Well I am glad you asked! Dave went up to Alaska, where he is on a working vacation. He is cooking at a lodge up there in exchange for room, board, and apparently 200 pounds of fish (of course he has to catch the fish).

So - below is a chat between Dave and Shane from earlier today. For reference, Dave encountered a black bear while walking through the woods.

12:43 PM Dave: Just finished with morning kitchen duty. Are you still there?
12:47 PM me: yeah whats’ up?
12:48 PM Dave: Just changing clothes.
me: Enjoyed the email. Sounds like fun
Dave: Getting ready to go out on the boat for 3 or 4 hours. Trying for halibut today for first time.
12:49 PM me : Catch a lot/ I am starving
No bears on the ocean, that should be a plus
Dave : Weather up here is freaking brutal.
me: How so?
12:50 PM Dave: Look on the map at Juneau. Look for Icy Straits to the northwest of Juneau. Then look for Pleasant Island. We are just across the channel from Pleasant Island.
me: Quit being a sissy
Dave: Complete different location from where I thought we would be.
12:51 PM me: It can’t be that bad, it is like 85 degrees here
Are they catching a lot of halibut?
Dave: 42 here right now - fog and rain.
me: That is childs play
12:52 PM It just occurred to me, you probably only brought your sandals and forgot your socks, right?
Dave: I know. Its not that bad with t-shirt, sweatshirt, coat and rain gear on.
Blew out my sandals at the eskimo rap bar I went to in Juneau.
12:53 PM Left only with my kitchen shoes I brought with me.
me: I have to hear about that place. Very interested, and still struggling to wrap my mind around the phrase “Eskimo rap bar”.
12:54 PM Dave : I’m not *messing* (edited) with you. Full of Aleutian Indians and 3 guys onstage doing a live rap act.
me: I cannot understand those words in that particular order.
I can picture you hanging out with Eskimos though

I was going to stick a doppler map in here, but the maps on the the Weather Channel’s Website are about as stable as an Elizabeth Taylor marriage (or one of mine for that matter!!). You can go check out the weather in Juneau though, if you are so inclined.

Thanks for the update on the trip Dave!