Chitina or Bust

In Wager With the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story, it's told how Don took his new bride to Chitina because it embodies the beauty of Alaska.

Reading about Don inspired me to think about visiting Chitina. And now that Canada is open, my having only gotten one of the two-shot Moderna doses is no longer an impediment.

Looking ahead, I googled Chitina which led to Spirit Mountain Artworks which led to Art's jewelry site on Flickr. It's some of the most original work I've seen and as of today, April 14, 2023, has only had 837 views.

Tapping either of the images below will take you to the site.

Phoebe is now feeling better than James Brown and tomorrow, after collecting mail in Sahuarita, we can head north.

The Inspiring...One Hot Mess

Sometimes (I have yet to understand how this works) when someone stops by the blog their URL shows up in the "Stats." The other day One Hot Mess came through and, out of curiosity, I went to see. In leafing through I came across this one for July 5th of this year. It's the last paragraph that, as an olde, tired man, gives me hope. Perhaps it'll give you some too.

Eli Ridgecock - Dog Musher

You just never know who yer gonna meet!

Discouraged at the number of folks camped along the La Plata River (Due north of Hesperus, Cah-low-ray-doe), I shifted into 4 whl lo and sidled up FR 792. There, as I was settling in, I was startled by someone running by!

On his way down I learned it was non other than Eli Ridgecock, renowned dog-musher. Formerly of Fairbanks, Alaska, he's now with Durango Dog Ranch, a dog-sledding adventure company.

Those white patches in the background are snow

After 'splainin' their provenance, Eli agreed to take the 9mm bullets I'd found out near Gallup the other day (any weight, besides my own, is too much). There were 60 regular and one hollow point and two and a half boxes of 22 long rifle. All worth about $35.00 including tax. That's them he's holding.

I couldn't bring myself to leave them or throw them away. The magic marker reads: "From California Can't Take Home"

Such a purty box! And along with the bullets there were several half-liter water bottles and a beer can or two (all perforated).