New here but not new to the game

[mjk33663]

Hello all

I became concerned with the state of world affairs back in 91. At that time the path that we were on was a concern but the situation we are in now is down right scary.  I spent 17 years playing the game by the rules and acquired the american dream as far as house, cars, possessions, blah, blah, blah.  In February I lost my wife to cancer. After sitting in a dark living room drinking beer for three months I came out of hiding and felt like Punxatanie Phil, the groundhog who saw his shadow and ran back inside.  Wow, things are screwed up.

Fortunately, back in 1991 I bought 40 acres in a nice part of alaska.  That brings me to the reason for this post. 

I decided to get out of dodge about 2 months ago.  Sold my possessions, bought an old pathfinder to get over the ALCAN Highway, packed all my stores and gear in a U-Haul and set out from Kansas City on a mission.  Everything went well until I hit the Canadian border. Because of the terrorist concerns they check your background very well.  Long story made short, I punched out some gorilla in Las Vegas a few years back and was arrested for a misdomenor assault which I bailed out for but never went back.  The border police and the Mounties were not impressed and refused me access to the great nation of Canada.   

Not to be beaten, I drove straight west from North Dakota to Bellingham Washington with the intent of catching the ferry to Seward as they describe on their website. They stopped that service 2 years ago.  Apparently nobody bothered to update the website.  Not being one to give up, I called my brother in Montana to come out and assist.  He drove my caravan across the ALCAN while I sat in a coach seat on a jet and was flown into Anchorage.  I got settled in, will start the cabin next spring as I am out of time.  The logs are all cut and drying but it won't take many as all of the trees were about 100' tall.  I got food and supplies for 4 or more years and enough cash to get by if I am frugal.  My family all thinks that I am a wackjob, maybe I am. 

The moral of the story is----if your retreat is up north, clear up your criminal record as you will not get into Canada.  I am not a drinker but my brother-in-law was refused entry because of one DUI which happened 12 years ago.

A Joke that I told one of the Mounties which he did not find funny:


Years ago, the queen stated that somebody needed to come up with a name for the great land which we now call CANADA.  An advisor recommended that they stick letters into a hat and have a commoner draw letters in order to come up with a name.  They pulled over a commoner, told him the point and ordered him to draw letters.    He proceeded and drew a letter and said "C"  aye, "N" aye, "D" aye. 

Hence the name C A(aye) N A(aye) D A(aye)

[opsec]

The alaska marine highway is no more?

I too have plans to get up there to AK, I'm thinking sometime next year. I'm looking for information on the best type of gill nets to use up there. Can you tell me anything about the best material and stretched mesh size to use? I'm not targeting any specific species, just want to get food.

[mjk33663]

Sorry but I am as new to this as you are.  I came back to the lower 48 and am going to winter in Nebraska.  I am currently looking to find the same kind of info.  I did spend 40 days crabfishing up there back in 1989 but practical knowledge on the ground I am not good at.  All I know is that you can go salmon fishing with a baseball bat, no bait required.

[mjk33663]

Not to bore anybody, just wanted to relate a story. 

I am 42 years old. My parents were relativly old when I was born because 11 kids in the family was fairly common for catholics running dairy farms in south-west nebraska.  Needless to say, the parents grew up in the "dirty thirties" with dust bowl and depression as a way of life.

In the 1970's I was working on the wheat harvest with my dad and my uncles.  In my part of the world where your nearest neighbor is at least 10 miles away, people are friendly.  You pass someone on a dirt road and you always give them the 2 finger "ranchers wave".  Charles Manson would get the wave. Hitler would get the wave.

There was a farmer named Ross (last name excluded).  Nobody ever waved at him.  I could not figure it out because I knew him and liked him but he was essentially shunned by everyone.

One day I asked my father why everyone was so shi*** to Ross. He looked at me and said "Back in the thirties, the government came around and gave away food-----Ross took it."

I guess you had to live through those times because 40 years is a long time to hold a grudge.  I do know that when the rubber meets the road, I won't take food from the government, assuming there is a goverment.

[Atash Hagmahani]

Welcome aboard.  It's been hard for me to get around to everyone who introduced him/herself but I try.

I would like to make some posts about growing food at very high latitudes, for those who already live in or who retreat up north. It's a challenge but some things can grow pretty far north.

They stopped that service 2 years ago.

Gosh, I didn't hear about that. It was a big deal when they stopped coming to Seattle, because a lot of folks come down for medical treatment, and have to figure out how to get from Bellingham to Seattle without a car (it can be done but is not convenient).

[opsec]

I just checked and the Alaska Marine Highway is still up and running. Service from Bellingham, WA to Alaska is only from the months of May to...(I forget now). But that route was not in service when you made your foray up to AK. I guess it's seasonal.