Mother for. And Lev insisted on paying for part of it. When I tried to object, he said he’d get reimbursed from the contract money. People were giving me weird looks, so I quickly agreed, and we got through the line as fast as possible. It was a “discussion” to be had at another time and location more appropriate to the topic.

Hauling what we’d purchased required us “borrowing” a store buggy and when we got back to the van after walking from wallyworld, another truck was waiting on us, and the bed was full of plain cardboard cases. Turns out most of them contained additional food supplies in #10 cans. The rest was bags of stuff from places like nuts.com, Gluten Free Palace, Harmony House, Bob’s Red Mill, and boxes of mixed gluten-free products, some of which I recognized and some of which were totally new to me brands. Not even Lev had expected it and he called to make sure it was considered supplies and wasn’t being charged to us directly.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 7th (Part 4)​

Bob, the man of many hats including assistant director and all-around good guy (according to Lev), said that since we were traveling by wheel instead of flying, we were getting this part of the per diem in supplies rather than a debit card to be used on the road. Well, that was going to save some money, but it also created some issues. Problem One was the amount of space all the cases took up; my sleeping area was completely packed as well as the “garage,” around everything that was already there, and the floor was full right up to Benny’s bench seat. I had an idea how to address at least part of the space issue, but it required more seal-a-meal bags which we drove back for as soon as we got the cases loaded in the van. The items we received include:

• Dried Eggs
• Dried Milk
• Dried potato slices
• Instant Potatoes
• Gluten free oats
• Powdered butter
• Powdered cheese
• Honey powder
• Banana chips
• Lentils – brown, green, red, yellow, black beluga (looks a little like caviar), Masoor Dal (split and skinless),
• Black Bean Burgers
• Dried strawberries
• Freeze dried chicken
• Freeze dried green beans
• Freese dried black beans and rice
• Freeze dried blueberries
• Dried diced potatoes
• Freeze dried refried beans
• FD Green bell peppers
• FD apple slices
• FD berries
• FD carrots
• Tomato powder
• Brown sugar
• Regular sugar
• Shortening
• Diced sweet potatoes
• Corn meal
• Salt
• Pinto beans
• Peanut butter powder
• FD Beef dices
• FD Chicken dices
• FD Pork chops
• Freeze dried broccoli
• Bucket of dried veggies

Someone went a little strange/crazy ordering stuff online as well. I mean seriously strange/crazy. There was stuff packed in there that I’d always wanted to get but never had the money for. But we are talking about people from California so maybe they really knew their special diet stuff.

Bob’s Red Mill Brand:

• Gluten-free baking mix
• Almond flour
• Coconut flour
• Cassava flour
• Hazelnut flour
• White rice flour
• Brown rice flour
• Sweet white rice flour
• Millet flour
• Sorghum flour
• Teff flour
• Chickpea flour
• Fava flour
• Oat flour
• Potato flour
• Quinoa flour
• Amaranth flour
• Gluten free corn flour
• Gluten free corn meal
• Gluten free corn grits
• Xanthan gum
• Guar gum
• Arrowroot
• Cornstarch
• Potato starch
• Tapioca flour
• Gluten free baking powder
• Gluten free baking soda
• Gluten free active yeast
• Gluten free egg replacer
• Soy protein powder
• Gluten free granola (plain, blueberry, apple blueberry, maple sea salt, cranberry almond, lemon blueberry, coconut spice)
• Gluten free muesli
• Gluten free 8 Grain hot cereal
• Gluten free brown rice hot cereal
• Gluten free Buckwheat hot cereal
• Gluten free oats (quick rolled oats, old-fashioned rolled oats, Scottish oatmeal, steel cut)
• Gluten free flax meal
• Chia seeds
• Gluten free TVP (textured vegetable protein … in other words “fake ground beef”)

And if I thought all the Bob’s Red Mill products were slightly insane, all the stuff from nuts.com was even crazier:

• Nut crumbs
• Spicy nut crumbs
• Italian nut crumbs
• Unsweetened coconut chips
• Dry roasted pumpkin seeds
• Chickpeas
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Shelled raw almonds
• Shelled raw walnuts
• Pistachios in the shell
• Medjool dates
• Golden raisins
• Sundried tomatoes
• Buckwheat
• Mung beans
• Too many different dried beans and lentils to list
• Split peas
• Quinoa flakes
• Shelf stable oat milk
• Millet and millet flour
• Buckwheat in grain, flour, and sprouted super flour
• Powders to use for smoothies (beet, chlorella, moringa, cacao, coconut, stevia, dragonfruit, acai, strawberry, date, pomegranate, cherry, blueberry, tangerine, grapefruit, goji berry, mangosteen, noni, powdered apple cider vinegar, tomato, leek, dandelion root, chamomile, green tea)
• Gluten free pastas
• Rice (bamboo rice, brown rice, saffron jasmine rice, farina, parboiled rice, brown & wild blend, red, black Thai, exotic rice blend)
• Veggie chips
• Parmesan mini chips
• Organic nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower, acorn)
• Sugars (palm, date, evaporated cane juice, xylitol, erythritol)
• Dried fruit (mango, pineapple, ginger, banana chips, kiwi, shredded coconut, cantaloupe, papaya, guava, dragonfruit, freeze dried banana dices, starfruit, cranberries, blueberries, goji berries, raspberries, mulberries, strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries, apricots, dates, apples, prunes, cherries, currants, figs, peaches, freezed dried apple dices, pears, freeze dried grapes)
• Nuts (walnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, pine nuts)

This place called Gluten Free Palace provided some luxury items:

• A crate of Kedem brand kosher sparkling juices that Lev said was because they knew I didn’t drink liquor or beer (100% concord grape juice, 100% apple juice, sparkling apple cider, sparkling raspberry juice, sparkling concord grape juice, sparkling white grape juice, sparkling peach juice)
• Sour cream starter
• A huge, assorted box of Bigelow and Celestial tea flavors including several chai varieties and the ever important chamomile
• Mini quick bread loaves (banana, pumpkin, lemon-poppy, cinnamon, blueberry, and apple)
• Gluten-free bagels (something I can rarely find)
• Gluten-free tortillas in a couple of flavors (plain, whole wheat, kale, spinach, sweet potato)
• Matzo crackers
• Schar brand table crackers and crisps in various flavors (plain, rosemary, multigrain, toasted onion)
• Udi’s granola in different flavor sample packs (OMG to the yum)
• Barney’s almond butter
• Gluten free pastas in various shapes
• Pasta made out of corn, chia, white rice, brown rice, black rice, quinoa, lentils, potato gnocchi, gluten free egg noodles, Israeli couscous, farfel
• A ridiculous number of small bags of various rices and some really weird rices mixes … black, red, brown, wild mixes, etc.
• Hempseed, chia seed, and other slightly odd things I would need to find recipes for
• Meatless vegan plant protein jerky (not kidding)
• And an odd assortment of snack foods like pretzels, veggie straws, and chips and crackers

On the bottom, nearly crushed but not (thank goodness), was a case of shelf-stable nondairy milks in small boxes – oat, almond, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, flaxmilk, walnut, soy, hemp, coconut, chocolate almond, banana almond – as well as creamer types like French vanilla oat, hazelnut oat, chai oat, coconut creamer, and plain. I’m not a coffee drinker but Lev is although he usually drinks his black. I’ll need to see if I can make chai with that stuff because if we can … then yum. And I found my newest vices – oat latte and blueberry oat milk.

Just inserting a note here. When Lev placed a call to Bob the All-Knowing, he found out that a lot of this stuff was passed on as “sponsor gifts” for us to use and report on or have show up in photos and stuff. So that’s how they do it. LOL. And here I only thought bloggers and vloggers did that. Nope. Lev says it happens in the movies and tv shows all the time whether you notice it or not. It is called something like subliminal marketing.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 7th (Part 5)​

We finally got on the road and stopped at the Amanda Lamme Historic Sign. Reminded me a bit of when we would stop for similar signs in Florida. The inscription read:

On June 23, 1850, twenty-eight-year-old Amanda Lamme, a California-bound emigrant, died of cholera and was buried near here in what is now private pastureland. She was the wife of M.J. Lamme of Boone County, Missouri, and mother of three daughters. The monument that marks her grave was erected in 1912. It was incorrectly engraved with the name Amanda Lamin.

Between 1842 and 1859 an estimated 20,000 emigrants, about five percent of the total, died along the overland trails. Cholera in 1849, 1850, and 1857 caused many adult deaths. Few children died from this. Malaria, smallpox, measles, and dysentery took a toll of children and adults alike.

Although wagons moved slowly, people were sometimes crushed beneath the wheels. Drownings were common at river crossings. Accidental shootings were frequent because many travelers were unfamiliar with the use of firearms. Contrary to movie and television portrayals, few emigrants were killed by Indians. The risk of death probably was about the same for the emigrants as for the people who stayed at home.

It gave me a chance to include something new in Benny’s portfolio and reminded him of some other historical facts we’d learned on our original Aunt Gus and Little Bear Adventure. We couldn’t stay long however, there was a lot of work to do before bedtime.

At night in camp, I was scratching my head in a little frustration and using the pump ‘n seal and seal-a-meal machines, trying my best to make it so the inside of the van didn’t look like the basement in a military surplus store. I was using a couple of small baking type dishes to help as well. How that works is you put the seal-a-meal bag and contents in the dish and you keep pushing it down using the dish to make it conform to the shape of the dish. It took longer but the “blocks” created saved a lot more room since they were easier to pack without leaving a lot of “dead space” nothing else would fit in.

“Holy shit Gus, I had no idea how much room you were going to be able to save,” Lev said after figuring out exactly what I as doing.

Quietly I said, “Watch the mouth a little closer please. I’m no prude but Benny is starting to repeat everything you say.”

“Er … right. Kinda noticed. Shoulda realized.”

“Well you realize now, so don’t look so glum. I just don’t know what you want done with all these cans I am emptying.”

A man in the site next to us came over (he’d been eyeing me working since I started), “If you don’t want them I’ll take them. My kids have more Legos than God made little green apples. These things will get them organized and off the floor. If the wife won’t let me do that, I’ll take them to my shop and organize all the crap there.”

Having stepped on a few Legos, he had my sympathies and when Lev said he just wanted two of them, I shrugged and that was one less problem I had. I kept at what I was doing while Lev went back to helping Benny finish his Junior Ranger book for Scotts Bluff National Monument. We’d done both Scott’s Bluff and Chimney Rock almost a year ago, but they’d put out a new Junior Ranger booklet since then and it was something for Benny to do and Lev was getting a kick out of being the one to help him.

After Benny went to bed Lev and I discussed our options, including the differences between the two options of driving to Alaska and taking the Alaska Marine Highway via ferry.

The biggest challenge we face to start out is getting to Alaska. Our options for reaching our first national park at Glacier Bay are taking a week-long ferry up the Pacific coast with the van, or driving on the highway through Canada. The inside passage ferry from Washington State to Juneau is what Lev said was best, but he explained the various options since he’d done both routes a couple of times.

The ferry route will take us from Bellingham, WA (70 miles north of Seattle) and end at Juneau, AK. It takes about 5 – 7 days. You can book a room, but Lev said it would be better on the deck with our tent. It isn’t a straight through trip, but stops at a few ports along the way, a few hours at each; but, the timing could be tricky and influenced whether you get off or not. Once we arrive in Juneau we’ll have another free day to stock up on fresh items. Then, we would get on a different ferry that goes to Gustavus, gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. When we get off the ferry in Gustavus, it is a ten-mile drive to National Park Headquarters at Bartlett Cove.

If we drive from Seattle, WA to Juneau, there are two routes:

• Drive 1,773 miles primarily on Cassiar Highway (37) (must take ferry for final leg to Juneau). 30 hours driving time.
• Drive 1,827 miles primarily on Alaska Highway (97) (must take ferry for final leg to Juneau). 35 hours driving time.
• From Juneau take ferry to Gustavus, gateway to Glacier Bay National Park.
• Then drive 10 miles from Gustavus port to National Park Headquarters at Bartlett Cove.

There are pros and cons to each. The pro’s of the Inside Passage ferry route is that most importantly we don’t put 4,000 rough miles on the Ark in the drive to and from Alaska. That avoids two service stops to change fluids such as oil, issues with the tires, and all the potential problems of breaking down in the middle of nowhere. We get to see beautiful scenery along the Pacific coast (it’s like a cruise, but with your car). It adds a unique experience to the journey and is a break from driving. We can camp on the deck (don’t need to book a room). The con’s are just as important. First off the cost is pretty steep; looking around $3,000 for us and the van, possibly more if we use the other facilities on board such as the café and showers. The only time we will be able to access the van is when we are docked at a port, and only then with a special pass and after all the cars that are exiting the ferry have disembarked. There is less flexibility as we are confined to the ferry unless we are in port and even then there isn’t much time to do much more than get off (assuming there is daylight) and look around.

The pro’s and con’s of driving on the highway are just as thought provoking. First off driving would be cheaper, assuming we stayed in the van at night. About $1600 in fuel, assuming I can find it for $6/gallon and that will probably be a stretch in some of the middle of nowhere locations. And if we can’t boondock that is going to mean more expense on top of fuel by way of overnight accommodations. However, there is more flexibility in driving because you can take a detour here and there, but that in turn means more fuel expense and more time to Juneau. One of the bigger issues is that I’m more familiar with driving overland rather than using a ferry system. The con’s of the highway route, beyond what I’ve mentioned, are pretty significant. First is the wear and tear on the van, including all of the extra mileage. It is a really long drive; minimum it is 33 hours of driving … challenging driving … sometimes in the middle of nowhere. If we drove 8 hours a day at full speed and no stopping that’s a minimum of four days. Not horrible given what I was doing during our national park days, but we’ll start the Alaska assignment exhausted and Lev says that just makes it harder than necessary.

It seems there are more pros for taking the Inside Passage than cons, with the biggest hurdle being the immediate cost. Lev says not worry about that part of it but that’s not happening and he should know that about me by now. Maybe we have more than just one or two things to talk about.

Resources:
Scotts Bluff: Scotts Bluff National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Monuments & Museums
Amanda Lamme Historical Marker

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 8th – Scotts Bluff National Monument >> Fort Laramie National Historic Site >> Guernsey Ruts >> Pompey’s Pillar​

First stop of the day was at Fort Laramie, only 52 miles from Scotts Bluff. We spent a couple of hours there for Benny’s sake – and maybe for Lev’s – as there was a Junior Ranger Badge that Benny didn’t have. Both of them had fun doing the scavenger hunt. Aunt Gus played along. Oh dear Lord, I have got to stop talking in the third person before the men in the white coats catch up to us.

I’m giving everything going on a serious think. First off, I feel … something. I’m grateful that Benny now has a male role model that more than just barely gives a crap about him. And though I hate to compare Rick and Lev, I can honestly say that Lev seems to have the better mindset for Benny. He is also more active in interacting with him. I gave serious thought for a little bit whether I am jealous or not, but no, I can honestly say that’s not what I’m feeling either. I think I’m just … gobsmacked if you want to know the truth. I was it, the point man, the guide, the … the everything, for Benny and me for so long. All the way back to when we lost Lawrence. Even with Groucho and Penny there (sort of) I was still the one who ultimately had to figure everything out and be responsible … and accountable. Even during the Florida Assignment, as Lev calls it, I still was point for Benny and everyone knew it. Florida was a job and I was doing my job. I made friends with Rick and Lev and thought it was more than friendship with Rick, but it changed, or maybe it never was anything and all I did was figure that out. Now here is Lev and I’m not sure what to make of it but I’m not sure this is what I’m feeling. I don’t want to use either man as a symptom (or answer) for my hypothetical adult female loneliness. How’s that for self-absorption?

I’ll be honest, it is strange to have someone to help with Benny at this level. It is strange to have someone that Benny seems to be so taken with. And it is strange to trust a person as much as I do Lev to help with Benny. In Florida Lev was there and helpful but it has been taken to a new level, but it doesn’t bother me. I suppose that is what is really bothering/not bothering me. I have “moved on” from Rick … or at least the idea of Rick I thought of him being … really fast. Uncomfortably fast. Personally who-the-heck-are-you-person-in-the-mirror fast. It makes me feel something I am really uncomfortable putting a name to. And I’ve known Lev less than a year and it seems too easy – and fast – that I’ve moved from Rick to contemplating the possibilities with Lev.

Add to that, in the past, I never really thought about the possibilities of anyone, nor had I planned on that being in my life, and … like I said, I’m gobsmacked or something close to it. I’m twenty-one now and in all honesty I’m nearly as confused about the future as I was last year. You think you have a plan and then life happens and all you had was a pipe dream. The structure I thought I had was nothing more than a house of cards. It has been a pill to swallow for sure. And yet, Lev despite having his own strangeness, feels more real and solid than Rick ever did. Lev is consistent … and constant. And he also feels like he is someone that I am more in tune with, can be in tune with. And that too is a pill to swallow that it was more than it ever was with Rick.

And I’ll admit this here and then hide it from the brain hamster until I am on better footing. Lev, now that I’m allowing myself to think about it, flips my switches in a way that Rick never did. Rick was a stereotype and I’m sure he is Rosa’s Prince Charming, he is certainly no longer mine if he ever was. Lev … sometimes I worry this is all about my libido. I’m young and healthy and these feelings are happening so fast, too fast. I know better what I would look for, if I am looking. The problem is I’m not looking, it is right there in front of me, fitting all my mental curves and corners without it seeming like he is actively trying. I trust Lev. I’m not sure I trust myself just yet, at least on this particular subject.

I didn’t have all day to wax philosophical because our next stop was only a few miles down the road. The Guernsey Ruts. All three of us thought that was a weird name but I guess it is just literal. The site is where the Oregon Trail was forced away from the river and crossed a ridge of soft sandstone. The track is worn to a depth of five feet – as in Benny could have fallen in and we wouldn’t have seen the top of his head – creating some of the most spectacular ruts remaining along the entire length of the Oregon and California Trails … or so a sign-thingie told us.

The geography of the area dictated that practically every wagon that went west crossed the ridge in exactly the same place. They weren’t far out of our way and it was a good history lesson for Benny. They were only located about three miles south of Guernsey. Here is what a sign-thingie had to say about the exhibit:

During the mid-1800’s, more than 500,000 pioneers journeyed west. Early pioneers, driven by a quest for fertile farmland, riches, or religious freedom ventured by wagon and on foot across overland trails to settle the American West. The cross-country journey took 4- 6 months to complete and was filled with hardship and danger. Emigrants following the California Trail, the Oregon Trail, and the Mormon Trail all passed from the plains of the east and into the rugged terrain of Wyoming and the area that is now Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site.

The cumulative impact of the thousands of early pioneers following along the California Trail (1841 - 1868), the Oregon Trail (1843 - 1868), and the Mormon Trail (1846 - 1868) is clearly evident at this site as some of the best-preserved ruts along the western trails. Trail ruts, more than five feet deep, created by the wear of the countless wagons that struggled through this rocky landscape are preserved in the soft sandstone. With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 the western migration by wagon trains faded. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975 and today is managed by Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites & Trails.

Then we stopped at Pompey’s Pillar. The place looked just like I remembered it. Benny had a blast showing Lev all over the place; climbing the stairs, the visitor center, the glass teepee, the grounds, the whole bit.

We didn’t stay long. I mean long enough but we still had a piece to go to get to this place called Big Timber. It is a town, a real one, but it is the kind of town that makes you feel like you’ve fallen into an old western. Very cool and I could see that Lev was itching to take some pictures so I pulled into a recently vacated parking spot right on main street and he jumped out and started clicking but then stopped.

“Er …”

I laughed. “Go on, you know you want to. Do your thing and I’ll call ahead to make sure the reservation you made is still on.”

He smiled and I did just like I said. Lev didn’t take long. He knows how to hustle and the light was changing anyway. He hopped back into the van and I told him, “Reservation is good. Ready to go?” At his affirmative I pulled out and followed the directions the KOA had given me.

We got there, signed in and it was about like any of the other KOAs Benny and I had stayed at but Lev was fascinated. “And you’ve stayed at this place before?” he asked.

“Not this one but similar ones. They each have a little uniqueness but they’re kinda the same too … dependable.”

“Cool,” he said looking around.

Despite it being a long day, we needed to take care of some housekeeping and I utilized the facilities at our campsite – in the KOA Big Timber/Grey Cliff – to get some laundry done. We also utilized the showers.

“Aunt Gus …” Benny snickered after coming back from the men’s showers.

“What?” I asked, wondering what was up.

“Lev sang in the shower so I wouldn’t be scared.”

“Uh … okay?”

“Only …”

“Only what?”

“He can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Sing. It … it was awful,” Benny said finally giving in to the serious case of the six-year-old-boy-giggles he’d been holding in.

“Er … maybe we shouldn’t tell him. We don’t want to hurt his feelings.”

From behind me I hear, “Ha! Lev already knows he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. But he can whistle pretty dang good.” He proceeded to whistle that old song Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Zip-a-dee-day from some old Disney movie that was dumped down a hole to never see the light of day again because they didn’t like African American people singing with or for kids or something weird like that. And he did a pretty bodacious job of it.

“Hidden talent? Should we include this on film?” I asked poking the bear.

“Only if I get to include some bugling.”

“No thanks, just ate a bar of soap.”

That phrase never ceases to cause Lev to laugh for some reason. So he can whistle but not sing. Wonder what he would think if I belted out a few old show tunes from my school choir days? Nah. I don’t want to give him a heart attack.

Resources:
Home - Friends of Pompeys Pillar
Pompeys Pillar National Monument | Bureau of Land Management
Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site - Oregon National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails - Oregon Trail Ruts
Chamber of Commerce - Sweet Grass County Chamber of Commerce

 

[beaglemama]

Thanks, Kathy! Every time I hit refresh, there's a new chapter up!

 

[kyrsyan]

Thanks, Kathy! Every time I hit refresh, there's a new chapter up!

I'm loving it as well.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 9th – KOA Big Timber/Gray Cliff >> Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site >> Missoula >> Crystal Gold Mine RV Park​

I’m tired tonight. The new and the new to come are catching up with me. Did a lot of driving today as well. Nearly four hundred miles. Along part of the route we finally got to go to Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site, a place Benny and I had given up due to a change in overnight locations in July of last year. I think I’m having more fun watching Benny and Lev “discover” places than I have being there myself. I’m not sure I want to think about what that could mean yet. No pressure. Relax. Don’t over think things Gus. And don’t let your control issues get in the way of whatever this is for however long it lasts.

Gotta say that Lev picked a unique spot for overnight. The Crystal Gold Mine, near Kellogg, Idaho was one of the first hard rock mines in the Silver Valley. Worked during the 1880’s; closed by hiding the mine, it was rediscovered in 1991, reclaimed in 1996, and opened as a tourist historical attraction. Yeah, what some might call a “tourist trap” but the Florida ones were fun and it turns out that I kinda like those tourist traps. And Lev surprised Benny and I with tickets to the mine as well.

The work in the mine was all done in candlelight by hand. The guided underground tour explained how they drilled with "Hand Steels" using "Single Jacks" and "Double Jacks" (Hammers), how they traced the quartz vein using 1880 methods, and how they tested the vein for gold. There were stalactite crystals of smithsonite in several colors coating the walls. Gold and wire silver can still be seen in the quartz vein.

After coming back to the surface there was another surprise. We got one hour of free gold panning with the mining tour. All three of us found a few gold flecks that we put together into a single screw top tube provided by mine operators. Symbolic much? Almost too much. The hamster wants to run tonight. I can almost hear the wheel going ‘round and ‘round in my head.

I was going to fix dinner in the RV park but the last (latest) surprise Lev had for us was that dinner was a chuckwagon and there was enough there that was gluten free that Benny and Lev could eat without have to detract from the fun by skipping out. The only thing they couldn’t have was the dessert and I fixed that once we did get back to the van by popping some popcorn which they devoured on top of everything else they ate for dinner.

After Benny fell asleep I stepped outside just to get some air. The sky was dark and seemed somehow bigger than when I was out west last.

“Hey, you okay?” Lev asked me looking a little worried.

I sighed. “This is too easy.”

“Uh … easy?”

“Yeah. Easy. I don’t know what I expected but … this is easier and … more fun … than … I don’t know Lev. I’m not sure I’ve got the words yet.”

“Hey, the fact you’re here? That’s all I need. Words can come later. Don’t stress. Please.”

“That’s the thing, I’m not. At all.” I shrugged. “I just …” I shrugged again, not sure how to explain. And then we both watched a shooting star. Lev looked like he was going to say something until his phone gave a rather rude ring tone causing him to make a face, hold up a finger, and step away to take a call I knew was from his bosses.

I looked back up and watched another shooting star and then wondered what I would wish for if I had the courage to make a wish and believe it would come true.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 10th – Kellog, ID >> Seattle, WA >> Bellingham, WA​

Let me see if I can list out the things we drove by today and some of them we actually stopped to see. Old Mission State Park, Mullah Road Historic Park/Marker, Court d’Alene Lake scenic views, Falls Park in Spokane, WA, Scenic Overlook of the Columbia River, Wild Horse Scenic Overlook, Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail, John Wayne Trail, Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Thorp Fruit & Antique Mall, Dirty Harry’s Balcony Trailhead, Weeks Falls @ Olallie State Park, Ezra’s Falls, and Twin Fall Natural Area. The trip odometer said 462 Miles, 8 hours if we had driven straight through, but of course we didn’t. I swear my eyeballs have been on overload all day.

I’m beat, not the least reason because tomorrow we start our Alaska Adventure and the hamster is using up a lot of my reserve energy. Tonight we are in line to get on the ferry. We paid our tickets, but things seem a little crazy to me. I am going to wake Lev up in a couple of hours to take his shift in the driver’s seat waiting to be allowed to move forward.

I hope things don’t get any weirder feeling. I need to stay confident for Benny who has started to get a little weirded out himself. Lev and I handled it … mostly by keeping him occupied getting his stuff packed, but that also caused him some stress. Geez, here we go again with being directed to pull forward as the line of waiting cars gets tightened up. I’m just going to put this tablet down, too much hassle to keep it from falling.

 

[Lake Lili]

Thanks Kathy! Having driven both the Al-Can and the Cassiar Highways and taken the Inside Passage with both the US and Canadian ferries several times, I highly recommend the US ferries and the fantastic Parks staff that lectured on the ferries. Sleeping on the deck in tents was also great fun, especially if you could snag a lounge chair. Stops were also long enough in the fishing villages to be able to buy salmon from the canneries. If you are going to drive the Cassiar, it is much wilder and less developed than the Al-Can and has fewer gas stations, and you can get stuck in spots because fuel delivery in recent years can be... lets call it delayed. It is one of the most stunning drives. Also, the town of Cassiar does not exist anymore. It was a mining town and closed in the mid-90s. There is still a jade store on the highway, but the town proper is gone. Thanks for the new story! Lili

 

[DIMDAL]

Way back when in the days of the dinosaurs... my friends and I would ride the ferry between Sitka and Juneau and back just for the fun of it. We camped on the back deck and fought over who would get the lounge chairs lol.
When we got to Juneau, if it was daytime, we would rush to McDonalds (Sitka didn't have any fast food resturants) buy all the hamburgers we could afford and rush back to the ferry before it headed back to Sitka.

 

[teedee]

I do like where you are taking us dear lady. Thanks!

 

[Old Gray Mare]

Remote camping in Alaska with bear spray? I'd want some high caliber bear spray with plenty of refills handy.

But seriously? How the heck did she get out of Cabela's without buying any fudge?

 

[DIMDAL]

I agree! No way I'd camp without some high caliber firearm. Bear spray is just spice for their meal (joke).
We use a 375 rifle shortened for brush and a Ruger 44 handgun. I garuntee you are going to know you fired either, but you have a fairly good chance of stopping that runaway locomotive that's heading towards you.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 11th – 13th: Alaska Marine Highway (Part 1)​

Finally on the ferry. This is so strange. We were in line all day at the Bellingham terminal to secure our place and finally got on at 5 pm. We boondocked of a sort on the night of the 10th after getting in very late. We pulled into our place and then waited and waited and waited. Lev and I took turns monitoring it because every couple of hours we had to pull up in the line. Not because it was time to get on but because people were getting out of line for whatever reason.

We were still in line most of the 11th and then the line really started moving. I drove onto the ferry and into the “parking garage” portion of the ship. Leaving the van where a crew member told us to was anxiety-inducing for me. It was like leaving a lifeline. I had prepped as much as possible. All three of us had a backpack. Benny’s, in addition to several changes of clothes, held The Crew and a bag of survival items. Lev and I carried our own packs and the tent and several other comfort items.

A crew member ushered us toward the elevator on the lower car deck, instructing us to go topside and get a spot. Unfortunately the wait for the elevator became tedious, and too many people began to crowd the area. Lev looked at me and I nodded and we headed to the stairwell. Eight flights of stairs later, with our backpacks and other gear, we finally saw the sun again … sort of. At the top, beneath gray and stormy clouds, we scanned the deck for an open “campsite”. Tents occupied nearly all the floor space since we were some of the last vehicles to get on. Lev finally located an available patch towards the front of the ferry, a plumb spot someone had just vacated for some reason known only to them. Wow, the views of the port were good even in the bad weather and I could tell that Lev wanted to start taking photos.

“Do your thing,” I told him. “Benny and I will set up the tent. Just don’t go too far until I get my sea legs and figure out the deck plan. Please.”

He smiled. “If I get too far away, chuck something at my head. You know the drill.”

I chuckled. Lev could get involved in what he was doing. Benny was a little excited as well, but he was also obviously uncomfortable. “Thanks for the assist Little Bear.”

“There’s a lot of people,” he muttered as he looked around and tried not to get stepped on.

“Yes there is, so do something for Aunt Gus please. Don’t wander off. I’m just not comfortable yet and I’m still figuring out how this is all going to work.”

“The ferry or going to Alaska with Lev?”

I looked at him thinking maybe he was being a little sassy, but he was really only stating what he thought was the obvious. Doggone his empathy was a little uncomfortable in a kid his age. “Eh, maybe a little of both. Hope you don’t think I’m weak.”

“No Aunt Gus,” he said shaking his head. “I’m not comforble either. I’ll stay close so you don’t worry.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you being so thoughtful. We might be doing a lot of new things but at least some of our old rules can help us figure things out.”

“And keep us safe.”

“You got that right.”

“Should we remind Lev about the rules?”

“Hmmm. I kinda did. I asked him not to go too far. I mean he is a grown man, and we aren’t the boss of him, but I think he gets it. Right now we are still learning since this is a new kind of adventure for us and he’s done this before so … anyway … what do you think?”

Benny’s growing insight into people shown through like a beacon. “Lev is cool. He likes us. A lot. I mean sometimes he can be silly, but I think that is because he is trying too hard because he is worried that we might not like him as much back.”

I felt a little silly myself asking a six-year-old his opinion on something like this, but everyone has their talents and the empathy thing is one of Benny’s. He definitely has it in spades compared to me. Hopefully I’m not expecting too much of the kid. To hide my own growing insecurity on the subject I asked, “You know, that might be a possibility. How do you feel about Lev?”

“I like him. He didn’t leave us like Ranger Rick.”

Oh crap, that kind of insight I didn’t expect. Hope he isn’t feeding off me. I was still trying to figure out what to say to that when Lev returned. “Everything okay?”” He asked.

“So far. What do we need to do next?” I asked.

He looked over the tent, suggested we tie the rain fly down a little tighter since he said he’d heard the wind was going to pick up and then after helping me stuff all our worldly belongings that weren’t left down in the van into the tent and put a luggage lock on the zipper he said, “Let’s explore.”

Well Benny was all over that, so I tagged along to play Den Mother.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 11th – 13th: Alaska Marine Highway (Part 2)​

As I was doing my own research on the road, I found that the ferry system is called, among other things, the First Frontier for travelers who wish to explore the Last Frontier. Basically, it is the maritime version of a public bus … or maybe a public train. Originally established in 1963, and then re-established after the pandemic of the 2020’s, the year-round commuter service is a workhorse, transporting Alaskans and Alaska visitors, all along the 3,500-mile Alaska Marine Highway.

In addition, after the cruise industry collapse of the Pandemic Decade as well as its faltering attempts to restart and regain people’s trust and willingness to put money into that kind of travel despite the economic upheaval that accompanied the pandemic, the ferry system became a recreational pony and a budget alternative to the expensive private cruise companies that sprung up trying to fill that vacuum. The dozen ferries provide adventure-seeking tourists access to more than 30 points along the Alaska seaboard.

The mainline ships offer multi-berth staterooms, but for those with a budget like us, four walls and a private bath are overrated from what I read. Passengers either short on funds or long on a desire for excitement can rest their heads on any available surface: cafeteria bench, plastic chair, movie theater seat, carpeted floor space. Or as we are doing, pitch a tent on the open-air deck. Given the cost of one of those “staterooms,” I picked the adventure of the open deck. I got a look inside those spaces and not worth the money in my opinion unless you are a few adults sharing the cost.

The ferry we are on can handle up to 600-passengers, and boy did it feel like they were double booked on occasion. Luckily Lev has done this before and knows some of the “tricks” to avoid the worst of the hassles. For our time on board, Lev had us pack like we were primitive camping and this included bringing our own paper … from napkins and Kleenex to toilet paper and paper towels. We had the good sleeping bags and sleeping pads purchased at Cabela’s as well. We each also had a fleece blanket to line our bags in case of cool nights. We had changes of clothes, a headlamp, and rain boots instead of our hiking boots. The industrial strength duct tape had already been used to secure the tent. All of our “sharps” had to be left in the van, but I managed to “smuggle” a hygiene kit that had a micro-sized pair of scissors in it for just in case as well. Rather than have to pay the price of eating in the on-board café we packed camping food. I was wondering how I was going to pull that off when we started exploring as the ferry pulled out of the dock and after the mandatory muster station drill that felt more like a Chinese fire drill.

The ferry is 418 feet long and there is NO running allowed. I lost count of the number of times I heard a crew member advise a passenger to slow down; “no running!” Then the purser started to repeat it every few minutes over the intercom system.

Using a map Lev had acquired someplace, we explored the decks essential to our comfort. On the boat deck, we located the 22-hour cafe and its free hot-water spigot and microwave. For “finer dining” they also had cafeteria style meals, but given the options I was happy to have all of the packets back in the tent. There was also a nearby full-service restaurant, encased in tall glass windows, but the prices were nothing I wanted to have to worry with. It did have some options Benny and Lev could get away with eating, primarily made of the type of fish that would be swimming beneath us, but as stated … ouch to the purse. Near the bow of the ship was a dimly lit cocktail lounge decorated like it came out of movie made in the 1970s. There were even a few lounge lizards already taking up residence. In the bow was the observation lounge with stadium-style seating; like a theater with a stage made up of a large bank of windows.

On the cabin deck there was a movie theater (several screenings a day) and a pocket-sized gift shop, where people could buy games, puzzles, and such to keep them occupied if they didn’t have the forethought to bring their own. We finally found the the bathroom (boat deck) and showers (cabin deck) closest to our tent (bridge deck) by following the lines of people. Ugh. But at least the lines moved quickly. Lev said we’d try to find the least busy hours and use them then even if we didn’t need to, so that we wouldn’t get caught in an “emergency” when things were busy.

Everyone was finally settling down and looking for a place to mark as “theirs” and I was glad we’d taken care of that right in the beginning. It was so strange to see people just laying all over everything. The crew eventually came around to neaten things up a bit by telling people they could only use one chair at a time and making sure there was a “path” for emergency exits, etc. Lev took one of our flasks to the café and filled it with free hot water which I used to prepare an early-ish dinner of Wild Zora brand Chicken Curry which we ate out of the packets rather than have to clean up bowls.

About the time I decided to carry the meal trash to the trash barrel one of the crew came on the PA and said, “On the starboard side, you may see a humpback whale.” There was a wild rush, and it is a wonder the ship didn’t list to that side. I was initially blocked from getting back to the tent and then when I did there was no sign of Lev and Benny. I looked and had just started to get sick to my stomach worried when I spotted them near an area of open railing.

I made my way through the crowd and noticed that Lev had his camera but was ignoring it in favor of picking Benny up and helping him to see over the crowd. I started to pull Benny out of his arms when Lev turned on me and had to stop quick. He looked extremely embarrassed at having nearly growled at me. I didn’t say so, but he’d just jumped up a few notches in my estimation. I realized Benny wasn’t just a job to him, or a means to an end. Benny was someone he would protect, even against an unknown opponent.

I smiled to reassure him and said, “I got Little Bear. You take some pics and keep Mr. Bob a happy camper.”

Lev was back to normal and snorted, “It is hard to make Bob an unhappy camper. The producer and director on the other hand …” He gave a fake shudder so that Benny would think it was a joke, but I’ve since learned that it isn’t, not really. As serious as Lev is about Benny and I, I need to reciprocate and not be a drag on him doing his job.

The next question that came up is how do you survive thirty-eight hours on a ship full of people you do not know. No real chores or duty stations to pass the day, no organized distractions like they used to have on the old cruise ships full of tourists, no pool or gym to burn off energy and you aren’t even allowed to run laps up and down the stairs? No internet connection for people to waste time on social media and the like?

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 11th – 13th: Alaska Marine Highway (Part 3)​

Well for the indolent there was sleep. Sort of. Hard to sleep when there was this constant rumble of noise from 600+ people all around you. Not to mention I was too worried to sleep when Benny wasn’t sleeping as well. He’s a good kid but he’s six. I’m his protector and all that means when it comes to way too many strangers of unknown origin and background around us. And while Lev had warned me, I didn’t realize that the additional daylight hours, even if they were only twilight, played with my sense of time passing.

There were the movies being shown in the theater, but they weren’t kid appropriate. Seriously not kid appropriate. A couple of them weren’t appropriate period. I don’t like using computers and TVs as babysitters, but I was glad that I had downloaded a coloring book app on Benny’s “tablet.” That kept him amazingly busy. I sometimes had to pull him away from it and I think limiting Benny’s tablet time will remain a factor for the foreseeable future. Little Bear growled at his Aunt Gus and nearly pitched a fit when I told him that no, I would not recharge his tablet because he’d already used all his time … twice. I took the tablet away. He pouted and didn’t want to eat his dinner. I’ve never had to do that, be that strict. I think it hurt me worse than it hurt him.

Surprising or not, it was Lev that finally helped me to feel less like falling apart. Benny fell asleep without even telling me goodnight.

I sat outside the tent on the railing side and just looked out onto water, trying very hard to deal with the misery I was feeling.

“This trip is a lot of new,” he said quietly.

“No. It’s me not giving into him.”

“Gus …”

“You just saw a taste of what I was like as a kid.”

“Er …”

“Yeah. There were reasons above and beyond me being rotten but that didn’t make me any easier to deal with.”

“You think that Benny ate something he shouldn’t?”

That was showing that he remembered our discussions about how we’d learned that Benny needed a gluten-free diet and had some of the same “quirks” that ran in our family, especially in his Aunt Gus. “Nope. This is Benny being a Barrymore that is not getting his way. Only this is not like when he was three and four. He’s six and it isn’t something he ate.”

“I’m the one that told you to download some coloring books for him. I thought …”

“Don’t you dare try and take the blame for this Lev. This isn’t your fault. This is just Benny … being a Barrymore. The less than stellar side of that equation. Yes, it was being on the tablet too much but not because it was coloring books or anything else. The way Grandfather Barry explained it to me …”

“I thought your grandfather died before all the other stuff.”

“He did. But I know what is going on because I walked a lot of the same paths. Dad would sometimes get too tired from being on the road and then trying to come home and deal with me. He never … anyway, just sometimes even the most great and loving parent needs a break and Dad got his break by allowing me to use a computer to ‘research’ whatever I was interested in at any given time. Well I wanted to do it all the time whether Dad was there or not, and when I didn’t get my way I could be … unreasonable. I would say it was for school, or a project, or I was learning about this, that, or the other. The truth is I just got addicted to the tickle the computer gave my brain. Grandfather Barry explained it to me and told me that addicts didn’t get to join the Navy … which is something I already wanted to do even back then. I denied being an addict, was horrified that my grandfather thought I was one. So he said to prove it. For every minute of computer time I had to spend ten minutes doing something else constructive … a chore, working out, helping Grandma Barry without having an attitude about it, etc. I was only about a year older than Benny. Lawrence was getting ready to leave home. There was just a lot going on and Dad … was tired. Grandfather was my disciplinarian. After all he was a Barrymore too. He told me doing my schoolwork did not count, that was something I had to be on the computer for but I could only use that computer time for school.”

“Musta been hard.”

“No. Not really. My grandfather kinda got me in a way that Dad didn’t or couldn’t. Dad loved me. He did get a lot of my issues. But he kept expecting me to change … grow into my mother. I’d never known the woman and somehow I was supposed to magically grow up and be her … or at least more like her. Grandfather Barry never expected me to be anything other than a Barrymore … hardheaded, stubborn, an excess of energy, a temper, the whole nine yards.”

“Was your brother like that too?”

“Yes. No, not really. I mean he could be. He was the kind of Barrymore like Dad but after he enlisted, the Navy had really helped him to build boundaries in his daily life. I wanted that. Needed it. Grandfather Barry gave me that. Dad did too but … he wasn’t rough the way Grandfather Barry was when I needed it. Disciplining me hurt Dad, made him feel like he was failing me in some way. Made him think he was failing not only me but my mother, or at least her memory, and it dredged up things that weren’t really healthy for Dad. When Grandfather explained that to me it made me feel really bad and I made a lot more effort to stop myself before I started to act like a butthead. I was maybe eight or nine when he sat me down and explained that part to me. Before then? I wouldn’t have had the ability to understand what he meant.”

“So you think you have to wait until Benny is older to explain how he acted hurt your feelings?”

I opened my mouth then closed it. I shrugged. “I’m not my grandfather. I’m not my Dad. And I’m not Lawrence. And Benny isn’t me. For one, he is a lot more empathetic than I ever was.”

Lev said thoughtfully, “That has its good parts and its bad.”

“Yeah it does so I can’t play on it and use it to manipulate Benny. That would be wrong and could ultimately change him in a way that isn’t healthy. And it could really screw up our relationship.”

“Want some unasked for advice?” Lev carefully asked.

I shrugged.

“He’s a kid. Six years old. And a boy kid at that. He’s bored out of his gourd on top of it. If you were able to help him work off the wiggles,” he said using a phrase that he heard me frequently use since we’d become friends. “Then this wouldn’t be an issue. Maybe it would be something else … and probably will be at some point … but it wouldn’t be this and it wouldn’t be now. Cut yourself some slack. My mother ran hot and cold. And when she felt I was getting to be too much she’d simply take me out to the farm and drop me off like an unwanted puppy and expect me to make it on my own or walk myself up to the house.” He snorted then said in a gravely voice, “Watcha do this time boy?” He shook his head. “Grandfather usually laughed when he said it, but not always. I was an inconvenient kid. I was fifteen when I hid out on the farm the longest. No one knew I was there nearly the entire summer. I would do chores and everyone assumed someone else had done them, it was my way of paying for the food I took out of the gardens or from the house and other stuff like that. The only reason they found out is because a neighbor saw me, said something, and assumed everyone else had known I was around.”

“What happened?”

“Mom went on a honeymoon that turned into an extended visit to parts and places unknown. Eileen was married and she and I hadn’t really been talking because somehow all of mom’s husbands were supposedly her looking for a father for me.”

“What??”

“Once she moved out and grew up without having to hear only Mom’s side of things she realized … just never mind the hillbilly soap opera. What I meant to say is he’s a boy. He’s going to show his butt on occasion. Maybe this was one of those times and maybe it wasn’t. Maybe his issues had something to do with this and maybe they didn’t. But tomorrow is a new day and you are a great aunt. I’m sorry you are hurting. Nine will get you ten that Benny will be sorry he hurt you.”

“Some start to the adventure you invited us along for,” I told him sarcastically.

He slowly put one arm across my shoulders and said, “I don’t know exactly how to say this without it sounding sappy but I’m gonna give it a try. Even a rough day with you and Benny is better than any day I have had in years, maybe ever.”

“Lev …”

“No. That wasn’t a plea to get you to say something back. I just … I mean it Gus. However this works out. It’s the best I’ve ever had. Real dream fulfillment material. So let me do what I can. And what I can do is say Benny is a good kid. A good kid that made a mistake. And I’m positive that he may not figure all of it out be he’ll feel it and be sorry for it. That’s not going to change the fact that you had to do what you had to do, and might have to do again. But at least you should know that someone else sees it and knows you are doing the hard stuff so that hopefully, eventually Benny will be able to cope with that hard stuff and not make worse mistakes.”

I sighed. “Thanks. And don’t move your arm, at least for a little while. Please.”

“You’re welcome. And thank you.”

“For what?”

“Letting me. Needing me. Even if it is for just right now.”

Whew. Deep stuff.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 11th – 13th: Alaska Marine Highway (Part 4)​

Lev was right. Benny didn’t necessarily understand everything, but he did feel bad for making me feel bad. And it made him feel worse than his original temper tantrum had. He understands actions and consequences. He’ll get another chance with the tablet but it won’t be today. Today he spent the day helping Lev clean his equipment and reorganize his primary lens case.

When the ferry set sail from Bellingham to Ketchikan, the first stop at the end of those 38 hours, I wondered what on earth I was going to do to keep myself from going bonkers. The initial leg of the trip was mostly in British Columbia so even if there was some cell signal available, it wasn’t the kind I could feed my digital beasties. And with no wifi on the ship, there was no way to do any digital housekeeping of my phone, tablet, the blog, etc. I already discovered that digital babysitting wasn’t a good idea for Benny, and Lev was helping with that. But what about Gus? How was she going to tame her wiggles.

Well Gus decided to stop talking in third person like a nut case, and that there was just enough deck space beside the tent to do several reps of push ups and sit ups as well as some yoga stretches and planks. Yeah, a little old school but what’s a girl gonna do when she can’t jog in circles for hours? I got a little annoyed at the lookie-lou’s that kept giving me the eye … some annoyed and some interested in my semi-jiggly parts. I ignored what I could. It was either burn off some energy or potentially take out the ferry when I exploded.

I also relied on old-fashioned entertainment with Lev as guide to provide some buffer. I talked to fellow passengers (the horror!) and settled into a space that had a view of the slowly passing scenery and gave Lev time to do his thing with the cameras as I had a few times in Florida. When I felt adventurous, I would combine the two activities and daringly chat with fellow passengers about what had just passed by — pods of orcas and Pacific dolphins, humpback whales blowing geysers or flashing us with their tails, or just generally getting a feel for what was coming from those that had already been there before or who lived there normally.

But just my luck, I was finally getting comfortable interacting with the rest of the human race when it started to rain. At first, we retreated to the covered solarium. Soon however Benny and I needed a new venue. The heat lamps acted like an oven and everyone was baking like fish in parchment paper. It didn’t help that BO was simply an accepted part of life by some people. On top of that there were those that were seasick from the rocking the ferry was now doing.

I tried the theater. Nope. I’m not against boobs in general since I have a couple myself. But I don’t need my six-year-old nephew to ask why the boobs that were currently on display had beaded tassels attached to them. A little warning would have been nice. I tried the forward decks and they were wall to wall people as well.

In the cafeteria I ran into Lev who had been looking for us and we agreed to just go back to the tent, add the extra tarp I had insisted we bring, eat, and just make the best of it. From that point forward I spent endless time working on my arm muscles by winding the battery charger so that Lev could continue to prep for the assignment. I broke down and bought a puzzle book to keep Benny occupied.

When I wasn’t winding the batteries for Lev, I took Benny for hourly runs to the café for water for meals, soup, and hot tea. Occasionally I’d let him wear his backpack and we’d take the Crew “hiking” to “give them some air.” On one of these “hikes” Benny confessed that some of the Crew were a little scared and worried that they’d get left someplace because they were too much trouble. Or maybe the same thing would happen to them like happened to the tablet. They were sorry when they got naughty but didn’t know if being sorry was enough.

I phrased my reply as carefully as possible. “Accidents happen. Being thoughtless happens. We just need to keep it to a minimum. ‘K? But let’s get one thing straight Little Bear, the tablet and the Crew are two completely different things. I will take the tablet away if you don’t keep things under control. And we’ve already discussed what that means and why it might be harder for us to do that than other people, but that only means we have to do it better and more. Right?” He nodded. “But the Crew is different. If or when you start to abuse them is the only point at which I will take them and put them some place safe.”

“When I stop believing they’re real you’ll take them away.”

“No. That’s not what I mean. When you treat them carelessly or don’t care about what happens to them anymore, I will put them someplace safe so you don’t have to regret them getting messed up or lost or damaged. Just because you grow up doesn’t mean you lose them. Do you understand the difference?”

My answer seemed to quiet what was worrying him. He nodded. “The Crew was worried. They thought because I was bad with the tablet that … that …”

“You weren’t bad with the tablet Benny. You acted bad. There’s a difference. You need to start …” I tried to figure out how to say it so he could understand. “Benny, you are right on the edge of moving from little kid to bigger kid. I know some things are harder for you but not everything. You need to work on the things that are going to help you grow up and be the best you that you can be. I’m going to be there to help you, but you aren’t a baby anymore. And you aren’t a little-little kid anymore either. I have to let you grow up to the next level. You also have to try and grow up to the next level. Our life is kinda crazy compared to most people’s. Sometimes I worry that … that maybe I made a mistake coming with Lev.”

“No!”

“Benny …”

“No. Please Aunt Gus. Don’t say that.”

I sighed. “I’m not saying it to hurt anyone Benny. But I’m responsible to you. And Lev really stuck his neck out to bring us along. Both of us need to try to do as good as we can. Let’s keep the kerfuffles to a minimum.”

“I’ll try really hard Aunt Gus. I promise.”

“Me too. We’re not just a crew of two anymore.”

Then with absolute conviction he said, “Lev makes three.”

I suppose he does, and I don’t know if that is a weird feeling or a welcome one.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 14th – Ketchikan​

Arrived Ketchikan at 7:30 am this morning. Lev had us in line to get off almost at sunrise which was at 4:23 am. He was anxious for all three of us to get a chance to get off the ferry and didn’t want to waste a single minute. Part of the issue is that the ferry dock is two miles outside of town and the buses didn’t run that early and we only had three hours before the ferry departed. Had I known what he had planned I’m not sure what I would have said or if I’d gone along with it. That’s probably why he didn’t tell me in the guise of it was a “surprise.”

We were nearly the first ones off the ferry and we were all carrying empty backpacks. I knew that Lev had said we were picking up some supplies but I could have pinched him. No, I could have taken him out at the knees.

First place we hit was called the Salmon Market since it opened early. Let me just do a running list. Shelf stable salmon filets in sockeye, silver, and pink varieties. Canned smoked geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck) clams. Wild Alaskan caviar. No, I’m not kidding. Cans of Pacific, Silver, King, and Sockeye salmon of the non-smoked variety, then some stray hair causes him to get smoked variety on top of the smoked shelf stable packages we already have in the cart. It was at that point that the salesperson tries to make sure that Lev knows what he is doing. He says oh yeah, such-and-so knows I’m coming in today and picking up an order for our group. He said he’d leave a note by the register with the purchase order number. Well they find the note and now everyone is smiling and so helpful and all I wanted to do was chunk him in the head because my brain has gone calculator and the sum is about to be too big for the decimal point to fit. Then he puts cans of smoked octopus in my hands and asks me to take them to the counter. Why not?! Next comes salmon jerky, jars of something called fireweed honey and Sitka spruce tip jelly, kelp pickles, kelp marmalade, and kelp salsa. I looked at Benny and he was trying not to giggle as it was obvious I thought someone had lost their marbles. Kelp salsa? Really? But just then Lev said he needed some help with the Reindeer salami. Argh!! He was so lucky that the last two items were salmon spread and lobster spread.

When we got out of there I said as dryly as I could, “If I’m playing pack mule as part of my job description could you at least let me in on who is holding the reins?”

Lev was only half listening, but something must have finally triggered as he was pulling us along to the next location. “Er … uh … can we hold off on the explanation for … um … just a little bit? Kinda convoluted and I wanna get this done and take you guys to see Creek Street before he have to rush back to the ferry.”

I decided to give him the rope to hang himself with and followed him passed Sockeye Sam’s and Soaring Eagles, passed enough art galleries and gem stores to make me wonder what was in them, and into what has to be one of the world’s biggest gift and tchotchke stores I have ever seen. Tongass Pass Trading Company. And that’s where Lev turned to me and said, “Please don’t kill me. I want to do this. I’ve got it all planned out.”

Uh. Oh.

First off we were buying “Ketchikan Sneakers” which are by any other name used by sane people called neoprene boots.

“Lev.”

“Trust me Gus. You’ll love these things.”

“That’s the same thing you said at Cabela’s.”

“Yeah, well they didn’t have these there. You and Benny need these and I need a new pair. Tell you what, you push the buggy with Benny in it and I’ll put in what’s on the list.”

“List. What list?” In go three pairs of neoprene boots. Benny’s had growing room. “Lev! Have you lost your mind?” I hissed. Benny is just laughing. He laughed harder when Lev put my outrage meter on overload by saying, “Just don’t look Gus. It’ll be easier.”

“On who?!”

“Er … just … just go with it.”

I was going to go with it. I was also going to check him from stem to stern when we got back on the ferry to make sure he hadn’t lost his mind overboard at some point. The only brownie points he got was when he said, “Look. Clearance. You like clearance. Let me check it out.” I could have still confined him to quarters for the duration, but at least he remembered my fondness for clearance sales.

The clearance racks is where he added two jackets for each of us but one of the ones he put in the cart was pink … freaking florescent pink. Benny did not help when he said, “It’s like my orange hat. It will make you vizzbull.” Lev quickly turned his laugh into a cough to avoid becoming in-vizzbull.

I really did finally have to stop looking and shut up otherwise I was going to get an ulcer. It started about the time Lev put a bear cover-up blanket in the buggy. I capitulated just to get it over with. There was no stopping Lev, he only slowed down and then would speed up and put several somethings in the cart and … I just wanted it to be over with.

There were t-shirts and socks – oh my Lord the socks don’t get me started – mukluks, Knit caps, Ball caps, Knit headbands, a Black bear cap for Benny, t shirts and hoodies (at least they were on the clearance rack), more smoked salmon that was on sale, Birch syrup, Huckleberry honey, Blueberry syrup, Salmon berry honey, Devil’s club salve (I don’t know what that is but I admit it sounds cool), an Ulu knife, and powdered Wild huckleberry lemonade.

Then he turned to me a little apologetically before looking sternly at Benny. “I have it under good authority that there is an Alaskan contingent wanting to join the Crew.” Benny looked at Lev like he was finally seeing the crazy man I’d been noticing. “But, we all know many try out but not everyone makes it. Right?”

A little hesitantly Benny answers, “Right.”

“Well, you need to help determine who gets a chance to join and who has to wait for the next opportunity and kid to come along. Are you in?”

He looks at me and I shrug. I looked at Lev who is trying so hard to hold on to the serious look while I could see he was super excited. I lean over and whisper. “I think Lev might have lost an oar someplace. Just go with it so he doesn’t hurt himself and I can reel him in.”

Well I thought Lev was only going to add one or two stuffies to the Crew as the “Alaskan Contingent.” Oh. My. Lord. Try nine. Nine. A Yukon husky, an Otter, a Bald eagle, a Polar bear, one called Maxamoose the Moose, a gray seal, a grizzly, a wolf, and an Orca.

I gave Lev a look and he gave me a look back. He wanted to do this. Truly wanted to. I gave a small nod that Benny couldn’t see.

“Lev? For real?” Benny asked like he wasn’t sure what to believe.

“For real Buddy. But you have to train them to be as neat and tidy as the rest of your crew. Got it? Alaska is no place to get messy and careless. And now that the Crew is so big they might not all fit in your backpack with your clothes and stuff when we need to go places.”

“I … I have to choose who to take?”

“There’s a way around it but you have to train everyone so they won’t get worried about things being different.”

“Different how?”

“You know what this is?” Lev asked as he pulled something from another rack and I began to see his plan.

“It’s a dry bag like we use when we go kayaking.”

“Yep. You think you can train the Crew to stay in this dry bag for safety when we go places without the Ark?”

The nods were small and puzzled at first then the grin grew and the nods got so big they nearly shook the cart. Benny looked at me and said, “It’s big enough to hold everything Aunt Gus. Everything.” The woobie and the flag wouldn’t have to be left behind after all.

Lev and I were both weighted down and even Benny had a few lightweight things in his backpack but mostly he was carrying the dry bag (which had a long handle so it could be carried cross body if necessary) and holding onto it protectively.

We just had time to walk through Creek Street with me trying to explain but not explain what a “former red light district” actually means, before we had to hustle back to the ferry and did so by catching a ride in someone’s pick up truck in exchange for a couple bucks of gas money.

We got back on just in time to drop most of our purchases off in the van (had to get special permission to be down there) then head topside for the 10 am departure. It will be 20 hours until our next port. Benny and Lev were both ready for lunch, but my stomach was rolling. My brain was still stuck on calculator and I was waiting on Lev to explain the lunatic buying spree.

After we ate, Benny asked if he could stay in the tent and have a meet-and-greet so the new crew members could integrate. I said sure and then looked at Lev and waited. And waited.

He said, “Oh. Explanation time.”

“If you don’t mind,” I responded carefully.

He sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t worry.”

“I’m … giving that a try but it would be a lot easier not to worry if I had some info to work with.”

He chewed the end of the mustache he was growing making me itch to get the mini scissors out. “Yes, some of that is for us. Yes, I paid for some of it but not all of it. And no, it didn’t hurt my wallet. And yes I’d do it again. You and Benny like seafood. I like seafood. That was the good stuff that I picked up and I saw you checking out the labels so you know it was all gluten free.”

I nodded.

“Well I mentioned to Bob what my intention had been and he decided to go one better and have one of his assistants call up with a purchase order, then save the cost of shipping by having me pick the order up which got me a little kickback which saved me more money in the long run which should make you ha … er feel better I mean since it was a good deal. You saw the purchase order.”

“I saw where the decimal point was too.”

“Gus …”

I sighed. “I know I’m not always reasonable about this stuff. You’ve seen me not just pinch, but crush my pennies. I …”. Then taking a chance I briefly laid my head over on his shoulder then said, “Thank you. I want you to know I … I appreciate it. I just don’t want you to think you have to go broke to … you know … make us want to be here.”

Lev looked momentarily like I’d chunked him in the head with a stray can of salmon. Then he gave a grin that lit up the overcast day. “No. You aren’t that kind of woman. I totally get that. Totally. Just don’t worry. I’m flusher … more flush … whatever … than maybe you understand and this doesn’t come close to breaking me.”

“Well, too many more buying sprees like today and you won’t stay flush. It’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“You’d … do that for me?” He asked sounding a little gobsmacked himself.

“Of course. Benny and I have decided we’ve gone from a crew of two to a crew of three.”

Lev looked like he felt like he was ready to go swimming with the dolphins that were playing in the ferry’s wake. Instead he pulled out a bag of unsalted rice crackers and a small can of caviar as well as a bottle of mineral water and what turned out to be a small carton o’ wine. I’d never had caviar and I have to admit that it was … different.

I was expecting a mouth full of fishiness when Lev gave me my first taste. Nope. Lightly salty but the texture was a little weird. “Don’t chew them up, just kinda smoosh them around in your mouth, swallow, then chew the cracker.”

Well, I’ve always said that I would try anything once. I guess caviar is worth trying more than once but given the price of those little cans that we stuffed into the van’s fridge for safe keeping with all the frozen water bottles I’d made up to keep it chill in there, it won’t be something I try often.

But I won’t tell Lev that, he looked way too happy to spoil the “treat” for him. I gotta admit, making Lev happy like that is something I think is worth trying more than once as well. Maybe too often to be willing to think about it right now.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 15th – Juneau​

Arrived in Juneau at 6 am. Raining lightly, but steadily. Only reason Lev had us get off was to get the wiggles out. There was no walking into Juneau for anything. The ferry terminal was thirteen miles outside of town.

“I wish I could show you more,” Lev lamented.

“Lev, we’re in Alaska. That road right there? That’s the Glacier Highway. All those trees? That’s Tongass National Forest. That water? It’s Auke Bay. Lev, I dreamed of all of this with my father before he passed. Despite our adventures I wanted to bring Benny here but didn’t think it was ever going to be possible. And yet … here we are you crazy, generous man. So knock it off feeling like you have to do more. Got it?” I asked trying really hard not to be so emotional I embarrassed myself.

Lev took my hand and slowly said, “I see things different with you to show me.”

I didn’t know what to say and apparently he didn’t need me to make some kind of protestation. We walked around, seeing what the rain would let us see and Lev managed to get a few photos despite the weather.

We were there for three hours and we watched a lot of unloading and loading, both people and vehicles. Lev explained that from here we were heading out to pick up most of the team members who are arriving by other means and then we’d come back and disembark here in Juneau again, only that time with the van.

We left the ferry terminal at 9 am and wouldn’t see the next port for seventeen hours.

July 16th – Yakutat​

The only reason I saw Yakutat was because I woke up when Lev rolled out to see if he could get any pictures. Benny of course slept through it all. We arrived at 2 am and departed at 4 am. Twilight had arrived by the time we pulled out and I was grateful that Lev had gotten me an eye mask in Ketchikan. I’m an early riser and light sleeper by nature but light will also wake me up. In the van we’ll use the black out blinds but, in the tent, it was more difficult.

I wish I could have seen more. Yakutat is part of Wrangell St. Elias National Park. We’ll be back, just not to this part. Twenty-two hours to the next port.

July 17th – Whittier​

Insomniac’s hours again for Whittier. We arrived at 2 am and departed at 5 am. No sleeping through it this time. At least for Lev and I; Benny slept through it like he would sleep through the vacuum when he was a baby. Too much coming and going at this busy port. Lots of noise. There was also an old-style cruise ship. You don’t see many of those in Florida anymore after so many of the cruise lines went bankrupt and had to restructure after the pandemic in the 20’s and then the various storms. Only 4 ½ hours to next port so I’m just going to go to the café and get some hot water before a line forms.

July 17th – Chenega Bay​

Arrived at 9:30 am. Only locals seem to use this port. There’s no visitor services but it is important because of the medical clinic. There’s also an Orthodox Church, a school, and an airport, and some of what Lev explained were called subsistence services. The bay was named after a tribe that lived in the area for thousands of years.

“Do you and Benny need to get off?” Lev asked.

“Due to the wiggles?”

“Yeah.”

“Not … particularly unless you need us to.”

“Then you mind us not making the effort this time? Um … I have some work to do and … look, I’d just rather not get separated on your first trip out.”

“Relax Lev,” I told him. “I understand and … not wanting to be worried about getting separated for some reason either.”

I felt him relax. “I’ll make it up to you. Promise.”

“There’s nothing to make up for. Just do what you gotta. I’ll keep Benny distracted.”

He appreciated it and we pulled out at 11:30 am, looking at 14 hours to next port.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 18th – Kodiak​

Arrived at 1:30 am, Mad rush to disembark the van. Tired. Out of sorts. Don’t know if it is lack of sleep or just what. Met several team members who were waiting for us who arrived by another ferry earlier in the day for some, and others who arrived by plane. One of them, Gretchen, immediately put my hackles up. I have no claim on Lev but the least she could do was paw at him in private instead of making it so obvious. The only thing that makes me feel less like feeding her to the bears we are supposed to see is that Lev looked at her like she’d lost her mind.

Some issues. Won’t be able to leave until the 20th at 1:30 am. Gretchen acted like Lev would be rooming with her. Instead he surprised them all by finding a room at a different hotel, this one the Best Western. Not sure what I was expecting to be honest. I felt like I was in a kayak without an oar and the river was about to give me a swirly.

“There’s only one room Gus.”

“Okay.”

“Didn’t you hear me??”

Not understanding his upset I answered, “You said one room. One room is all we need. Will they have a cot for Benny or is it going to be three to the bed?”

He stopped short then grinned hesitantly and answers, “There’s a cot.”

“You’ll make me a very happy person if there is a laundromat nearby.”

He grins bigger. “There are a couple of machines on site.”

“Yahoo and all that. When can we check in?”

“Not til 3.”

“Okay, then let’s park and let me fix breakfast and let me know what we need to do from there.”

“You … you’re really okay with this?”

“What’s not to be okay with? And please don’t say one room. It is like that old joke of who’s on first. I’m kinda not getting it.”

He just grinned bigger. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Just being you. Yeah, breakfast sounds good even if it is a little early. The team all have jet lag, but we still need to start figuring our crap out. Bob is not happy about a delay so soon. If you help me put the extra seafood stuff in a bag I’ll get it out of the van and let them figure out how they are going to transport it. I also need to do a little meet and greet and try to get a feel for everyone and their styles. I hate to ask but can you and Benny just … er … entertain yourselves for a bit? I get the feeling there is a bit of a mash up going on.”

It is really strange for someone to be so protective. Lev wasn’t like this in Florida. I guess because it was our home state, and I was familiar with things. I mean Alaska is more than a little different from anything I’ve experienced but it isn’t the back side of the moon.

Since I had signal I decided I needed to take care of some personal digital housekeeping starting with reaching out and touching people like Pei, and letting Stella know we made it to Alaska and if she needed anything, she could reach me via the blog which I planned to keep up with when there was the opportunity. I told Pei she could let our mutual friends know that I was now in Alaska, and she was wise enough that she wouldn’t over-share. The thing is that when she found out exactly where I was in Alaska she had a fit.

“You gotta be freaking kidding me!” She texted.

“Easy Pei, your emojis are all running together. You knew I was going to Alaska. Why the surprise?”

“Because you goof, Jeremy and his father are in Kodiak running some tours.”

“‘S’cuse me?”

“Hang on, what time is it there?” I told her and she insisted on getting Jeremy on a three-way face time.

Well Benny and I won’t be bored tomorrow. And I found out that Pei has officially committed to moving back to Jacksonville if she gets accepted to the medical school there. And Jeremy and his dad … maybe his mother and sister as well … will make the move as well as they’ve got a standing offer to help run a deep-sea fishing cruise out of the port for that season, and other parts of the year will help run cruises down the St. John’s River. It seems that all my friends are starting to make definitive plans for their futures. Wish I could, but I’m not even able … or willing … to look beyond this Alaska Assignment.

 

[sssarawolf]

Wonderful as usual, thank you.

 

[CGTech]

Now, how in the heck was i supposed to get any work done here in my office when I saw you had posted this??? i mean, really!!

Thanks Kathy, this was great!

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 19th – Fishing Trip to Saltery River​

Today was amazing. It was a rough and scenic 16 mile ride through the back country on a UTV to the Saltery River with Jeremy, his father, and a few other people on their tour. We crossed several running and dry streams while climbing through the mountains to get to the isolated Ugok Bay area. This was a very long and fun day. Thankfully I was smart enough to come loaded for bear … or should I say JeI wondered what we would be fishing for and heard the other men talking about someone called Dolly Varden.

Okay, felt briefly like an idiot when I realized Dolly Varden wasn’t a who but a what. Dolly Varden are the most frequently harvested fish on Kodiak. They spend the winter in lakes. In May, fish leave the lakes and head for the sea, feeding on pink salmon fry as they go. Once at sea, dollies as they are commonly known can be taken in salt water along the beaches. In mid-July dollies head up large streams to feed and spawn. That’s the season we are in. Spawning usually takes place in early Oct. Unlike salmon, not all dollies die after spawning, survivors leave their spawning streams and head back to a large lake to overwinter. They range between 10 to 20 inches in length, occasionally larger.

We left our catch with our hosts as there was no way we could have processed them in time. In return, Jeremy’s father slipped us some smoked salmon but said not to say anything about it. See the rules in Alaska are that you cannot sell or trade Salmon that you’ve caught while sports fishing, personal use only. I had thought it strange that I overheard some of the men saying we were cousins. I don’t begrudge them their CYA. It was enough that they took us fishing and to see some bears.

Geez Lev was anxious when we got back. “Anything wrong?” I asked.

It took him a couple of tries to say, “Nope.”

“Lev …”

“Okay, I was a little … worried. I know you are capable but …”

“Oh. Well don’t nuke your liver over it.” Trying something new I gave him a very quick and brief hug. “We’re back now so let’s pack up to get in line for the ferry.” Of course it wasn’t until that moment I realized I probably stank of sweat and fishiness. Ugh. So much for trying the feminine approach.

Lev had another one of those surprised looks followed by a relieved grin, but he didn’t say anything. Guess my odor didn’t bother him as much as I thought it would. We are due to pull out at 1:30 am and it will be nine hours to next port and I want a quick shower first.

 

[Mr Bill]

 

[CGTech]

 

[teedee]

The wife and I took an Alaska cruise years ago and I do remember some of the places. Juno was interesting but that was only about 4 hours. The best part was a stop at a homesteaders cabin in Talkeetna. That was the only time that Alaska really felt like Alaska to me.

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 20th – Homer​

Arrive at Homer at 10:30 am
We overnighted here as well

Short meet and greet with the remaining team members. Benny and I were “politely” asked to scram and allow the team to do some planning. Lev didn’t know whether to get bent out of shape or not.

“Relax. You’ve got a job to do,” I told him.

“You’re staff too. That was the agreement.”

“Not for the technical stuff Bob wants to discuss. You know my limits … and Benny’s too … that’s all I ask to be kept in mind. Otherwise have at it. We’ll walk around town.”

“Uh …”

I chuckled. “And no, I am not going to suddenly get a stray hare and take off.”

Homer is … different. I’m not sure what flavor of different but it suites Benny and I in a way some places haven’t despite it being different. And the people that live here have their own flavor as well. No one remarked on a young woman and child just out lollygagging about. I know we looked like tourists but no one gave us any hassle other than an occasional wave and nod, like being open to being asked a question if we needed to but otherwise they didn’t get in our business. Now that I liked.

Used a couple of local sign-thingies to find stuff for Benny and I to do. First was a short loop trail. It was only 0.4 miles but still cool. Conveniently located in downtown Homer right behind the Pratt Museum & Park, the trail is open year-round and beautiful to visit anytime according to the description. We also took a short look in the museum which was free to kids and their adults today.

There were other easy trails[1] and I would have like to have done them all: Beluga Slough Trail (1.2 mile loop), Homer Spit Trail (4.3 mile), Calvin & Coyle Trail (1.2 miles), the Homer Bike Trail (5 miles), Fireweed & Dogwood Loop Trail (1.4 mile loop), Alpine Meadow Trail (1.4 miles). They had more difficult ones, or some at least on the trail map I found marked “moderate”, but I hadn’t come prepared and didn’t want to risk it. I’m adventurous, not stupid. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

Plus, I owed it to Lev to not give him heart palpitations. The craziest thing we did today was walk the bike trail and trust me, staying out of the way of some of the bikers was as about as hazardous as I felt like getting. The broad paved path started at the corner of Lake Street and East End Road. It was flat terrain so the bikes could really pick up speed. Despite that it was perfect for walking. And there were shops, coffee stands, and eateries all along the way so it wasn’t like we were taking a visit to Big Foot’s den.

Checked in with Lev and he said they were still at it. It was just a short text, but I must have caught some vibes he was unintentionally throwing off because I determined he needed a reward of some kind for patience. But what do you get an adult guy? And then I noted a crowd in the distance, and what they were headed towards, and yahoo an idea was born.

Guess what. Homer has a farmer’s market[2] and on this day they were open from 3 pm to 6 pm. A little different but so are a lot of the people we’ve run into here in Alaska. Benny and I had a blast. Yeah, I know he is just a six-year-old boy, but he had fun and it wasn’t just my imagination.

“Aunt Gus, these people understand!”

He was referring to the fact that most of the booths listed whether their food was gluten free or not, or if it was something else such as low sugar or no sugar or some other special dietary restriction friendly.

As one booth described themselves: We are a 5 acre Biologically Intensive Market Garden, with 1.5 acres under cultivation. We offer tours, Farm-To-Table events, Internships, a gourmet CSA, and workshops. We grow delicious varieties of Heirloom and mixed vegetables along with all things Garlic for Farmers Market customers, chefs, and restaurants. Early in the season find radishes, Purple Spinaches, Asparagus, Arugula, colorful lettuces, Golden Napa Cabbage, mixed fresh herbs, and Artichokes. In Summer we sell early carrots, herbs, Garlic Scapes, edible Blossoms, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Then towards Fall, find gourmet varieties of garlic bulbs, Garlic Braids along with carrots, shallots, sugar snap peas, fresh peas and other greens.

Brought Lev a surprise of Halibut Tacos on gluten-free cornmeal taco shells with guacamole and pico de gallo, topped with shredded red cabbage and some kind of sauce. I got a couple for Lev after Benny tasted one and declared it “totally yum.” As an added bonus I got two large bags of kettle corn that Lev and Benny can snack on like GORP. The other items that I picked up were fresh eggs, Alaska wildflower honey, local jellies and jams, and some micro greens. Yeah, it was money I didn’t need to spend, nor was it cheap, but for whatever reason it didn’t give me an ulcer.

We slept in the van outside the hotel everyone else was staying in. It was late when Lev came down and I could see the steam coming off him. Benny was already asleep so I met Lev outside the van.

“Something up?”

“My blood pressure,” Lev growled. “Damn sloppy …” He was growling and grinding his teeth so much I had no idea what he was actually saying.

“Uh …

“You mind sleeping in the van? I’ve called around but there aren’t any vacancies ‘cause it is high season for tourism around here. The hotel manager, who completely understood once he realized there was a kid, said so long as we don’t run a generator he doesn’t have a problem with it. Just not to let it out or advertise it.”

“Lev, calm down. One, it looks like you took care of whatever the problem was. Two, of course we’ll be fine with your solution. We aren’t exactly parked on the rim of a volcano.”

“Yeah well …”

“Deep subject. Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” he muttered. “I’ll run and see if …”

“Aunt Gus has already got you a surprise for being good,” I said trying to be silly to help him relax.

He gave me a strange look and then a blissful one when I handed him the tacos. After that he pretty much crashed and burned. It is still twilight, but we need to get in line early again tomorrow to get the van back on the ferry before the departure time.

---

[1] Hiking & Trails
[2] Alaska Vacations & Travel Advice from Trusted Alaskans

 

[Kathy in FL]

July 21st – Start return trip; Homer >> Kodiak >> Chenga Bay >> Yakutat >> Juneau​

We left Homer at 10:30 am and nine hours to the next port. I begin to see a pattern. Benny and I are going to be on our own when Lev is in meetings. He is frustrated and trying not to show it. Only time he seems to truly relax is when we are in the tent and being left alone. I do what I can, like make sure he gets decent meals, and he seems to appreciate it. I finally got him to just spit out what the problem was.

“Damn I hate the way they are treating you like a second-class citizen,” he finally told me quietly during Benny taking a short snooze.

“As if I cared. Seriously Lev, don’t get bent out of shape. I am here because of you and the job, not to fluff their egos by knowing who they are.”

“Caught that did you?” he said with an irritated bite to his voice. The thing was it was obvious I wasn’t the one he was irritated at.

I snorted. “I didn’t mean to singe Gretchen’s tail feathers. I just don’t know who she is. Or recognize her work. No biggie. At least to me it isn’t. And is it my fault she got a zit on her nose like I warned her? She eats more junk food than any skinny girl I’ve ever met. And no, she’s not going to be able to beat me in sit ups and push ups and she shouldn’t even try. And yes, I know my figure is a little manly. It is just how I’m built.”

“You are not built … did that XXXXX really say that?!”

I snorted again and knocked into him as we sat outside the tent. “Down Boy, and watch the mouth please. I don’t want Benny to pick up that particular name for her even if it is a good descriptor.”

“Gus ….”

“Seriously, stop worrying about it. She’s just working her way into a nervous breakdown and doesn’t seem to realize how bad she is making herself look. She’s gotten side eye from a lot of people on the ferry who don’t appreciate her style of communication. And she’s frustrated because I refuse to care what she thinks.”

“Good. I mean good that … oh hell … sorry, heck. What I’m trying to say is just keep on ignoring her. I don’t know what her problem is. And you’re athletic, not manly … or whatever the hell … heck … she is saying. I like athletic.”

I chuckled. “Good. Now finish your food and eat the last of the kettle corn in that bag so I can take the trash out before it starts raining.”

Lev gets upset at the oddest things. I mean seriously. And then he turns goofy. Though I have to admit that it is nice that he likes athletic figures because I’m never going to be the languishing princess type. I’m not built that way, physically or mentally.

We arrived in Kodiak at 7:30 pm. No getting off the ferry for us though I could have used a little space away from Czarina Gretch. Not even the mean girls in high school could irritate me like this. Then again, most of them ran scared of me and left me alone or ignored me to put me in my place. Oh how I’d love this chick to ignore me.

We depart Kodiak at 9:30 pm and it takes 14 hours to get to the next port.