Still Summer

Each day that Fairbanks has another 80+ degree day I breathe deep in wonderment. Yet there is also a kernel of reality sitting in the bottom of my stomach, knowing this can't last. While it's here though, I'm doing my best to enjoy every second.

Yesterday was a perfect float day. Blair, Mark, Copper and I floated part of the Pile Driver Slough just south of North Pole.

Kayaking, Kayaking, Kayaking

After a winter that would never end, summer has finally arrived in Fairbanks. Up until three weeks ago there was still ice on the lakes!

Feel Again

When I see this:

I want to sing this:

Today it was light at 4:00 and I saw Denali. Good day. 

Winter Solstice!

It's finally here. Winter Solstice. A very exciting day in Fairbanks. The shortest day of the year. From here we can only go up: more daylight, more sun. Oh yes, please, more sun! It's only been in the past two weeks that I've felt the oppressiveness of the dark, and I am over it. I've been popping Vitamin D like candy. 

I'm off work for a few weeks now and find myself with a lot of time on my hands. It's been too cold for snowshoeing or skiing. Heck, it's even been too cold to snow! I spend the morning with the paper, my coffee and Happy Light: 

Notice that it's pitch black outside. This was at 9:00am.

Summer Pictorial Review

My observation that Fairbanks summer weather wasn't "all that' has been substantiated. Today's News Miner reported that the average temperature in Fairbanks this summer was 59.5 degrees. We had 5 days of 80 degree weather -- far off the average of 11 days.

Yesterday was Labor Day; summer is officially over. Here's summer in pictures:

Start of summer -- Hiking Angel Rocks

Plentiful Sunshine

I noticed today that The Weather Channel describes Fairbanks weather not only as "bitterly cold" but also as having "plentiful sunshine". Interesting.

Bring It

My patience has worn thin. I'm cold and I want sun: cornea burning, blister forming, melanoma giving, burn the soles of your feet walking across hot sand, fry an egg on the sidewalk, bright, hot sun.

Not this dim-watted, low-energy equivalent of a CF light bulb that turns on at 4:30am, acting as if it's on a dimmer switch all day, sliding into the off position at 11:00pm. When the sun sets I want to be able to heave a sigh and feel the relief that comes from having a few hours of coolness in contrast to the heat of the day.

Oh sure, it *looks* like a big ball of fire.