Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sunny Days in Ketchikan

I know it rains allot in Ketchikan Alaska. It averages 137 inches a year, but my childhood memories are of pretty, sunny days.

I remember playing for hours on end in the woods. There where a great many things to find and explore in those rain forests. Moss grew on everything. Have you ever seen a muskeg plant? The leaves are humongous.
We did have to look out for muskeg holes where men have stepped in the wrong spot and sunk in the wet muck to oblivion.
Dad was out hunting once and stepped into one. His gun, carried cross ways caught on the side and saved his life, by giving him leverage to climb out of the hole.

We picked big juicy blue berries from huge bushes, yum, my favorite.

I remember the tangy scent of hardwood rising out of fish smoking huts. It takes hours to smoke salmon to perfection, but boy is it worth the wait for this mouth watering delicacy.

Sometimes the mosquitoes where thick. We would have to take bitter tasting vitamin D pills to keep the ravenous beasts off.

Grandma had a Volkswagen bug. We would ride to town with her to do errands and of coarse stop for an ice cream cone.
I have always loved to watch the boats which you could see from town.

During the Summer months in Ketchikan the sun shines bright most of the day and night. I recall Mom making us go to bed while we could hear neighborhood children still playing and having fun nearby. She would complain about people letting their kids play all night just because it was bright out.

6 comments:

Tipper said...

Stacey-I liked hearing about your childhood in Alaska.

Twisted Fencepost said...

I've never heard of those plants. Thank goodness your Dad had is gun crossways!
So NOT FAIR making you go to bed when others were playing! But she was right, you need your rest.
I've never been to Alaska, but the pictures I've seen are beautiful.

lisa said...

Sounds like happy days!!

Paula said...

I don't remember ever hearing that story about Dad and the muskeg hole. He's just a little guy, good thing for the gun! I remember being warned almost everytime we stepped outside to watch for the holes, and I seem to recall that skunk cabbage was a warning sign. They tend to grow close to muskeg holes, I think.

Shelby said...

I love the reflective writing, especially of Alaska growing up.. this was fantastic.

Josh said...

Yes, I agree with Paula, I never heard that story either. It makes you wonder what else Dad is hiding from us! :-)