Why come up with a new name every year when this one fits so well.
Yes, once again we are home from another amazing adventure to Chickenstock (a bluegrass festival held in Chicken, AK) and visiting our bush living friends outside of Eagle, AK. Wayne and Scarlet Hall of Bush Alaska Expeditions are so much fun and I am glad they are my friends.
It’s a 6-7 hour drive to Chicken, but when the view is as beautiful as this, I don’t mind.
When we got there we saw that the “Big Ass Chicken” had been moved to the top of the hill. Cool. It made a really interesting silhouette in the evening sky.
Of course, the stage is always interesting.
Hurricane Dave is always a favorite.
Dry Cabin String Band with an awesome fiddler, Rachel DeTemple.
Since we were camping on the grassy hilltop we had to do our cooking around the Rust Princess. That’s ok though, it’s very handy.
I was so glad that my friend Laurie came for Friday’s festivities. I had to slap some henna on her.
While I was at it, another table mate got a simple little flower.
And here is the infamous Chicken Dance. They did it several times so we all got a chance to film it as well as dance it.
Deviled Egg!
Chicken Leg Contest (yes it was hilarious)!
And this wasn’t even the winner!
I love all the colors of tents up on the hill with the Big Ass Chicken.
Yes I had a lit Christmas tree at our tent. Don’t ask me why. In Chicken you can be as funky as you want to be.
The days were sunny bright and hot. We had a torrential downpour about 20 miles before getting to Chicken. It was coming down so hard I had to pull over. But it only lasted about 15 minutes and from then on it was sun. Needless to say we got a bit lobsterized. Walking around “town” we finally found some sunscreen. We don’t normally have any because we normally don’t need any. But I was proud to pay the $20 for one of the last three 16 oz bottles in town.
We stopped on top of American Summit and I just played everything I could remember. It was an awesome feeling.
I found it is a bit more difficult to play when it’s windy.
After 100 mile drive between Chicken and Eagle that takes 3 hours, Wayne and Scarlett pick us up on the river. Another friend also came to visit.
Catherine takes a little rest on some lumber for a new cabin being brought home.
Jordan stayed with friends this year. There’s a lot to be said about quality family time but I dare say, if I had forced him to come, there would have been little quality to our time. Eh, 13 year old boys… Olivia and I had a lot of good quality time though..
Wayne
Fish wheels used to catch salmon.
Boat parking spot.
Sweet spot view of the Yukon River from Wayne and Scarlett’s house. This is the most peaceful, gorgeous view.
And here’s a video of it. The sounds of the breeze shushing through the trees and the creek burbling below help but yet simply can not fully convey the peace I feel in this spot.
Ahhh, good friends, good food, even good wine.
Another trip to town to drop off Catherine and pick up more lumber for the cabin.
Ducks
Eagle Bluff. There is an American flag flying from the top as well as a cross. I asked if there was someone specific who put those up there and was told it was mostly teenagers who go up there. Cool.
They showed us the bald eagle’s nest that has little ones in it. Scarlett had told me about the eagle pair they used to watch but when the big flood of the area occurred in 2009, the nesting tree was wiped out along with all trees along the river in the area. They have kept their eyes open for the eagles to come back and this year they found the new nest. That makes me happy.
Here’s a short video of the Taylor Highway. Most of it is not marked with handy orange cones!
On our way home we had to stop by the 40 Mile River which is where I want to retire to when the time comes.
Crossroads. These are certainly some of the “Roads less Traveled”.
Home again, home again, jiggity jog. Now on to Summer Solstice!
Alaska, The Madness 