ON THE ROAD AGAIN
A friend of ours heard about our "journey of faith, fisher, forests, family, friends and fun" and suggested we set up a Blog. A what? So here we are....on the road again with Bocahontas and Buba. Blessed with the freedom of time, we were inspired by two of our favorite causes. So we organized a road trip to Alaska which should not only be fun but also an opportunity to spread the good word about The Fisher Houses , The Orthodox Christian Mission Center/Programs and some of our National Parks. We are participating in a 2 week Mission in Tyonek, Alaska with the OCMC group in June. Feel free to check out the planned trip on the calendar link. Caribou Cabins? Blue Moose? Tundra Lodge? and our soon to be "favorite" Motel 6. Any and all suggestions, prayers and good karma are welcome and very much appreciated....poor Buba, in a car with Pam for 5 months. Lions, and tigers and bears oh my! Toggle down to the calendar and see where we are over the next months. We ask for your prayers.
Grab yourself a cold one and come along for the ride. Enjoy and laugh along with us viewing the daily blogs which are archived on the left side of this page in chronological order. We started April 22- Happy Trails!
The Fisher House
The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The Fisher House Foundation, through the kindness of donations received, provides "comfort homes" that are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable America's military families to be together during extended treatment for serious illness or lengthy physical sessions....very much like the Ronald McDonald homes for families of children in a similar situation. We were first introduced to Fisher House while visiting Brooke Army Medical Center (Burn Center) in San Antonio. We were so moved by the dedication and love of the staff and volunteers that we returned for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Currently there are 44 Fisher Houses (more in the works) and our goal is to visit all of them and spread the good word to family and friends. Please feel free to peruse their website for a detailed explanation about the Fisher House Foundation and programs. Perhaps you will be inspired by the work this group does on behalf of our Armed Forces.
Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is the official foreign mission agency of all the Orthodox Jurisdictions (i.e. Greek, Russian, Serb etc.) The goal of the OCMC is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ where it presently does not exist and to establish vibrant Orthodox Eucharistic Communities throughout the world. We have had the privilege and pleasure to admire the work of this organization (headquarters located in St. Augustine, Florida) for years and now that we are retired we have the blessing to participate. We are on the road to Alaska to join a Mission Team in Tyonek for a couple weeks to do some construction and teaching in an Athabascan Indian Village. "If I had a hammer"...you'll be happy to know I deep sixed the acrylic nails in anticipation of caulking and painting. :) Please take a peek at the OCMC web site for details on all of the programs they are involved with throughout the world. And do stop in to see Father Martin and his kind and loving staff when you are in St. Augustine! We will also be visiting family, friends and Orthodox Churches while on the road to share the marvelous work of the OCMC.
National Parks
Most people know that the National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. The treasures in this system – the first of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share, the legacies of this land.
People from all around the world visit national parks to experience America's story, marvel at the natural wonders, and have fun. Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg are popular destinations, but so too are the hundreds of lesser known yet equally meaningful gems like Rosie the Riveter in California, Boston Harbor Islands in Massachusetts, and Russell Cave in Alabama.
The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. The park service actively consults with these Nations, sharing what we've learned, and gaining knowledge from the experience of others.
Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. Grants and assistance are offered to register, record and save historic places; create community parks and local recreation facilities; conserve rivers and streams, and develop trails and greenways.
We hope to see you soon in a national park and invite you to explore the ways we can help you preserve what’s important in your hometown.
ALASKA IS LARGER THAN LIFE
The higher the latitude, the higher the return-to quote one of our favorite Florida boys "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude" nothing remains quite the same-if we didn't laugh we'd all go insane! Yes, that's Buba and Pleep with the local "art". This has got to be the mother lode of the National Park system....we are talking over 13,188,000 acres/established in 1980. It is six times the size of Yellowstone. Incredible. Numbers and scale loom large here. Combine this with it's next door neighbor Canada's
Kluane and US Glacier Bay National Park yielding a World Heritage Site of 24 million acres. Try to wrap your head around that number. Hello North America's Mountain Kingdom! The largest "assemblage" of glaciers and peaks. One
glacier (the
Malaspina) is larger than the state of Rhode Island-hello Joe! Ha, and you made fun of SP? Step right up rugged wilderness out here. There are 2 roads in...I use the term
loosely as in gravel
loosely," be sure to bring your spare and a jack" they warned us. Buba ,whats a JACK? I thought we had Triple AAA or AARP? Is this what my son and Scott Peck meant about The Road Less Traveled? We are getting used to the signs "End of Maintained Road".
If you want solitude then this is the place for you. Rugged wilderness will test your "manly" skills. Many of the residents engage in "
subsistence hunting and fishing". Can you i
magine the
type of person who lives in this neck of the woods (and even a few live in the park)? We watched
the fishermen fish
the sockeye salmon with their fishing wheels. Their what? Yes, the wheel looks like a little
Ferris wheel which scoops up the salmon. It's a total pecking order of
testosterone on who's wheel goes where and when. Those of you who are salmon fans...we had some delicious wild salmon tonight.
MMMMM. No more Costco Salmon for me
Buba.
I found some local bo
ys who helped me get my computer, camera and black berry in sync. They attend THE
high school...150 students. So I asked what do they do for fun and they said we have a band "So Much For Silence". Ain't that the truth for a teenage boy in the wilderness these days. Good luck guys and thanks for the help. Looking forward to hearing you on the airwaves!
Buba is also enjoying meeting the his kind of local boys...birds of a feather in so many ways. Politically, hunters, leave me alone, Ford pick up drivin, gun totin and no BO supporters in the bunch...so far. He really loves the no state income tax and no sales tax motto as well. While the motels are not cheap out here, there are not 3 additional taxes on the room. No tax! Although Anchorage may not be that tax free???....oh we did see a coyote and a Caribou today! Buba went to bed with a smile on his kisser, at The Caribou Motel. Who could make that up?
The higher the latitude, the higher the return-to quote one of our favorite Florida boys "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude" nothing remains quite the same-if we didn't laugh we'd all go insane! Yes, that's Buba and Pleep with the local "art". This has got to be the mother lode of the National Park system....we are talking over 13,188,000 acres/established in 1980. It is six times the size of Yellowstone. Incredible. Numbers and scale loom large here. Combine this with it's next door neighbor Canada's Kluane and US Glacier Bay National Park yielding a World Heritage Site of 24 million acres. Try to wrap your head around that number. Hello North America's Mountain Kingdom! The largest "assemblage" of glaciers and peaks. One glacier (the Malaspina) is larger than the state of Rhode Island-hello Joe! Ha, and you made fun of SP? Step right up rugged wilderness out here. There are 2 roads in...I use the term loosely as in gravel loosely," be sure to bring your spare and a jack" they warned us. Buba ,whats a JACK? I thought we had Triple AAA or AARP? Is this what my son and Scott Peck meant about The Road Less Traveled? We are getting used to the signs "End of Maintained Road". 
magine the type of person who lives in this neck of the woods (and even a few live in the park)? We watched the fishermen fish the sockeye salmon with their fishing wheels. Their what? Yes, the wheel looks like a little Ferris wheel which scoops up the salmon. It's a total pecking order of testosterone on who's wheel goes where and when. Those of you who are salmon fans...we had some delicious wild salmon tonight. MMMMM. No more Costco Salmon for me Buba.
ys who helped me get my computer, camera and black berry in sync. They attend THE high school...150 students. So I asked what do they do for fun and they said we have a band "So Much For Silence". Ain't that the truth for a teenage boy in the wilderness these days. Good luck guys and thanks for the help. Looking forward to hearing you on the airwaves!
