July 1st

I left our site early to cut brush at a few sites just South of Nemo Point. I let Jack sleep because we only have one machine and because he's a teen and it's summer break. I also think he needs it.

I returned to the site just before noon. Jack and I had lunch and then headed to the Eastern side of the island. Wrangell's piece of the Tongass National Forest is accessible via a road system the starts at the end of Zimovia Highway (a bumpy two lane blacktopped road) roughly 16 miles from the city's center. By the way, the Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States AND is the largest temperate rain forest on earth. Fascinating!

Jack and I finished our rounds and them headed immediately to town. I needed to hit the grocery store and both of them close at five o'clock sharp. I also wanted to do a load of laundry as we are both completely out of clean clothes. We also stopped by the ranger office to finalize plans for the fourth of July parade. The Forest Service prepares a float for the parade and Smoky Bear always makes an appearance. Jack got the call to be Smokey this year - he's excited and has been well briefed on accepted and expected behavior while in costume.

While the laundry spun, Jack swam and I ran along the waterfront. Back at camp, I made a fire and grilled a pork loin. We both hit the hay early.