Racing to be ready for the new season

A message from Victoria:

Airplanes Are Due!

A few times a day recently, I have been getting updates on the guides, lodges and other pilots due to arrive for the ‘season’ which is just around the corner now. This is the season of work, vacations, and adventures for some, and fresh, new bear prints on the beach! Newly sprouting grass and waking bears are both showing up about two weeks earlier than usual this spring.

We are scrambling to overcome setbacks — some small, some not so small. Fuel needs to be hauled; pumps need new belts and filters. Fuel farm tanks still need preparations before the fuel barge shows up at our beachfront in about three weeks. The airstrip that serves the refueling site needs more compacting improvements; we are waiting for a few good rain showers to cut the dust that is already a problem, so early this spring.

A host of small and large tasks await us as we work through a long list of items, but the days don’t stop, and the timelines keep creeping up.

We will update as we can. Feel free to post questions.

(A GoFundMe page was set up to try to help Vic cover some of her critical financial losses following the death of her husband/partner.  Please read more at https://www.gofundme.com/2cdnh7fw  and please donate to help her, if you can.  Any amount relieves some of her burdens to move forward and make a difference in re-fueling rural Alaska.)

Lost at Sea: Briggs Memorial update

In spite of facing deep financial setbacks since losing her husband last fall, Victoria Briggs is picking up the pieces, moving forward with her life, and making important business  preparations for her upcoming fishing and farming seasons.  She’s faced with getting her solar transformer repaired, high tunnels rebuilt after damaging winds blew off doors and ripped coverings, large fuel tanks cleaned and moved into place at her fuel farm, important welding work that is needed to move her boat from drydock and back into the river, and a host of other things that worry her as she faces this spring’s challenges alone without Roland.

https://www.gofundme.com/2cdnh7fw   She has some good news to report about wonderful volunteers helping her this week and wants to share it with us.

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Angels Come to Help!!

I have been blessed a number of times by people who have come to help, even when I was out of town dealing with a family health issue. Sweet wives have lent their hubbies for a day or more, and some, like the most recent, have been able to come for a few days. Kids, actually hard-working young adults, have come to help when I first got home, and more blessings keep coming.

The most recent are two helpers from the Kenai area. They are helping me prepare for the fishing and farm crews that will start showing up next week.

We had a plan, actually several plans, to address getting supplies grouped and ready, picking up where others have left off, with getting my solar tracking panel operational after it was wind damaged, and a host of other things.

We are making progress, although getting sidetracked, at times, by fueling equipment issues. Overall, the season is about ready to start.

Solar panels connect to non-working tracker at base

Wiring pulled out of solar tracker control box during high winds – needs repair

 

                Very large fuel tank needs cleaning and re-positioning for use this season.  (55-gal drum in front, for size comparison)

 

High tunnel doors gone — needs repair and replacement

Doors blown off high tunnel — need work

This boat trailer needs welding for use during the salmon fishing season.

 

Peppers need transplanting SOON!

Basil needs transplanting to a high tunnel SOON!