While out and about yesterday I was able to capture the Sandhill Cranes as they migrate from Alaska to points south. Including, my state of New Mexico where many of them winter. There is a "Festival of the Cranes", this year it will be from December 6th thru the 9th.
https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/festival/
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| Flying over Fritz Creek |
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| Up off Skyline Dr |
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| Kachemak Bay |
Yesterday my sister and I went to the Anchor River to fish. It looked like it would be a good day and being my sister’s birthday wanted to catch a fish.
Clouds overhead shaded the river with a light rain at times. We started to cast our lures in hopes of catching some Coho Salmon.
After a while my sister hooked a, Dolly Varden, which she released.
I then hooked a Coho, it put up a great fight. As my sister attempted to net it, it got free of the hook.
A few minutes later I hooked another one. This one fought even harder, in the end I was able to bring it in and my sister got it in the net.
It then freed itself from the net and attempted to return to the river, but it was still hooked and we got back easily. I then moved it up the bank further from the river and removed the hook, leaving it in the net. I got ready for my sister to take a picture, when she yelled that the fish had once again escaped and was headed to the river. I jumped down the bank to the edge of the water, the fish was now in the water. there was no way I was going to let it get away.
I bent over to scoop it up, as I did this I tripped on a rock, as I am falling I scoop the fish and throw it onto the bank. Then I landed on all fours in the river, I am soaked, my boots are filling with water and rocks. I am laughing, my sister is laughing so hard she can’t get her phone ready to take a picture.
Meanwhile the fish is attempting to escape, again. I turn on my hands and knees and hold the fish down with both hands. We are still both laughing hysterically, when I notice my Apple Watch is notifying me that I fell. I let go of the fish with one hand and attempt to cancel the notice. My watch is wet and has a plastic protective cover, which now has water under it, between that and my wet hands I can’t cancel the notice.
I rip the watch from my arm, it is now on a thirty second countdown to the call. I am still holding the fish down so I only have one hand to work with. Twenty seconds left, I am now attempting to remove the cover off the watch, 15 seconds left. I get the cover removed, 10 seconds to go. I am trying to dry the watch and my fingers, but I have nothing to dry them with 5 seconds left. I finally get the watch and my finger fairly dry, I am punching the cancel call button, 3,2,1,0. I end the call just as it dials 911.
We are still laughing and am holding the fish down and I get a call from 911. Am I okay, where am I, what happened, name, date of birth, etc. She is finally assured that I am okay and hangs up.
Now, we are laughing even harder, I pick the fish up and finally get a picture taken.
Though my sister did not catch a salmon, she had unforgettable birthday experience.
Coho Salmon 6.6lbs.
Another week has passed, pretty uneventful. I was working in the store most of the week. The blue moon was a bust, as it was cloudy. I did go up to Olson Mountain and a moose walked by about 20 feet away, I was in the truck at the time.
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| Moose on Olson Mountain #iPhone14pro |
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| View from Olson Mountain #iPhone14pro |
I arrived a week ago Friday and have been on the go since.
The flights up were good and my luggage arrived, yeah.
I got in around 11pm and grabbed a Lyft ride to the hotel where my sister and her friend were staying. They quickly climbed into bed after letting me in. Took me a bit to get organized and then to fall asleep. We had to get up early the next morning to take her friend to the airport, after dropping her off we started the drive from Anchorage to Homer. We made a few stops along the way, first was along the Cooks Inlet to watch the Beluga Whales. Very hard to catch them with their heads out of the water. This is the best I could do.
On Monday I was given a gift from my son and sister, I went All Species Fishing for the day. I caught a couple of Halibut, a Silver Salmon and a rockfish. We had the Salmon for dinner that night, along with a couple of pieces of King Salmon and a rockfish. These are all the fish I and the couple on board caught.
Just a quick note, I flew back to Alaska yesterday and will be here until the need of September. I will be posting pictures as I get out. Today we are hoping to see some Beluga Whales before we drive from Anchorage to Homer.
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| At the gate waiting to board |
Next Friday, I leave for Alaska. I have packed my gear and then repacked it, I will probably do it a few more times before I am satisfied.
Visited with my oncologist on Tuesday, weight dropped 20lbs(more to go), PSA dropped lower, BP down, overall doing well. Received my hormone shot, butt hurts like hell. I then went and got a Covid booster, both shots on my right side. I don’t know if that was a good idea or not.
A few photos from the last week or so.
