Bear Hunting and Other Activities in Still Listening to Spirit

Max texted me that he was permitted to drive tourists clear out on the Dyea Flats and he was open for an afternoon tour. Max is a hometown boy and has a 15 passenger van he takes tourists in to the Summit or to the Dyea area. A small operator we like to recommend when all other tour solutions don't 'fit'.

I texted Madame to inform her, suggesting that if he did have paying guests, and empty seats, we could ride along. Max had texted that he had seen bears in the afternoons a couple of days this week.

Instead, Madame grabbed Nadine, came and got me and we rode out to bear hunt. I usually enjoy a ride out to Dyea, where the Chilkoot Trailhead is located, good seekers starting out on the arduous trail to gold in the Yukon. I hadn't been clear out to the "Flats" in ages, years I think.

The Flats are the tidal flats covered and uncovered twice a day by the tides that hereabouts can have a 20' difference between high and low. The salmon that return here and to the river have a much easier time swimming upstream because there is only the streams, grasses that flood and fluff, no leaping and struggling when the tides help them up to the river.

So the bears are out on the flats when this abundance of food is available, and up past the high tide line when the tide is in, still fishing in the streams.

Dawn and dusk is when locals are seeing 8 to 10 bears and cubs out there. But if Max said he is seeing them in the afternoon, this was good enough for us. Off we went. Madame and Nadine yakking in the front seat, me listening and commenting once in a while.

No we didn't see any bears. YES we had a wonderful time. Good company, laughter and sharing.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Madame called me Sunday this week. Greg just realized, despite knowing all summer and being reminded several times in the past 2 weeks, that his summer dispatcher would have his last day today, Friday August 8.

He was talking about this at lunch from work and Madame said "Well why don't we ask Cindy to finish out the season." "What a great idea" was Greg's reply.

So beginning Monday, August 11, I will return to work selling tours from 9am to 1pm. I said yes, of course. Greg also said that if I wanted to stay more time in the afternoon to sell retail, I could do that too to get more hours.

I am glad to have some income at the end of the season. It has been a long and hard season, year, years without much relief living on our SS checks. ALL income is fixed in my opinion. Everyone only makes so much money without much chance to earn extra.

So, back I go into the fray. I am neither excited nor concerned. I can either work those 4 or so hours or not. The toll on my body cannot be predicted because there is an energy that is sparked by contact with the tourists that cannot be discounted in terms of energy boost.

I am off to do whatever it is I am going to do next....

Blessed be!