Magic Moments - Adventures of Glen and Liz: July 18

July 18 – Day 77 Juneau to Taku

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE!

Shawn comes in today to join us for this next leg of the trip. Nicole can't make a trip north this summer due to her work schedule and she will be having knee surgery later this week.

Nicole on her birthday in 2008 – enjoying Alaska

Shawn's flight got in at 9:30 am and we picked him up in our rental U-Haul. His comment was that he had not brought that much luggage. We then went for a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier. We saw the glacier but it was raining so we did not stay long. We made our way back to Auke Bay and the boat, fueled and prepared to head out.

Shawn with Mendenhall

Pete and Linda are flying out later today, so gave them the 'rental' to return on their way to the airport. It was fun having them with us.

New crew/guests include: Magic – our son Shawn, Nelsea – Josh (son) and girlfriend Kimberly, Bidarka – Dave's sister Mary,

Headed to Taku harbor.

There were only a couple boats at the dock, but plenty of room for our three. But there were a ton of fishing boats in the area, so we decided to tie Magic to the dock and raft Nelsea and Bidarka, leaving room for others on the dock.

We went for a walk around the area. The old cannery buildings are now being renovated by a family that has claim to the area, and whose grandfather was Bob Gillam who was the last 'resident' to live here, and a friend of Tiger Olson. Tiger owned and lived in the old house which is near the Forest service rental cabin. Tiger came to work here in 1918 and stayed here until 1976, he was the only full time resident for most of it. The Libby Canary was started in 1903 and closed in 1951.

Tiger Olson's house

Bob Gillam's descendants have put up laminated posters in various areas telling the story of the area from years gone by. Later the man from the house that is being renovated came out to the dock and talked to us about the history and the family. He said that his daughter was very happy that we were stopping and reading the posters that she had put out. He told us about where some landmarks are including an old boat decaying in the woods, and an old cemetery. There were about 500 people living here at the height of the seasons during the Cannery years.

A bit later one of the fishing boats came in and tied to the dock. It was the fisherman that I had met in Auke Bay and spoke to for a while. Later that evening after dinner we had seen him on the Auke Bay dock working on his nets and went down to watch, talk, and learn about his nets and fishing. He said that if he saw us he would bring us some fish. He not only brought the fish but he cleaned and filleted them for us; while we watched and chatted with him. He offered more fish but we declined. A very nice young man. When he was done he simply headed back to his boat and left the bay. So, we are all having salmon for dinner tomorrow night.

Mary deciding which boots to wear – apparently fashion matters

Piling from old Cannery

Josh and Kimberly at Taku --- Brick is from Renton

Another brick – this one from St. Louis

Yard Art

In 2008 I picked up and put pieces of yard art and put them on top of the piling. That tradition has continued, and others have joined in. Many of the old piling have chunks of yard art on top of them now, like a museum display. Someone else started a collection of broken glass and old broken pottery/china pieces all piled up together on the beach.

Old bricks have also been gathered and stacked for display. Back in the day the brick makers had their company name imprinted in the brick. So it's interesting to see where the brick came from. We've seen RENTON, and ST LOUIS on brick as well a several other names.