KODIAC ISLAND

KODIAC ISLAND

Yesterday after I finished the blog, we watched the ship being loaded with provisions from our verandah. Case after case of mangoes, pineapples, papayas, oranges, carrots, soft drinks, eggs were some of the few items we watched being loaded. Doesn't look like we'll be running out of food.
And, our extra large size parkas arrived. We can wear something underneath them and zip them up. Hurrah! For some reason, the hoods on these ones are huge. Today, they were joined by touques.
We did go down for dinner and found that while we were seated at the same table, our other dinner companions had been moved to different tables. We met Phil and Hugh, a couple from Vancouver, and an ancient gentleman named Rick. There are still three empty spaces at the table so maybe tonight we'll meet them.
Our dreary weather was back with a vengeance this morning and this time accompanied by a driving rain. The one benefit of this was that someone turned in their ticket for the Fort Abercrombie Nature Walk and Norma could come with me. We bundled up into our rain gear and boots and headed out in a tiny yellow school bus. Our guide, a young, home-schooled charmer and one of eleven children, shared information about Kodiac's past natural disasters that included a volcanic eruption, and earthquake and resulting tsunami, and pointing out landmarks such as the Safeway, KFC, Subway, and Walmart in addition to the oldest Russian building in the USA.
 Despite the rain - which they hadn't seen in weeks - the park was stunning. Thick moss clung to the trunks of the Spruce trees (the only variety to grow on the island) and on the limbs with no needles giving the whole forest a surreal quality. We felt we were in an enchanted forest as the tree limbs twisted in ungainly ways. My pictures don't do it justice. The rain wasn't too bad until we reached an exposed hilltop where a small military museum was located. Here the rain was horizontal blown by the blustery winds. The museum showed the history of Kodiac Island's involvement in WWII. One of the artifacts was an Olympia typewriter, exactly the same model as the ones I used to teach typing when I started teaching. Don't even ask how old that made me feel.
We returned to the trail through the forest and alongside a fresh water lake admiring the various colourful fungi. I did see a black-capped chickadee. Those little birds are widespread.
After lunch, we both enjoyed a nap. We have nothing until dinner. Tomorrow is another sea day as we sail to Dutch Harbour where I have organized a private birding expedition. Sea birds aren't all that easy to identify unless they get close to the ship.