;)
There was a delay of nearly an hour in Fairbanks, but finally we took off and headed north. After I had a good chat with the lady who sat next to me, so thrilled to be returning to her Native home of Point Lay to attend the first whaling Nalukataq feast there in about 70 years, the jet passed over the rotting shore-ice of the Chukchi Sea and descended on final toward Barrow.
According to the pilot, the temperature was 32 degrees (0c). When I stepped off the plane, the wind was howling.
It was just a few minutes before 8:00 PM.
The boy is Pamiuq, three-year old grandson to my hosts, Savik and Myrna Ahmaogak. The dog is Dawson. There may be glass between them, but they communicate. The stained glass bowhead is the work of Roy Ahmaogak, Savik and Myrna's son. Photo taken at just a few minutes before 11:00 PM with the G10 pocket camera.
My hosts greeted me with roast and potatoes, which was good.
Tomorrow, I head for Point Lay - main course: bowhead. Side dishes - caribou, ducks, fish and all kind of nutritious northern food, plus cake, coffee and tea.
Visually, I will share it with you. If not right away, that means I could not find a wireless connection, but I am optimistic that I will.