A MUCH SIMPLER EXISTENCE

Life in the slow lane...The countryside outside of fishing town of Cordova is quiet with lots of wildlife. Especially at this time of year when the Salmon are still spawning.

The bears are plentiful. We have spotted quite a few grizzlys catching fish and patroling the area. They are massive yet quite majestic as they roam along the streams looking to pounce on their next meal. We make sure we keep enough distance as if they decided to charge we'd be up s**t creek. Even though Sue brings along her pepper spray we know that a shotgun like the one's she and her coworkers carry while out in the field with the Forest Service would be a safer bet.

On a hike today we knew we were in prime Bear territiry as all the signs were evident. As we descended the ridge on our return from our hike, we ran into a man out walking his dog who told us his dog had chased down a bear, so we now knew we'd better be aware. Sure enough the dog darted out and we heard loud barking only to see a huge brown bear across the creek standing on his haunches looking not to amused. Although we were a ways across on the trail, my knowlege of their speed and power made me not want to stick around and wait. We kept going. Then the darn dog starts barking again and another "brownie" darts across the trail and up the hill into the bushes....Oh jeeze, that dog is starting to get on my nerves. Nonetheless we keep a "not-so-surprisingly faster pace back to the road......Hey after all we are in THEIR territory, it's best to lay low.

I will bid farewell to Cordova as tomorrow we take Ferry (4 hours) journey along the Prince William Sound to The Big City of Anchorage. The city girl in me is ready to step up this super slow pace....