Contrary Creek

Monday was a hot and sunny day, like most this summer. We decided to take advantage of the good weather to walk up Contrary Creek to see where some of the mines had been. People still pan for gold in the creek bed, and we saw some doing so. The water level was low and the creek was warm. It is also very red from the minerals, especially iron, in it. The creek bed is very rocky and pebbly. We got wet as we crossed it several times. I picked up samples of pyrites, sulpher and various rocks. We saw evidence of old mine shafts and brickwork--more than I had anticipated. The biggest surprise was how the water stained my clothes. It was like a red dye. My pants are still soaking in a bucket in the garage.

Alaska and more bear

My husband and I enjoyed two glorious weeks in Alaska in July. The scenery and wildlife were amazing. We saw Mt. McKinley without any clouds blocking the summit, grizzly bears and a cub, reindeer, the blue ice at Hubbard Glacier (our ship was so close we could practically touch it), and whales breaching (leaping out of the water) in the inside passage. We learned a lot about the Native Americans in Alaska, saw the pipeline, and ate a lot of salmon and halibut.

While we were away the bear ate all the apples on our small tree and has destroyed almost all our birdfeeders. Last night he ripped apart a scarecrow, knocked over a birdbath, pulled down a bluebird house and broke another thistle feeder after bending the metal pole. I still haven't seen the bear, except in pictures that our neighbor took, but I did see two deer early this morning as they walked down the road. We also heard, and then saw a hawk being chased by crows.

I really like the Alaska State flag. It's blue with yellow stars for the Big Dipper and the North Star.