Across Continents

Ken's Blog

Snow progress in Alaska

September 10th, 2011

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Want to ride a bicycle on snow? Dry these. Absolute monsters. Alas, not on Emma. Instead belonging to Anchorage cyclist Lewis.

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Cooking on gas…

September 9th, 2011

Cooking on gas from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Not content with simply subjecting his hosts to his wit and repartie, Ken prepares dinner. Fine English staple of cottage pie and medley of vegetables. Filmed in Aromavision.

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Bear deterrent

September 9th, 2011

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Small print. "Not for use on humans". Probably a wise addition as people have been known to confuse bear deterrent for bear repellant. A few incidences of parents spraying their children with it in the mistaken belief it would offer them protection from Goldilocks and her friends. Bit like insect repellant or sunblock. You’d hope the unfortunate offspring would be exempt the naughty step for a while… once discharged from hospital.

I’d bought a canister of bear spray – it ressembles a small fire extinguisher – and a holster to carry it in. Bear attacks are rare, but when they do occur there may be little warning. Best kept readily to hand. But not my first choice of deterrent. That’d be an RPG, closely followed by phosphor grenades, largely because I reckon the cuddly critters probably aren’t that fire retardent.

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Incidentally, it’s a Federal offence to use the spray on anything other than bears. Unless you at least have an honest belief that’s what you’re doing. So, if you’ve any plans to try and mug me, please remember I’m a bit short sighted. Easily confused, especially without my glasses on. Mistaking attackers for one of our furry friends a very real possibility. Despite treating the spray with the same caution as I would a firearm, in a land where guns are plentiful, I’ve absolutely no compunction about deploying it. Not a jot.

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Cycling companions

September 9th, 2011

Someone who gets other people killed. Indulging in romantic notions, carefree dalliances at the expense of others. Those innocently duped into rescuing them when the situation gets sticky, plans go awry. I stared at my coffee, willing it to cool so I might finish it and leave.

I’d met with a prospective cycling companion in downtown Anchorage. Committed to no more than a coffee. That much I’d been especially clear about, although I’d soon begun to doubt if the other party had quite grasped this. Flighty I thought. Travelling to Alaska on what appeared to be a whim. More klaxon than alarm bells.

I couldn’t quite bring myself to walk away immediately. For one thing, that’d be very rude. And I was unsure how the person might react. Badly. Very badly was a real possibility. For, intrigued as I might be as to her past, I deliberately avoided the subject. Sensing demons. No desire to inadvertently open Pandora’s Box.

I suggested she might be better taking a ferry from Alaska, a more sensible option given her lack of experience of the sort out conditions we’d likely encounter. Her quick rebuff, that it was pretty much pavement all the way to Seattle, only made me all the more nervous.

Somewhat reluctantly, I chose a more direct approach to attempt to dissuade her from doing anything foolish. Bit blunt, but doubtful all the same if anything I said would really register. Explaining I would be leaving in a few days, and could not afford to delay in the slightest. I was ready and she was not. No bicycle. No kit. Things, I added, I’d spent weeks, if not months, putting together. And Alaska was not the place to cut one’s teeth.

Exasperated, I’d eventually managed to draw the conversation to a satisfactory conclusion. An amicable parting. Wished her luck and prayed she’d see sense. Secretly hoping she’d not find someone else who might more easily pander to her whims. And end up far worse for his or her troubles.

It wasn’t her lack of experience that had troubled me. For I’d met a couple of relatively novice long-haul cyclists in the last few months, either of whom it’d be a pleasure to travel with. After all, I’d been one myself not so long ago. What’d impressed me about them both was their preparedness, the research they’d done and training they’d undertaken. Mentally prepared, committed, you knew straight away they would succeed.

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Caribou

September 8th, 2011

Caribou from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

I’d no idea about this one. Caribou essentially a wild reindeer. Or reindeer and tame caribou. Something like that anyway.

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Walk on the wild side

September 8th, 2011

I’d been glad of the visit to the conservation centre. To see brown and black bears close up, albeit behind the wire. Far from making me feel more nervous about camping, it’d come away feeling quietly confident. Felt I now at least had the threat in perspective, understood the nature and the quality of the risk I’d be taking.

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True, the first few nights might be unnerving. I get spooked by sheep. But I felt comfortable with the measures I’d need to take to say safe. And, crucially, was content I could distinguish between brown and black bears. For, in the event of an aggressive encounter, the steps you take are very different.

What I hadn’t quite appreciated was just how far out of Anchorage the centre was. A good hour’s drive. Another example of host Linda and partner Angie’s unceasing generosity.

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Meet the Muskox

September 7th, 2011

Meet the Muskox from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Can’t say I’d ever heard of the Muskox. But here it is. Well insulated it may be, but in an Alaskan winter quite possible for a few unfortunate ones to be found frozen to death…

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Wandering wood bison

September 7th, 2011

Wandering wood bison from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Wood bison. Smaller than the more familiar Plain bison, but you’d still know about it if it sat on you. And it’s just females in this clip. Males are notably larger.

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There’s a moose loose…

September 6th, 2011

There’s a moose loose… from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Decided a song lyric marginally less cheesy than the usual antler jokes. The ones I can never quite remember.

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Bald eagle

September 6th, 2011

Bald eagle from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Did feel sorry for this chap. Just one wing. And, no, he can’t just fly in circles. Actually, unable to get airborne. Period.

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