Back to the Yukon and farewell to Haines Alaska "So what tree is that then Brad?" It is a strange fact that of the 20 or so Americans we know, 5 are biologists. After a weekend in the Yukon with two of them, Brad & Jola, who we last met in the middle of Namibia, it was apparent that the term "biologist" could only be applied in the loosest sense to Brad. Brad guessed correctly that the tree in question was an aspen, the fact that the le...

"The Artist formerly known as Ralph" As you all appreciate modesty is one of my many endearing qualities so it is with due humility that I feel I have to announce a change of name. Instead of Ralph, I would henceforth like to be addressed as "The artist formerly known as Ralph." You may be wondering why the change, so since you ask I will tell. The name "The artist formerly known as Ralph" is more in keeping with my new fame as ...

Housesitting in Haines "Our last two dogs died when people were housesitting" With that final morale boosting comment, Ann and Tim left us in charge of Tahvi, the Siberian husky mentioned in the last blog, and Kunene the cat, and departed for their summer holiday in Canada. Actually "holiday" is a bit of a generous description of what sounds like purgatory, carrying very heavy canoes for miles overland to then paddle in a lake 7 feet long...

Juneau…. it's raining again? I have finally found the easiest job on earth, weather forecasting in South East Alaska! As the natives of Juneau, Alaska's 31,000-person capital, have been quick to point out there are two types of weather here, raining and about to rain. Fortunately coming from a country where precipitation is not exactly uncommon, we have hardly noticed the difference; in fact we have elicited a certain grudging respect amongst the locals for ...

Up the Inside Passage This is probably yet another blog title that will have certain acquaintances of ours sniggering like naughty schoolboys, step forward Gary, Alan, Marc, Phil, Roger and others! I am of course referring to the famous coastal route for oceangoing vessels that navigates up through the thousands of islands of British Columbia and South East Alaska and avoids the need to cross open seas. Prospectors took this route in the late 19th century, lu...