Pretty

I can't remember where this was, but it was spectacular and had to take it while I was driving.

Cruise Ship Calendar

http://www.traveljuneau.com/downloads/Cruise_Ship_Calendar.pdf

It's getting busy here in Juneau!!

I watched this ship come in by Sandy Beach at lunch one day.

Bear sightings

3 sets of black bear triplets spotted in Juneau area A report into News of the North about a black bear sow with triplets in the area of the hospital was news to Fish and Game Department Area Management Biologist Ryan Scott.

He told us it was the first time he had heard that they were triplets. They have received some calls of bears around the hospital including a family group, but the report into us confirmed that for him.

They were spotted near the hospital late Monday morning and we're told in our parking lot at 3 and a half mile where they appeared on cable TV's so called "Channel Channel", which is Channel 19 that has a view of Gastineau Channel looking toward the airport.  In a photo sent to us, one of the cubs is cinnamon in color.

When asked how rare black bear triplets are, Scott says it's not really rare at all.

He says they've been told of three different groups like that.

There's the group around the hospital, another in the Bypass area of Auke Bay, and then further out the road near Tee Harbor and the Shrine of St. Therese.

Scott says what's more uncommon is to actually have all three cubs survive through the year. Two or even down to one is pretty normal, he says.

Bear activity accelerated a week to 10 days ago, according to Scott.

Source:  http://www.kinyradio.com/  [Wednesday, May 23, 2012 4TH EDITION 8:10 A. M.]

Downtown clouds

Sun and clouds

Long days

The days are getting longer.  I took the dogs out at 3:00 am this morning and noticed it was already starting to get light...

			Length of day		Solar noon
Date	Sunrise	Sunset	This day	Difference	Time	Altitude	Distance
							(106 km)
May 18, 2012	4:24 AM	9:26 PM	17h 01m 40s	+ 4m 01s	12:54 PM	51.5°	151.347
May 19, 2012	4:22 AM	9:28 PM	17h 05m 37s	+ 3m 56s	12:54 PM	51.7°	151.378
May 20, 2012	4:20 AM	9:30 PM	17h 09m 29s	+ 3m 52s	12:54 PM	51.9°	151.407
May 21, 2012	4:18 AM	9:32 PM	17h 13m 18s	+ 3m 48s	12:54 PM	52.1°	151.436
May 22, 2012	4:17 AM	9:34 PM	17h 17m 02s	+ 3m 43s	12:54 PM	52.3°	151.464
May 23, 2012	4:15 AM	9:35 PM	17h 20m 41s	+ 3m 39s	12:54 PM	52.5°	151.492
May 24, 2012	4:13 AM	9:37 PM	17h 24m 16s	+ 3m 34s	12:55 PM	52.7°	151.518

3 cruise ships docked, one on it's way

Nice day for a cruise in Juneau.  On May 16, there were 4 ships and 11,000+ more people in town.  The population in Juneau is only 30,000!

Juneau Jazz and Classics

An impressive line-up for little 'ol Juneau.  There is always something to do here.

http://www.jazzandclassics.org/pdfs/program_2012_final.pdf

http://www.jazzandclassics.org/index.php

Annual Spring King Salmon Derby is underway

HISTORY
On April 17, 1991 Archie Cavanaugh was hired by the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA) as the Higher Education Services Manager of the College Student Assistant (CSA) program.

In 1992 he developed the Alumni Scholarship Assistance Program for the purpose of raising additional scholarship funds to support Tlingit & Haida tribal members pursuing a higher education.

June of 1995, Archie contacted the organizers of the Juneau Little League Derby to inquire why they no longer sponsored this event, and to obtain information on its formation.

On May 1, 1996, based upon the information compiled from the Juneau Little League Derby, Archie organized and implemented the 1st Annual Spring King Salmon Derby. This derby had only fifty (50) participants resulting in a deficit of $1,200.

King salmon were weighed in the “round” for poundage; one could fish from ship or shore and you could keep your fish. Having this derby open to shore fishing opened up the opportunity to those who did not own a boat. Many a fish has been caught from the shore.

On May 1, 1997 Archie initiated the 2nd year attempt of the derby resulting in yet another dismal turnout of participants. Serious consideration was given to not doing this derby the following year.

Below is Archie holding up his 42.4-pounder caught during the 1998 derby. Of course, he eliminated himself leaving the derby open to those paying participants. The winner ultimately was Marion Ezzre with a 41.4-pounder.

On May 1, 1998 the 3rd attempt at the derby produced a profit and more entrants than in the two previous derbies, thereby ensuring its continuance year after year.

Website: http://www.springkingderby.org/

First cruise ship

The first cruise ship of 2012 arrived on Thursday, May 3.  It's not many people, but there is a definite change from the solitude of winter.  Restaurants and retail stores that closed for the winter are now open again, and there are a lot more pedestrians.  The tourist season begins! 

 

Pepper

My sweet puppy mama.  11 1/2 years old.  She likes Alaska!

Signs of spring

These plants have grown much larger since this picture was taken.  Trees are budding out all over, bulbs are popping through.  The winter is over...

Good place for an outside BBQ

Shelters at Sandy Beach

Car inspection

I noticed recently that my vehicle inspection sticker expired last month, so I called a mechanic in Juneau.

Me:  “Hi, do you do inspections?”

Mechanic:  “What kind of inspection?”

Me:  (long pause) “ummmm….car?”

Mechanic:  “You mean like a buyer’s inspection?”

Me: “No, my inspection sticker on my car from Texas has expired and I’m looking for a place to get my car inspected.”

Mechanic:  “Oh, we don’t do those in Juneau, no EPA, nothing.  You don’t need an inspection.”

Me:  “Oh, thanks!  I did not know that.”

Apparently there are inspections required in some Alaskan cities, but not in Juneau.  There you go…