Alaska Tribute
The Lakers win the NBA Championship over Buffalo Burgers and a nice Sunset over the Lake. Next thing I know I am standing on the dock at the ocean and awaiting the 1956 Dehaviland float plane. I had time to photograph the enormous Russian Cruise ship approaching which dwarfed the little Coast guard escort alongside. (See Facebook Photolink below ).
We are stuffing ourselves into a single prop plane on skiis and lifting off into the Alaskan skies. My queasiness gaveway to the thrilling adventure and the 45 minutes went by like 2 with me shooting through the window at the scenes dotting the island shorelines and finally landing at the “Lodge at Whale Pass”.
They said no snow came this winter to this rainforest island at all and it concerned them. Everything looked pretty wet to me with the 180 inches of annual rain.
The staff gleefully greeted us on the dock to carry all our stuff up to the Lodge. Words cant describe the beauty and wonder that overcame me so the FB photos will really help to complete the images and feelings.
I share a room with Aaron who turns 18 this weekend and prepares to go to college in Oregon soon. Tessie has her run of the place making friends with Nellie the resident Lab.
The guides are eager to take us fishing as the handful of other guests rescheduled and we had the placed to our own. While they fished I walked the grounds and napped to get grounded again. I found a friendly tree in the woods and gave some tobacco prayers to thank the Spirit of Place for sharing Sacred Space together.
I felt welcomed and protected as if nothing could go wrong here and it proved to be so. The Four **** Chef and his family took a personal interest
with us and especially with Jeff who always brings very special wines from his California vintage collection.
Good trade!
The meals were family style and always fresh local fish, wild game and special desserts. My days typically were littered with healthy food, hikes into the Magical Rainforest , morning Yoga classes, and afternoon Massages. 
Some of the fishing outings with the guide were long cruises to the special spot for Halibut tired me from the motion so I chose more often to take the little skiff myself across the bay to the mouth of the river and watch the Bald Eagles compete with the Seals for fish.
My Spirit soared with Wanbli flying over the treetops to perch and survey the scene including my auspicious presence. Reaching into my pocket for tobacco i give a prayer in gratitude for this opportunity to experience Nature in all Her beauty
The highlight of the trip for us all happened when Kevin, the very hands on Lodge owner, talked with me about bringing Extry Sarff, the 92 year old Poet from the little Whale Pass town to read and share stories with us .
A short boat taxi ride and he returned with the white bearded gentleman with a soft but tasteful voice demanding our ears. All the staff gathered around the fireplace while he read and I played background melodies on a guitar brought by a local teenager. A poignant footnote to a Magical experience that will forever live in my heart of hearts.
The spacey flight home 
was a blend of exhaltation and sadness for leaving what felt more like a long lost family than new acquaintances. Alaska is still in another time warp and I pray will never catch up to the pace of the lower 49. I sit here writing. teared up at the memories flooding my mind from another life changing experience in this journey,
“Through the Seasons”…. The title of my forthcoming book.
(Here’s a poem from Extry’s Book and the link to the beautiful photos I took in my spare time. 
Wilderness Alaska by Extry Sarff
There’s a long trail winding to my wilderness Alaska home.Many years i’ve travelled along that winding trail, thinking al alone. Beauty lies along the trailauround everytwisting bend. Something new to gladdenand quicken your tired eye, and found from ene to end.
Each season brings a picture new as life begind again. Your heart soars with each new born fawn that greets you like a friend. With fields of flowers and trees in bloom, and birds of every hue, you fel since you are all alone, it was all made for you.
Then summer comes to fade the flowers, daylight growing long, you see when mushrooms start to rise and how the berry crop is strong. You stop beside the bridge to watch the salmon leap, marvel at their flash and speed, glory in pristine waters in pools deep.
Fall arrives along the trail, unannounced before your ready. Frosty nights blush wild rose apples, and paint the leaves so pretty. Braken turns to amber brown then the leaves do fall. A new scene exposed; hurling down the mountainside a silver leaping waterfall.
The rains have come sand gone, now its time for snow. White shoulders gracing every forest bow, not as leaf will show. Icicles hang from every cliff, a skirt for every stone; quiet reigns along the trail. creatures sleeping in their home.
Onc agian the seasons change , time to take the trail. Make new tracks along the way, pick up the winters mail. Now wind and rain is putting winter on the go, you see the yellow calla poking through the snow.
Along the ocean shore where crashing waves leave foaming eddies, seaweed swirls over slippery rocks polishing stone and agate pretties.
When i come to the trails end and greet my family there, they look upon my smiling face, Iv’e lost my every care.
