Rhubarb-raspberry coffee cake for the secret society

It's my turn to provide nutrition for a secret society and the manager of the household provisions commanded "Empty the freezer!". So this is what we ended up with for the secret society, will they approve?

Credit goes to the original "Bun on the Run" sisters, but also to the famous night baker and the new Bun Runner for the idea to press the streusel into the cake before baking. We'll see if it lasts till morning.

Another morning like this...

Today I started back in the regular routine of bicycle commuting. Either through good planning or by luck, it's only five miles by road from home to office, short sweet exercise, a psychological air-lock between home and work. Even better though, there are seemingly infinite options to stay off the road by taking an anastomosing network of ad hoc and official trails of all sorts. Today the sunrise at a little duck pond caught my eye. 

Another cure for the terminal cynic.

Mornings like these...

... Remind me why I live and work in in Alaska. Our crew has been fortunate to have summer return to the western Alaska Range for the last few days. So far our mapping project has gone well, we are having healthy geologic debates and making substantial changes to the existing geological map of the Upper Styx River area. My tolerance and sense of balance for steep terrain  is coming back, a little. How can one help but enjoy ones self here.

Puntilla Lake -- Rainy Pass Lodge

Scenic Puntilla Lake

It all seems like an idyllic place, but the 24 hours preceding 9 am this morning the ceiling was no more than 200 feet above the lake and frequently the Super Cub would not have been distinguishable. Now, however, this is a little piece of heaven.

End of a lovely trip

Waiting at Mount Wright for the tour boat to pick us up, we listen to the sound of a humpback whale exhale as it paces back and forth in the mouth of Muir Inlet.

After three glorious days, this morning we woke to the sound of rain...if we had to pack camp in the rain, at least it was the last morning. Now the clouds have cleared and it is glorious weather again. We've been fortunate with this 10 day stretch of unusual weather.

There are more photos here

June 17 -- Mt Wright

Last night in paradise

Our camp at the north end of Garforth Island is different than all the others, a truly sandy beach and the water is crystal clear. It was another hot day but the morning respite was a good wind blowing down Muir Inlet. The wind, of course started up as we were 1/4 of the way across the inlet back to the east side. Between the north wind and the strong ebb we made great time. We saw two northbound kayakers resting at Muir Point waiting for the wind to die and the tide to change. We were in our camp by early afternoon and lazed around, strolling the beaches, and trying to stay cool. There are a lot of nesting oyster catchers here, they come charging out of the grass with all sorts of shrill calls and theatrics. This evening while having our dinner a half dozen of the crazy birds came out of the wood work and  noisily chased each other around the island. Must have been the social hour.

Tomorrow we have an early rise and a short paddle across the channel to Mt Wright to meet the tour boat for our pick up. It's almost exactly 31 years since E & I took our first romantic overnight canoe trip  that sealed our life together, this trip has sealed us together even more!

June 16 Garforth Island

McBride Inlet -- Hunter Cove

We awoke to a chilly morning with the booming sound of McBride Glacier calving new bergs to add to the morning ebb procession. We had a great morning ride on the ebb along the west side of Muir Inlet, but as the day turned to afternoon the heat from the sun became overwhelming, there was a nice breeze to gusty winds blowing out of Wachusett Inlet, but that did little to temper the sun. Imagine Sea of Cortez with glaciated mountains. It took us a while to find a suitable campsite without signs of bear activity, finally picking a little gravel shelf with enough room for a bear to pass without stepping on our tent. We had true sea-side dining at high tide.

We are falling asleep to the sound of forest song birds and sea birds all at the same time.

June 15