WooHoo, Jamin!

Some things in life require a lengthy interview process. Some goals take a long time to reach....such as entering the Air Force Chaplain's corp....or entering the MARINES.

Step one was passing some tests.

Step two was a physical and various records. 

Step three was a PT test....Jamin broke the record on the running portion...at this point we realized he was probably going to be selected. 😉 He worked on the pull-up portion.

Somewhere along the line he had leaped over several hurdles and was sworn in to the Marine Corp - but not really. He took an oath and then had to take another PT test and then his name/package was submitted to a board which would look at all who qualified and determine whom they wanted to move to the next level of the "interview." 

We were all taken aback at how fast this moved - and none of us were there for this part.....he graduated from A & M and took this oath the same day. 

Oath one in College Station 

 Then he waited. The next board was 20 July. The Officer Candidate School he would qualify for would start in September. In the other branches you enter the Officer Training - already an officer - and unless you wash out - you're in. In the Marines, OCS is part of the interview process. He isn't really a marine until he passes OCS and is sworn in at graduation. There is a high wash-out rate from OCS - what I'm saying is, it's not a given to be selected or to pass all the phases of the process.  Truly, "The few. The proud."

Today, 24 July, Jamin received word he has been selected to attend the September 2017 Marine Officer Candidate School.  And we were with him.....He  was told he was one of very few selected from the area. I believe the total number nation-wide is 108.

On the phone with leadership from College Station, TX

 Still on the phone....as we pulled up to the airport, prepared to say goodbye to him, he took notes on all he needs to get for the Marines ASAP. Multi-tasking at it's best.

We are proud of Jamin. He will be in Alaska until 9 September when he will fly to Quantico, VA for Marine Officer Candidate School (OCS).  He hopes to use his graduate degrees and be assigned to something or other in the spooky field.  That's all unknown at this point.

Jamin's Grandpa was a Warrant Officer in the Marines during WW2. As we drove off, Michael and I couldn't help comment on how proud Grandpa would be of Jamin following in his steps.

When you've asked if all the kids are moving to Alaska, we've hedged. Until Jamin received the call yesterday, we weren't sure if he would be staying here or moving elsewhere. It's ironic that the military originally brought us to Alaska.We've all found our way back....except for two the military will call away....Jamin, in the Marines and Krista, in the Air Force. Michael and I will have lots of places to visit Space A as the  years go by!

Well done, Jamin.

Whittier - the day we stopped fishing and began CATCHING!

Skunked!!!! But at least the drive is beautiful from Soldotna to Whittier. 

Nesting

Uchi and family patiently wait while I take photos of mtns and seagulls

We've been asked repeatedly up here, if we were "fishing or catching?" Aha - anyone can come fishing up here - but we wanted to be Alaskan Catchers. This goal kept us moving.

To get to Whittier you must drive through North America's longest Vehicle Railroad tunnel - the Whittier Tunnel. For our 38Ft RV/motorhome it was $22 for a round trip ticket.

Next, began the hunt for a spot to park while we fished....Josiah was going home Saturday night, but we planned to sleep over. There are no Fred Myers, Walmarts or Cabellas nearby to boondock. We heard there was a spot up Portage Glacier Road, but we didn't want to take the time to scout it out.  My RV parky ap showed, "Whittier Parking and Camping," to be our only option. It turns out this used to be Creekside Campground. There are some great sites along the creek, which we'll try to score if we stay here again. This is dry camping - $20 a night.  The site wasn't level. It was shaded...and the view was of a mountain waterfall. All in all a win! 

Through my buggy windshield 

Looking down from the campgorund

 While we set up, Josiah went to find a local to glean advice. He struck up a camaraderie with her....they are both from large families. He told her he really wanted to make sure his baby sister caught her first Alaskan Salmon and asked for suggestions of spots. She rattled off a few. He then asked about these being easy for Michael to get into....she caved and gave him the two sites locals like to fish - which I will not publish here. See? I'm becoming a fisherman. 

This was it! Josiah had the afternoon left with us. They all headed out to fish. Yuuki and I set up the inside of Uchi and went out exploring. There wasn't room in Josiah's car for all of us to fit and the fishing hole wasn't in walking distance.  It turns out Josiah texted and offered to come get me, but by that time I was enjoying an Alaskan hike along a river and didn't hear the text.

My first Alaskan hike - some mountain behind Whittier 

It was beautiful. No, I wasn't alone, I had Yuuki. Her collar makes lots of noise and I talked aloud so we were fine. I had a great time and plan to do more of this. I meandered along and had no purpose other than enjoyment. Self-care is not selfish!

Fireweed

 I decided right here, on this hike, I AM planting raspberries in the rear of our property - see if they'll take over the Devil's Club.

Ice water on hot feet...perfect

 Yuuki and I turned our sights on the town of Whittier. A word about Whittier - it's small. It was built by the Army and many of the buildings are still in use around town. I found the history interesting.

Whittier is also a stop on the Alaskan Marine Hwy, as well as jumping off point for Princess Cruises. Many fishing and glacier cruises leave from Whittier.

There is a pedestrian tunnel which takes one from the residential side of town to the touristy/marine side of Whittier. We all walked it Sunday morning before heading back to Anchorage. 

BUT BEFORE THAT - the kids and Josiah and Michael were fishing! They did great at the local fishing hole. It's certainly a pretty place to spend an afternoon.

Nolan

Nolan! 

It wasn't long after they left that I got this video.  Stacia in the foreground, and Alex is catching his first in the background. He's much less expressive. 

Followed by this photo - Stacia landed her first salmon! 

Such JOY! So glad she didn't give up! 

Then she had two! 

 The boys did great too! 

First Alaska Salmons

At this point there were eight caught salmon - but as Josiah and Michal processed them - they brought in four more. 

Michael, Alex, Nolan, Stacia

Josiah devoted his afternoon to making sure Stacia got a fish....he did a lot of instructing and helping and managed to catch one salmon too. Michael caught two. Nolan and Alex each got three and Stacia got four.  Josiah weighed it before putting it in the freezer - 35 lbs of salmon - edible salmon minus the bones, heads and guts.

This is the day they went from Alaska fishing to Alaska CATCHING! 

Soldotna Sports Center

We've been in Alaska month! What a great way to celebrate.

The Fish and Game Warden told us to go to the Soldotna Sports Center. We would be able to park Uchi here, and there was a boardwalk down to the Lower Kenai river.  The fish will hit this spot BEFORE they hit the Russian.  There is a Centennial Campground, run by the city,  next to the sport's center - $26 a night; dry camping. We checked it out - but the campers in the overflow were so close together it looked miserable.  These young men were impressed with Uchi, "Nice rig!"  Note the disaster about to happen in front of us.

We went back to the Soldotna Sports Center.  RV's, tents, trailer were setting up all over. It's a friendly culture.  It's paved - and level.  it is also dry camping - but much more space. I think it was $21 a night; $8 for day use.

Must buy a dip net before next year

Many were dip-netting. Residents are allowed to this at the mouth of the Kenai. We explained we are "2nd class residents." We've been residents since 2013, but as we just retired from the military, we've not lived here 12 consecutive months. Therefore, we have to buy non-resident licences and are not allowed to dip net.  Next year.  We found a spot and claimed it....I made some dinner, Josiah met up with us....we were feeling hopeful.

Friends coming together parked in these formations - creating an inner "courtyard."  I guess the urge to fish hit in the midst of a move????? In reality, the U-haul was full of fishing gear.

Uchi and Cy's car

Walk around behind the building for a self-pay kiosk. 

The warnings made it a bit hard to relax and take care of business. 

After dinner the guys headed to the river. No ferries to pay. A beautiful boardwalk down to the river. Stacia was done with fishing and opted to hang out with Yuuki and I. We went for a nice walk and came back to Uchi to read and visit.

She's gotten much more relaxed since our arrival a month ago!

Josiah 

Nolan

Michael, Alex, Nolan and Josiah 

The Boardwalk 

We saw several hauling their limits out of the river. However, within 20 minutes of the guys dropping a line, all were saying there was NOTHING. They didn't get a bite.

Josiah and Michael hit the river by 0500 the next morning, Saturday.   Around 0830 they called it quits. Neither had gotten one bite, no one else down there had either.

We decided to pull up chalks and head for Whittier. Jared and friends had gotten quite a few Pinks (Humpies) there last weekend. At this point we simply wanted the younger three to catch a salmon before they lost all interest in this Alaskan sport.  Jared and friends were in a boat - but we were hopeful.

This will be a spot to revisit and explore more when we hear the Reds are RUNNING.