just can't put a title to this one.

ok so since I was home visiting Texas a lot has happened.

1. I went to Arkansas to visit my Grandmother for 3 days.

2. I played with a wolf-dog pup.
3. I got stranded in San Francisco.
4. I saw a ton of sea lions at Elephant rock.
5. I hiked into Tennessee  Valley
6. Saw a big tree.

EXPLANATIONS:



Whenever we go we stay with my my grandmother at her house.  I always enjoy staying there since she lives in such a neat area in the country.  There are some horses that my mom loved feeding carrots.  They soon recognized her whenever she drove by.

ARKANSAS

ALASKA

   





ARKANSAS

                ALASKA

 once I returned back to texas for my last few days there before I went back to Alaska; I found out that there was a Wolf Sanctuary that was only 45 minutes from my house.  So of course I immediately called them asking if they could squeeze me in for a tour.  It turns out that their manager worked in Alaska for 3 years at the Anchorage zoo!

She was even fostering a 3 month old wolf-dog (1/4 wolf 3/4 dog) that she is currently finding a home for at a facility.  Having a wolf-dog is illegal in most areas if it is a quarter wolf or more generally.  In order to have one there are special permits needed.  In other words, any person can not go out and just get a wolf-dog.  It is not the same as a pet dog; nor should be treated as one.

Although this may look just like a regular puppy it may develop more phenotypic traits of a wolf-dog later on.  For example, wolves are much more slender naturally than dogs.  They have rather large ears and paws.  Their faces are much more sleek generally.  Overall their diet is much more complex.  I am still learning my wolf facts so I don't want to go into more detail and give wrong information.

His name is Monster.

Terrifying I know.



TEXAS

ALASKA





So the stranded part comes into play now.  Well as I was on my way from Texas to San Francisco for the first half of my journey back up north; my plane from San Francisco to anchorage was canceled because of the weather in the east coast.  this not only upset the plane I was on but whole load of other routes as well.  Next thing I know the gate agent is telling me the next available flight out of San francisco is January 9th!  I will admit I panicked a bit (not as much as my mom) but Facebook came to the rescue.  I posted my situation on face book and immediately received lots of feed back on suggestions and offers.  One of my newest friends, Mary Maddux, immediately came to my rescue.  I met her this last summer in Alaska when she and her family helped volunteer multiple occasions.   i was so blessed to have a great friend to my rescue.

This morning we went to breakfast and afterward walked down by the bay area.  The herring just happened to be running and the sea lions where going crazy!  We saw about a group of 7 that constantly stayed together when hunting.





Elephant Rock was just a place that you could fish and that's where we were hanging out watching these sea lions.  i even saw about 7 pelicans fly by as well.

Ok now onto the hiking part.  The weather couldn't have been any better. Sunny and in the 50's all day long.  Later, after having the best indian food of my life, we went for a hike with Mary's son Sam and his friend Eric.  We hiked in tennessee Valley which opened up onto a beach at the end.

 Overall the hike was about 4 miles total.


Oh I also got to see some of the legendary Redwoods of California.  These were just babies compared to the much larger ones you can see in Redwood National Park.

We drove by some white tailed deer that looked very comfortable with our presence.

CALIFORNIA

ALASKA










Well that should do it for tonight.
Tomorrow we are off to the farmer's market!

Don't worry I WILL return to Alaska :)

Goodnight lower 48,
Erin