
The
next day or should I say the same day while you were at work I was out taking
pictures. I heard all the boats tooting. A shopkeeper said, "We're closing,
the Canoe is coming in." I saw everyone rushing to the harbor. Since I was across
the street from the harbor I walked over too. The great Hawaiian Sea Going Canoe
with outriggers pulled into the harbor. It was paddled by maybe 20 Hawaiians
in ancient native garb. They had a trade agreement with Petersburg. Petersburg
provided the trees for building the Canoe, which were extinct in Hawaii. The
Canoe crossed the Ocean on a Cargo ship into Seattle. They sailed it from Seattle
to Petersburg. There was nothing modern on the Canoe. It was constructed in
the Ancient way, by hand. Set the log on fire and chisel out the burned part
until they had a canoe shaped hull. The only reason they were there was to thank
Petersburg for the trees. The native Alaskans were also there in ceremonial
dress to welcome them. The Alaskan Natives were in royal blue blankets with
a flat top beanie covered in large fish scale shaped red, silver and light blue
sequins. Hawaiians were in their native garb. Had leather string around their
waist with a leather handkerchief size loincloth hanging in front. There was
nothing in the back. Trust me. I was checking it out, just like the other women.
They had on a woven crown of palm leaves. Nothing else. It was nice that it
was an 80-degree day. There were a lot of feminine oos and ahhs.. It was quite
a greeting when they tied up and a wonderful days suprise .
My
first visit the Capitol on my way to Petersburg. Paid a cab driver to be my
tour guide. Drove me over to the Glacier, giving me the inside on local stories.
The Glacier was the same one we visited together last year. It was not the tourist
season and nothing was open except a factory making billfolds and purses. They
made their products out of fish skin. Halibut, Salmon and other fish. Bragged
about his curing process. Weather at that time was dreary with low gray clouds.
Driver's comment on the weather was, "It's just so-so."
============= Treece Jeanice ===============
Roland James =========================
It
was funny when we worked really late. It stayed light, so I didn't think about
the time. You and I went to the all-night restaurant and had breakfast. We came
out, I looked up and said, "It's sunset." Then I realized the sun was in the
east. It was sunrise.
St. Paul Alaska is at the end of the Aleutian Island chain,
then 500 miles.
Island where no trees grow, sunny days finds folks fishing on harbor piles.
Homer's harbor strip commercial fishermen & I have nothing in common.
Ray Dudiack, a retired game warden, great fishing guide for King Salmon.
Eagles, eagles, everywhere. Looking down from friends house
at beach.
Petersburg Island city from telephone poles hear bald eagles screech.
Teri & I doing customer training making new friends, seeing old ones.
Visiting staff at Harbor Master's Office & talking of next fishing runs.
Four guys, arrive Anchorage Alaska with fishing their goal
and no pole.
Pile in SUV and head down Coast. Stopping to play river rafter role.
Stop at trailer with Custom Knifes in front. Mark orders for his collection.
Saw Moose and Bear from the front porch of our quarter's selection.
Remember
the wallet you bought me in Juneau.
ALASKA
(Great Land)