(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - You can still have firsts, even if you’ve done something before.

I thought about this in depth before my plate of chorizo and eggs arrived, and well after the plate was clean and the coffee cup empty.

I’ve taught high school students before. But it’s different in Alaska.

I’ve been to high school football games before. But it’s different in Alaska. Just about every game in California I had to watch from the snack bar since the boys basketball coaches ran it. So Friday, other than the game itself, the best part was not having to serve chili cheese potatoes to hungry customers or do math to make change.

I have been frequently asked how the adjustment to my new town of Ketchikan and new school is going. When I say I grew up on Prince of Wales, the assumption is it’s easy because I know what it’s like around here. Which I do, but like I said, it’s different now. I’m not 17. I have a load of responsibilities I didn’t when I was in high school, but thanks to where I am as an adult I have a load of possibilities for new firsts too.

Maybe the most satisfying opportunity that has come with being in Ketchikan for longer than a school trip is the daily possibility of paying someone to cook for you. There are some good places to get food on POW no doubt, but variety and accessibly are lacking and some days after hours of linking technological dependence in the area of entertainment to a possible dystopian future, you just want to order a trio of shredded chicken tacos. At least I do.

I’ve still been making my own lunches and picking away at my supply of venison for dinner, but having culinary opportunities and a job to be able to afford to eat out occasionally really has me excited about the future prospects of my existence in this town.

Since it’s important to pair eating with exercise and Ketchikan has a buffet of hiking and running opportunities, I’ve been gorging myself on those too.

I had never been on the Rainbird trail, but really enjoyed it because I was able to see the namesake which doesn’t always happen. I didn’t see any Lunch at Lunch Creek, only humpies, and didn’t see any deer on Deer Mountain. But I did see both rain and birds as I walked parallel to town. Sweet.

One hike I had previously hoofed which I have reexperienced three or four times since I moved here is Ward Lake. I ran around it maybe a half dozen times in high school, finishing in varying modes of slow and always liked it. I still like it maybe for its nostalgic value as well as its ease, accessibility and potential for being a good work out. No matter how fast I make the loop I can't help but wonder how bad it’s going to smell when all those humpies which are choking the water, die.

The rotting fish on POW rivers stink too, but there is always something startling about it anyway.

Like I said, Alaska’s good at making things new and interesting.

Jeff Lund ©2014

Jeff Lund is a Teacher, Freelance Writer, & River fishing guide (Tranquil Charters) living in Klawock, Alaska
Contact Jeff at Email – aklund21@gmail.com

http://www.jlundoutdoors.com

SitNews ©2014
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Ketchikan, Alaska

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