end of summer activities

 Some of my pictures were loaded out of sequence again. Oh, well. On August 21, Delta Junction was  honored to be a stop over for a fleet of vintage, 1942, military vehicles that were reinacting the 70th anniversary of the building of the Alaskan Highway (AlCan) duing WW II. Drivers from across the Lower 48 (the "Outside" to Alaskans) met in Dawson Creek, Yukon Territory,on Aug. 4th to begin following the route of 1942. 70 vehicles traveled in small unit caravans.

I was born in 1942 (no longer a secret), and made my first RV road trip to Alaska up the AlCan to celebrate my 60th birthday in 2002. This yea, the AlCan and I celebrate our 70th birthday.

 Jumping from history to present, we've been working on the outside and inside of the church in Delta. Nicholas and Monique are shown trying to pull up the old carpet that was super-glued to the sub-floor. While the trusses were being installed, we had rain that soaked through the unfinished roof and soaked the carpet.

 One of my jobs has been to paint the window and door trim, after the outside of the logs were spray painted.

 Compare this picture of the exterior of the chuch with the completed roof to earlier pictures. We are now working on the interior.

Here is one of the pictures out of sequence. The sign on the jeep states that this truck was the first vehicle to drive the completed  AlCan from Dawson Creek to Whitehorse. Behind the vehicle you can see a small part of the lines of jeeps, trucks, personel carriers, ambulances, etc. that visited us. Delta Junction is the location of the joining of the newly completed Alaskan Highway and the Richardson Highway.

Last fall the fire marshal informed the camp that it had until this fall to install a vent hood over our two stoves. Dale priced a commercial hood at over $2,000. Friends of the camp offered to donate it if one could be found. Not satisfied with this expense, Dale engineered a hood from two residential hoods at the cost of around $400. Savings for our benefactors and better use of God's resources. He is being helped to install the hood.

 This picture was to lead into this blog. Fireweed is "going to cotton. The seed pods of the fireweed split open to release dandylion like fuzz. When fireweed "goes to cotton" it is a harbinger of winter- 6 weeks remaining of summer, now autumni Already we have had several  mornings of temps in the 30s.

The interior of the church is exposed logs that had to be sanded before they could be resealed. Here Lynne and I use sanders on the logs. Note the dust on the camera lense and the two colors of the logs.

 We took off late one afternoon to pick blueberries. The season is ending, but we were able to collect 17 cups of berries in an hour. Our berry patch is a well  kept secret. True Alaskans don't tell where they pick.
No snakes to watch out for, just bears.

Back in the camp kitchen we turned those berries into jam and vinagarette.
Weekly youth camps are over. The kids back in school. We've hosted two picnics and will soon start to winterize, that means putting all the equipment away, storing food and supplies for winter and draining the water lines. A lot more work is involved than it sounds.
We will also be completing work on the interior of the church, and hope to see the  services resume in the sanctuary before we head out.

A little vacation time

After the high school camp was over, we cleaned the kitchen, dining hall, bathhouses and cabins. A well deserved break beckoned us to travel to Homer located on the tip of the Kenai Peninsula.
At rest stop we met this gentleman from Seattle. He had boarded the ferry in Bellingham and got off in Seward where he caught a ride to Anchorage. He was biking to Tok, then on the AlCan to Dawson Creek.  And I think I'm brave!



Homer is a tiny tourist and artist town located below this bluff. From the ridge you can see a large bay, then  a barrior strip and then the Homer Spit jutting into Kachemak Bay. Near the end of the spit is a tiny, quaint shopping and fish processing area that lines the narrow two lane road. The tide from Cook Inlet (on the right) may rise more than 20 feet, washing the pebble beach with drift wood, kelp and dinner for the birds. The Kenai Mountains are in the distance




This view across Cook Inlet shows the mountain range with glaciers shrowded with mist and clouds.



 Along the harbor, we discovered this customized RV. It does run on the highway, but while parked it is decked out with flower boxes.

 This specialty Recreational Vehicle is truly astounding. Built in Germany and transported to Anchorage for state-wide tours, campers sleep in tiny cubicles behind those little windows. I'd like to go inside to see how they squeeze in. On the outside, tent like awnings attached to the side and rear provide space for camp cooking and seating. The front of the rig (to the left) is glassed in like a regular tour bus.

 We parked our rigs facing the pebble strewn beach. Two magnificent bald headed eagles left their fishing in the shallows and perched close enough for pictures. These birds are numerous on the Homer Spit.

 Another custom conversion camper was parked on the beaach. This one is on a school bus body. Not only does it have an upstairs over the cab, but there is a second floor or loft in the rear over a railed porch. Wish I could see inside.
We had one day of sunshire in Homer. Rain on the trip down and rain on the return trip to Wasilla.
On Sunday we visited Big Lake Baptist Church. DeeDee Jonrow, the sled dog musher, was our Sunday School teacher. DeeDee is a 10 year breast cancer survivor, and has run the Iditerod 30 times, coming in 2nd twice. This past march she placed tenth. Not bad for some one her age.  She's such an inspiration.

After Church we drove to Talkeetna for lunch with long time friends, Micky and Anna, and their extended family. On the return we stopped at the Talkeetna Lodge to search for Mt McKinley. (Better known as Denali) The overcast sky began to lighten as the cloud cover moved off. We waited with others and their cameras until THE mountain was "out". The top of the 20,000 ft. (plus) mountain can only be seen about 30% of the time due to its own weather system that produces a cloud cover.

Tomorrow we will be back at Camp Baldwin to prepare for weekend activities, working at the church, and then winterizing the camp. Sunset is now about 10:30 P.M and sunrise at 5:30. During the night it is now dark enough to see the moon and stars (if it doesn't rain).

camps

 Upps, blogger didin't up load several pictures. since my last blog, we have hosted 4-5th grade camp, junior high camp and are now completing high school camp. The missing pitures are of Bible study, solo time, and tie-dying T-shirts.


Fairbanks and Delta Junction have experienced the coldest winter and coldest summer on record. last winter the temp. dropped to 60 below and our summer average has been 55 degrees. That doesn't stop the children from enjoying an improvised water slide. The air temp. of 60 was quickly met by water temp of about  45 degrees!



Most of the days have been chilly with rain or drizzle. That doesn't stop water fights, with buckets of water that are tossed at campers and counselors. This week has felt like a Texas heat  wave. The afternoon temp. has reached 70.



Over the week end, with no campers in session and our shopping completed, Lynne, Monique and I gathered our buckets and knives to collect the magenta flowers of the fireweed. Returning to camp, we stripped the blossoms from the stems, cleaned them and froze the blossoms in four cup measures. To our amazement, we had enough for 13 batches of fireweed jelly.

Another evening, Lynne, Dale and I took off after dinner dishes to our favorite blueberry patch. the berries were ripening and we had beat the bears to the patch. the three of us collected 5 pounds of berries. Enough for 2 patches of jam.

  

We don't seem to be able to get out of the kitchen!

A sample of the tie-dying. 

Sunrise now is 4:40, and Sunset is 11:00 P.M. The remaining night is still twilight. Last night the campers were still going strong at 4:oo A.M.

camps and cooking

 I've been so busy in the kitchen, acting as nurse and conducting crafts classes that I've hardly had  time to sleep, much less write this blog. We had a kindergarten-to second grade mini camp that was a blast with all the little guys and gals running around playing games. This was one of our few sunny warm days. High about 70.  Cooking for them was a challenge because we wanted to make sure they got food they liked, like hot dogs and mac and cheese.

 The older children's favorite game is to find the counselors who have dressed in camo and faace paint. They hide in the woods, often under piles of old leaves or in thickets of wild roses. The kids try to find them. All this takes place after dinner, about 8 pm while it is still day light.  The official sunset now is 11:49 pm and sun rise is at 3:36 am. However during those 3 1/2 hours it is still twilight.

 My title is chief desert maker. On the fourth of July, I baked a hugh sheet cake (it took three cake mixes). These older girls, counselors -in-training) helped by adding the decorations. I'm up by 6:30 and in the kitchen soon after. We begin lunch as soon as breakfast is cleaned up. If we're lucky we may get a short break after lunch clean up, then I have crafts classes and back to the kitchen for dinner. Usually I'm through by 8 pm. One week while I was acting nurse, I had to give meds. at 11:00 PM.  I'm so glad Lynne has returned from her short visit to their daughter's

 Late in the evening after dinner and games, the campers meet together for campfire, songs and skits. During the day they participate in Bible study, missions study, and singings as well as games.

 

 A very popular game is water balloon toss. A favorite counselor, in this case our camp program director, is chosen to stand in a wire cage while kids throw water balloons at the wire in front of him. Lots of fun when the air temp. is in the 50s and the water temp. is in the low 40s.

 The campers share chores. these three little gals worked to gether to clean out the bottom of the shower.

 I do not often get to attend Bible study. I'm pleased to have taken this picture of a small boy praying.

On the last morning of camp, we have lots of sleepy campers!
We are now in the middle of the 5-6th grade camp. it has been raining steadily and is quite cold. 50s today.
We are praying for sun shine, but the cold wet weather doesn't dampen the kids spirits.

Painting and roofing

 Dressed for cool weather, we tackled painting the outside of the cabins, and the trim. Later the chapel was painted and trimmed.

 The weather warmed up before we were finished. Morning temps have been in the mid 50s with afternoon highs in the 70s. I deal weather for outside work.

We don't believe in all work and no play!

 The interior and exterior of the dining hall received  new coats of paint, and window and door trim. Dale installed four ceiling fans rescued from the church roofing project. 
Ceiling fans? Yes, it gets hot here too. Last Saturday the high was 89 degrees.

 The church has received a partial new roof. We are no longer needed for hauling debris from the deconstruction.

From the sactuary, pulpit area you can see the old trusses and sky where the new trusses are being replaced.
Alaska weather is similar to Texas weather, you never know what to expect. This morning the temp was 50 degrees with rain. And the temp hasn't risen all day. The roofing project is at a stand still, however all our painting has been completed.
Last night seven summer missionaries, college students, arrived to prepare for the children who arrive tomorrow. We are ready!

Denali

 Alaskan's say "the mountain is out" they are refering to Mt. McKinley or "Denali" as most Alaskans call the 20,320 foot mountain, the tallest mountain in North America. We visisted Denali National Park with the North Carolina VBS team but were disappointed that the mountain was hidden by low clouds and mist.

The park was not established to preserve the mountain but to protect wildlife. Six million acres are the home ranges of moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears. Again I'm having trouble up-loading pictures.

Visitors are able to drive private vehicles for the first 15 miles into the park. We boarded buses to travel for 8 hours into the park. In additon to the 36 species fo mamals, there are moe than 100 species of birds including the golden eagle which we saw. There is only one amphibian, a wood frog.  There are NO snakes.

 We saw the Big Four, moose, caribou, bear, and Dall sheep. This red fox appeared on the road and ran ahead of the tour bus for a short while.

There were several small flocks of Dall sheep high on the mountain cliffs. One group was close enough for us to photograph.

The gravel road into the park interior is winding and narrow as it follows the edge of a deep vally. When one bus approached a bus going in the opposite direction, we all prayed that the road was side enough for both. I seemed to be on the drop-off side. The road followed a braided river flowing with snow melt and silted water from the glaciers.

leaving Denali, we rushed the N. Carolina team to the airport for their return home. Returning to camp, and a well deserved rest, we spent this past week painting the inside and outside of the dining hall, chapel, and painting the trim. Then sanitized the bath houses, cleaned the guest house, and are presently working again at the church removing debris as the contractor is replacing the roof.

Summer has arrived. This morning's temp. was 55. Yesterday's high, 75. Tomorrow is summer solstice. Sun set at 12:15 a.m., sunrise at 3:13 a.m. 21 hours wwith the sun above the horison. However it's never dark now, only dusk.

Vacation Bible School

In preparation for the North Carolina Vacation Bible team that was due to arrive by plane in Fairbanks, we cleaned the cabins,and made up the bunks with sleeping bags.  The Martins  picked up the 9 volunteers at the airport, loaded their luggage in to the church van and returned to camp after midnight. The "foreigners" were amazed that the sun was still shining.

With only a few hours sleep they were up for breakfast and Sunday School. the churches in Delta held a community wide church service in a large tent in the park. The N. Carolinians apprciated the warm coats and sweaters ssent by members of West End Baptist Church in Texas. The drizzle-rain stopped, but the overcast kept the temperature chilly. We enjoyed a praise band, lots of singing and an excellent message.

Hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill joined a pot luck meal brought by the community. The team was introduced and made to feel welcome. After a nap, we returned to church for a VBS meeting and to prepare our rooms for the following day.

Children of all ages, from the 5 month old daughter of a worker through sixth graders flocked to VBS on Monday morning. assisted by teens, the workers got everyone excited about the VBS theme, Awesome Wonders Aviation. The Bible study, missions stories, crafts, recreation and even the snacks were based on the them of God's wonders of creation: the Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Lights and a volcano.

Many of my pictures would not load. This group is part of the 5-6th graders that I worked with. Later in the week i taught them how to tie-dye t-shirts. This project is one of the incentives that keeps the older kids coming back. Attendance for the week averaged 79 kids with a staff fo 40.

The kids are sitting in a mock-up cock pit for a Bible story. I painted the panel at the rear. The gentleman standing is signing for a deaf student.

The North Carolina team painted the interior of 4 cabins, and cut and hauled fallen trees in thier spare time. We were also able to take them on a short tour of a yak farm and a bison/hay farm. They also traveled to Summit lake to play in the snow.

On Friday after VBS and a hamburger-hotdog party for the kids, staff and families, we loaded the team and their gear into the van. Sleeping bags were stuffed into the RV and off we went toward Fairbanks. We made a stop at the historic Rika Roadhouse, at the Knotty Shoppe, and at Santa Clause House in Norh Pole. Yes, there is a North Pole, Alaska.

We spent the night on the floor of Faith Baptist Church. Rising at 4:30 Sat morning we loaded the vehicles and traveled to Denali National Park. the above picture is of the team and Texans as we wait for the tour bus for an 8 hour tour of Denali. My next blog will be of Denali.