A stronger antenna for internet was put on the house Thursday. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

October 19, 2012 – Friday

43 degrees

Pentoga Road

Somehow, knowing it’s gray and damp outside allows one license to linger in bed a bit longer than usual. Sargie’s not working today, so I was in no hurry to get out of bed.

The boys from the internet provider pulled into the drive on Thursday morning. I guess all my complaining finally spurred them to action, although I have to admit, the company has been good about responding. I now have a super duper antenna on my roof, one that makes the internet connection lightening fast. I was downloading a file last night and had to strap myself into the recliner to keep from being blown out of my seat.

Okay, that was a complete fabrication, but it is fast, it simply quits working for an hour here, two there. Maybe this will solve the problem.

I took my five-mile hike between rain showers and happened into a man who is from Alaska, but owns a small farm and vacation home around the corner. He knows brother Elmer and is very familiar with where my cabin is on the lower Noatak River. In fact, we know many of the same people in the arctic.

Wild stories were traded for well over an hour. A retired game warden, he’s been a contractor for several years and about ready to retire permanently. The man’s a typical Alaskan… a super nice guy.

What are the chances that two Alaskans originally from a tiny spot in the arctic would end up living a mile from each other along the same remote road? What’s more odd is that we both bought homes in the UP. Mine happens to be permanent, his, he enjoys for two or three months a year.

That says a lot for the UP… a place where Alaskans come to play in the woods and on the water. I often think of the UP as Alaska Light.

 I worked on mink and muskrat boxes during the afternoon hours and became so darn frustrated that I finally quit and came inside. I think I see the line on which to cut and there ends up not being one at all. I simply need to slow down and take my time. Patience is something I’ve never possessed too much of, but I’m learning.

Of course, it’s my fault. I dislike using a Sharpie marker for intricate work, so I make my marks with a pencil that simply isn’t dark enough. I think when we come through Iron Mountain today, I’ll stop and purchase some fine-tip Sharpies and see if they won’t work better.

Bait and lure is placed in the back. The sticks are used to stabilize the trap. The mink enters the front, hitting the trigger (upside down V in the middle) and the rest is history.

Sargie closed last night and was late getting home. We dined on hot popcorn in front of the television. Since she didn’t have to work today, we were in no hurry to go to bed. It was a relaxing evening.

I’m going to check the traps after I upload this then we’ll head over to Sargie’s old house to begin cleaning. I hope we can get that all done this weekend. It’s been a process.

I think we’ll stop at the Chinese restaurant in Iron Mountain on our way home and enjoy the buffet. The food is pretty good and there’s always lot of it.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…