Hey there Angela and "The Artist Formerly Know as Ralph"

Just wanted to say it was great meeting up with you in the Yukon and Alaska. However, while you may be a bit witty with your pen (Ralph) I don't think Hemingway would have run from a small Grizzly and leave poor Angela to fend for herself. That sounds more like a Prince move and therefore I think you have chosen the appropriate pen name. On another note I don't think Hemingway would have destroyed such geological treasures as dull brown sandstone Yukon thunder eggs. I hope it is not to long before we meet again to drink all of the available wine and start contemplating the Peach Schnapps.

Brad and Jola -Answering all of your biological questions.

Hi "the artist" and "longsuffering" Angela !
It is so good to read about your travels - certainly gives me a good laugh and brightens the day. I am serious when I say " Bill Bryson - stand aside for "the artist"" !
Well - it looks like we have dropped into the midst of winter once again - masses of rain - floods and flooding everywhere - snow on the mountains. Just to tease us we get a really great and 30 degree sunny day in between - and then the next cold front comes rumbling through.

On the political front it is similar to the Goon Show ! At this stage we are all playing ostrich - hiding our heads in the sand and hoping it will all go away. Looks like - come hell (already here in terms of crime and corruption) or high water (which we have already) Zuma will be our next president. If that is the best person the ANC can come up with - wow - save us ! There is now still the debate whether he should get charged again or not - but his supporters are threatening death and destruction - so it is debatable whether the threat of civil war is worth going after one person - when there are so many others implicated. Never a dull moment in Africa.

The Allens are going off to Australia for a holiday next week - and the general question they get is - are they going to look for greener pastures ! We hope not - as our self-esteem could not cope with another set of friends departing for far-away shores !! We are seeing them again on Saturday in Simon's Town - spending lots of time there !

Keep well and keep those interesting blogs rolling. It is great to know that there is a world out there - without Zuma and compatriotes - that actually seems quite sane !! Although - 2 months in summer and no sun - don't think I could cope with that. One grey day (like today) - and I am ready to call it quits with the world !

On a bright note - Clint's golf is getting much better -and he is enjoying it lots. HAve managed to steer clear of playingmyself -but who knows - that may change in summer.

All the best

Heike

Hi Bim & Linda

The bears have been very relaxed thanks to the quantities of salmon available. Just driven up to the Yukon, the bears are a bit wilder here so we have the bear spray very close!

Try and remember all I taught you about flying and you'll be ok getting through those mountain passes before Jackosn Hole. Don't open your eyes too often and keep the whisky flowing.

If you need any help landing give us a ring!

Ralph & Angela

Nice bath robe Ralph.

And we also loved the photos of the bears. Looked even more fierce than the ones we saw in Alaska a few years ago.

We are flying up to Jackson Hole next week. It just won't be the same without you as my co-pilot and Angela whimpering in the rear seat.

Bim and Linda

Hi Richard

Great to hear from you, saw a bear riding a Raleigh Yukon yesterday but it was black and green so not yours, I'll keep a look out though.

If I do find a bear riding your bike any advice on how to get it back?

Hotel in Seattle had VoIP phone, couldn't work it (Cisco I recall) but then technology was never my strongpoint. UK cell phone didn't work here despite triband, wouldn't charge anyway so bought a US cell from T Mobile in Seattle only to realise they have no roaming agreement for this part of world. Will take it home but of course it is on the wrong frequency for UK.

At the last count we have 2 cell phones in South Africa and 6 SIMS (SA, Botswana and Namibia), 2 SIMs in the UK and 3 cell phones in US but only1 works but not in Alaska. Truly we are in an era of global telecoms!

Are you still making a living out of Avaya phone systems?

Ralph

I thought I'd write a quick message but the message board is asking me to solve a sum ("2+3") to make sure I'm a real person and not a spammer. Must they make it soooo hard?!

Anyway, the Yukon. I know it well. My first mountain bike was a Raleigh Yukon which at the time (I was about 17 so I guess we're going back 2 or 3 years now) I didn't know what the Yukon was. Now, I know. Maybe you could help me with the website Amazon too?

Back to the Raleigh Yukon though. I left it outside a shop one day and came back and it was gone. Should I assume a bear took it (it was a cheap Raleigh mountain bike and unlikley to support the weight of a bike-riding adult bear) or maybe the Royal Mail picked it up and thought the name Yukon on it was a delivery address? If you should see it it was black and orange in colour and I'd like it back please.

Keep up the blogs and reminding me why I shouldn't be working. We don't have bears but there are predators in the shape of customers and suppliers around every corner!

Stay safe.

Hi Linda and Jim

Thanks for the compliments, I'll send the $100 in used notes to your Post Box address as agreed.

Alaska is proving a great playground, just bought fishing licences and will be braving the cold of the local river to catch some salmon, assuming the bears don't take it off us!

Never seen so many bears as here in Haines, they are everywhere so we have pepper spray very close to hand. Fortunately they are far more interested in salmon than us, but we have seen a couple of grizzly sows with cubs so we are keeping our eyes open!

Hope all is well in Santa Barbara

Ralph and Angela,

Keep the screamingly funny blogs coming ! We've been sharing your site with our friends and the consensus is that you two have a great sideline business going as travelogue journalists.

Hi Jim & Linda

Would love to but sadly we have to vacate the US before 23 Sept otherwise we'll be deported as undesirables or aliens. Just as well as we can't afford to stay any longer!!!!!

Are you sure you can fly that bucket of yours without me as co-pilot, seem to remember having to take command over Las Vegas when the skies got a bit busy!

Give our regards to Mike and Denise, is their fighter plane business still going?

Alaska is fantastic, except the weather has just closed in around Juneau after 3 lovely days.

Maybe we could sort a house sit/visit to Santa Barbara for next year or 2010?

Ralph and Angela,

Glad to hear you finally made it to the San Juan Islands. Looks like you got great weather as well. We are flying up to Vancouver Island in late September, so if you want a ride to Santa Barbara let us know. We will be with Mike and Denise on another of our flying adventures.

Have a great time in Alaska.

Hi Heike

Thanks for getting in touch, sorry about the weather. It seems to be the theme everywhere, Washington state has had record snowfalls in the parks and tons of rain at lower levels. We've just reached Alaska and they've had a terrible summer, no sun for 2 months.

Can't believe it was a year since we last stayed at your place, remember the Tour De France being on, it's the only sporting event the American media mention other than baseball and American football!

The whales are here as well, loads on the way up to Alaska, stunning scenery, true wilderness.

Good luck with the Cosatu strike etc, trust Zuma has been keeping his pants on and mouth shut recently!

Ralph

Hi ! Really enjoying the blogs about America - sounds really great. All well in this neck of the woods. Rather chilly and wet at the moment - can't wait for summer to return. Lots of sunshine in between - so shouldn't really complain. Not seeing that much of Lynn and Simon as they are spending most weekends in Simons Town - certainly can't blame them - as it is really great out there. The whales are back - so want to spend some time there as well - as you can see them directly from their balcony. All the best - and keep those blogs coming ! Heike