'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Alaska in the spring


Brown lemming, Alaska.

For some reason recently I've been dreaming of visiting Alaska.

Perhaps it's because the New Zealand Godwits are on their way there at the moment.

Perhaps it's because I love sitting in the alpine gardens high up on our own mountains in New Zealand, but it's been ages since I did that.

Perhaps it's the visual treat (stolen from books and the internet) of all the different coloured berries in Alaskan lowland tundra.

Perhaps it's because I've been ill/ convalescing for more than 2 weeks and now I'm definitely On The Mend, and feeling like Getting Out.

Or perhaps it's because I've just entered the "Bundaberg Ginger Beer Win $20,000 For Your Own Refreshingly Different Adventure" competition, for which I composed an inspired piece of writing telling them why I should be the winner of a trip to Alaska.


16 comments:

  1. Sistertex30.3.10

    oh - how cute! You know I have always wanted to go to Alaska too. So glad to hear you are on the mend! Your writing is great...go for it! Hope you win that $20,000!

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  2. Yorkshire Pudding30.3.10

    Well I hope you win your $20,000 dollars worth of ginger beer. That's a lot of unladylike burping!

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  3. Kate30.3.10

    Ha ha YP. No worse than a whole lot of Teltley's burps! Actually, I LOVE Bundaberg ginger beer. Burps and all.

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  4. Kate30.3.10

    Sp. Tetley's

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  5. Alden Smith30.3.10

    There is a wonderful kayak trip that can be done from Olympia Washington up to Glacier Bay in Alaska. You paddle up through the inland waterways and islands, I have a good book about it by Robert Miller called "Kayaking the Inside Passage" - it sounds like a wonderful way of getting to know Alaska - so long as you can sleep at night in your tent without worrying about BEARS!

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  6. kate i30.3.10

    I didn't realize that lemmings were so cute! I've never lived in Alaska but I did live on the edge of a glacier for 2 years, where I had to drive through Alaska to get to my mountain top home just across the border in Canada. It's a wild, beautiful and unique part of the world!

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  7. Beau30.3.10

    I hope you are on the mend, and that you win the trip to Alaska! I've never been... and have always dreamed of a trek salmon fishing and packing in the hills. Then again, I've always dreamed of traveling to New Zealand... :)

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  8. Kate30.3.10

    Ah Alden. What an interesting idea. Now, how do I fold up my kayak to get in on the 'plane.... ?

    Kate. Yes, they are cute-looking. But there are so many cute little mammals in Alaska; Voles, shrews, even ground-squirrels, possibly, it's VERY easy to get them muddled.

    Beau. Thank you for your kind thoughts. I'll get to Alaska one day, but it would be nice to WIN the trip!
    Can you start saving for NZ?

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  9. Kate30.3.10

    Oh thank you for your kind words too Sistertex. I must have had a good sleep that day, because I did put my case well, if I say so myself!

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  10. GB30.3.10

    I'm glad you are mending well. I hope you'll soon be back in one piece.

    I wish you luck with your Alaskan aspirations.

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  11. Don't Bug Me!30.3.10

    Ooooooh, I am giong there this summer with my Mum - 6 days in Denali and then 3 days in Katmai National Park to see the grizzlies fishing for salmon. Hopefully I can get some good photos for my blog.
    Hope you feel well again soon!

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  12. Kate30.3.10

    Thank you GB.

    Thanks Bugsy! I shall look forward to your pikkies. 'Hopefully' - my goodness, that's a taken, surely. Your photography, c'est manifique ma cherie!

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  13. Alden Smith30.3.10

    What you do Katherine is buy yourself one of several brands of very good folding kayaks. There is a folding kayak made here in NZ. There is one brand, the 'Kleeper' kayak which is the Rolls Royce of folding kayaks. The travel writer Paul Theroux used one to visit by aeorplane and then paddle around every main island group from New Guinea to Tahiti - He wrote a book about his experiences called "The Happy Isles of Oceania" So instead of folding your washing, fold a kayak into a bag and get paddling in Alaska.

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  14. Kate31.3.10

    What a good thought Alden. The German Klepper Kayak - wow, it looks great! And very comfortable too!

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  15. Anil P31.3.10

    I've heard much about the icy climes of Alaska. And coming from a tropical country there's much for me to be apprehensive about Alaska.

    But maybe it's not that intimidating after all. I wish you win your adventure.

    Nice to know you've recovered. Never easy to a notch down, more so with the spring on the horizon.

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  16. Kate31.3.10

    Oh Anil - I am a woos in the cold. But I would bundle up with lots of layers and I suspect I'd be so delighted by all the evidence of bursting spring-y-ness I would forget the temperature.

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