Having a bit of fun since we aren't working yet.... and BEARS invade!

We are back in Alaska now trying to enjoy some time while we have the midnight sun.... and don't have to work! We have a few job leads, but nothing is certain yet. We hope to both be working by about July 1! Our favorite month is June, when the days are really long, sunlight all day and night, and the temperatures are in the 70s and 80s with little rain. So we are getting out and enjoying it. About a week and a half ago, we drove down to Denali National Park and brought our bikes in and drove to Teklanika (mile 30 or so) because the tour buses weren't running yet, then biked in 10 miles to Sable Pass. It was a beautiful day and we saw 2 different sets of grizzly bears with cubs and caribou, moose, and dall sheep. Last weekend we did a short overnight canoe trip on the Chena River with friends Cam and Mary.

We also had a "mexican" party at our house last weekend. We began on Thursday and started preparing the black beans (soak and cook) so we could refry them the next day. We also made salsa and pico de gallo. We made cold avacado (aquacate) soup, which our Guadalajara homestay host made for us. We made chicken and potato enchiladas, Emily made the enchilada sauce from scratch. We also made tamales, stuffed with refried spicy blackbeans that we made from scratch. We made shrimp and halibut ceviche. We made a big jug of jamaica (cold hibiscus tea) because we brought a kilo of flowers back from Mexico. We made flan for desert. We cooked all day long on Friday.

This weekend we are heading down to bike the 120 mile Denali Highway like we dad last memorial day weekend, from the Richardson Hwy at Paxson to Cantwell, near Denali National Park, on the Parks Highway. We have a big group this year, 7 people, 5 dogs, and 3 cars, so it should be interesting....

We are definately experiencing sticker (price) shock when going to the grocery store! Every trip has been $100 or more in groceries, bummer! We buy a ton of fruits and vegetables and they are really expensive here.... $5 for 4 oranges, limes are 79cents each, tomatoes are $2.99 per pound.... yikes! It is a really different experience going to the super Fred Meyers, compared to the fruit/veggie market or cheap taco stand. Better get a job soon...... :)

YIKES! Just as I was finishing up preparing this post and getting the pictures ready for the post (at midnight) we heard a bunch of loud barking and neighbors yelling. We thought they were just trying to call their dogs in. A few minutes later, Luke heard some crunching walking up our driveway..... Luke said I think there is a bear in our driveway (but he didn't have his glasses on)! I ran to the front door and sure enough, there was a big grizzly bear, not one, but two! They were causing some trouble too! One knocked over my pot of soil and tried to knock over our mailbox. They were SO CLOSE to the house, about 10-20 feet from our front door! Luckily I got a few photos (although difficult, because a little too dark to hold the camera still for no flash photos)! We were yelling for our renter, Guido, to come out and see them, but he didn't get out in time.

Bear 1 after it trashed a pot of soil next to stairs to deck

Bear 1 walking past the garden, close to deck
Bear 2 hanging in front lawn, more skiddish

Bear 1 getting ready to attack the mailbox.
Luke thougth it would break when he swatted it a few times!

The aftermath, Luke and Guido looking at the pot of soil.