Whenever I need a moment, I drive to a tiny overlook in the west side of Craig. There is room for two cars, but more often than not I have the space to myself. One of my favorite things about Craig is how small it is: I can drive to this spot, almost all the way across town, in less than five minutes. And I can see the edge of my world, because beyond the barrier islands is the open Pacific, next stop Japan.
Speaking of Japan, I am reminded of the 2011 tsunami that hit them so very hard, and how much of their wreckage washed up on our shores a few months later. A fifth-grade student discovered a basketball, and her class found enough identifying information on it that they were able to send it home and make some cross-cultural friends in the bargain.
On sunny days, I can see St. John (right foreground) and surrounding smaller islands, fishing boats, charter boats, skiffs, whales (sometimes), sea lions, seals, seagulls, ravens. . .and I notice how the fireweed blossoms are quietly scaling their summertime ladders, keeping a perfect record of the passage of the season. On stormy days I look out at the mist, and listen to the rain and the surf, and I know that those islands and those creatures haven’t gone anywhere, and the boats are safe at home.
Thank you for this post. It brought back memories of my first encounter with fireweed. I recently had a small watercolor I painted during that time framed. With luck I will soon be able to post it.
I have always loved fireweed. Let me know when and where you post your painting.
!
So beautiful and peaceful!
Hi Helen! It really is a beautiful spot.
I don’t think I realized Craig had open Pacific right there… foolish question – do you get surfers a la Yakutat? (https://www.icywaves.com/). Stay well and keep writing!
No, no surfers, but I’m ok with that. Thanks for signing up!
I’ll follow!
I tried again
Looks like you are in!
Fireweed graceful in the cloudlight/Framing the glacier beyond/Whose dark blue crevasses scorn at time/And yet there is a bond
That is beautiful!
Thank you, I wrote it during my short stay in Anchorage.
In 1979
Thanks for prompting my subscribing, Evelyn, as I dearly love reading your blog!
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