My Friend

My Friend by Jimi Hendrix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpI1on_ixvU

When I had found a place for my family to live and I started looking for furniture. Lorrie told me that my oldest son James wanted a bunk bed or loft bed. I looked through Craigslist ads and found a beautiful looking loft bed with a chest of drawers.

I sent an e-mail I received an immediate reply. I went over and looked at the bed and furniture and met a very very friendly and talkative guy named Tony. I explained that I would need to rent a truck and he said he could help me with his truck. He invited me to come over to a BBQ.

After we moved the bed a week or so later I went to one of Tony's infamous BBQs. Tony does all kinds of BBQ meat: tri-tip steak, fish, shrimp, pork, hamburgers, and all kinds of veggies. I stayed in touch with him and went on a hike with him and his family and some other friends to Archangel Falls near Hatcher Pass.

Hiking, especially a difficult hike like this was, is a bonding experience. After another BBQ he invited me to go with his family camping on Memorial Day weekend by King Mountain River. We also hiked the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail (then through downtown) and  Flat Top..

We went on a hike to Rabbit Lake twice and both times we didn't make it all the way to the lake. Yesterday we made it but not after quite an adventure. We started out and it was 51 degrees. About a mile in the temperature dropped and it started raining. Misty rain, light rain, and hard sporadic rain. Then at about two miles one of the two dogs, jumps into the brush and we see a full size bull moose. He had a full six foot rack of antlers! It took a good 15 minutes to get the dog to come back. A little further on the wind picked up and blew at a sustained wind of at least 15 to 20 mph (maybe more, I can't measure). There were three couples that headed back stating that conditions were "toobad" and "too cold".

After about an hour and fifty minutes (hiking time) we made it. I had blisters because I wore the wrong socks (too short) and the boots rubbed a quarter size spot from the back of each heel. I put on bandages and we booked it back to the car in about an hour and thirty minutes. Nine miles total.

Of all the things I have seen and experienced in Anchorage meeting and making such a good friend as Tony has been the best. He is gregarious, generous, and full of adventure. To a great guy and a great friend, thanks!!!


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