Logging Update

Henry and company made it safely home to Bethel after two weeks on the river logging. They arrived at the small boat harbor about 4 am, so I don't have any photos of the homecoming. The trip was very successful; they got about 80 logs. A boom wasn't necessary, all the logs were bound up into a single raft. It was large and stable enough to put all the gear on, but not to pitch a tent and sleep on, so they slept on the boat for the trip home. Exhaustion levels are high by the end of such a trip, so Henry usually gets the raft within 25 miles of Bethel and then ties it off at the river's edge and zips home for a few days of rest and recuperation. Tomorrow he will go back upriver to Akiak and bring it the rest of the way home.

I spent the afternoon with him on Wednesday, sitting on his porch swing and listening to the stories of the trip. It was a wonderful river experience with lots of wildlife. He has the faraway look in the eye and the wilderness energy flow that being on the river imparts. It is good to have him back; I've missed him.

The stories are good ones, and worth retelling, but time does not allow. My day at the hospital begins shortly, and will be busy. And tomorrow I leave for a week in Pilot Station, my village on the Yukon River. So lots to do tonight. The internet connection up there is way more tenuous and slow than in Bethel, but I will write and post as much as I can. Stay tuned for more adventures!