Raymond Gonzales:  

Hi' Everyone! Spending the Holidays up in Alaska (12/22/13 - 01/02/2014) Friend built a A-frame outskirts of Fairbanks and I have been invited in sharing his creative monument. Currently hitting temperatures minus 20' not bad, it's usually minus 60 degrees. At least he's not turning me into a ice cube' during this visit, although I don't fear the cold weather' it can be extremely dangerous if someone gets stuck somewhere without the proper gear. I hope everyone had a 'Merry Christmas' and hopefully your all are looking forward to the New Year. I retired in late 2012 and can't believe or know where 2013 went to. Hope this message finds every 'Eagle' in good health. Talking about Eagle's' eagles here are like seagulls in Seattle' unbelievable quantity and variance of colors. Anyway have a great upcoming celebration' drive carefully and talk to you all later on. *********************************************************************************************************************************** 1/26/14 Back in Seattle again. Had a great time visiting my friend in Fairbanks and his 5500 sq. ft. Log house..Wow' talk about a log house, it could of been a lodge for that matter. Unique crafted engineered cabin with all the modern gadgets and outdoor two garages maintaining his toys. could go on about his toys' but it would be a lot of garble in words. We hunted' Iced fished' played and explore the snow heavy forest in his snowmobiles. Visited and stayed at a couple of abandon hunter cabins near the frozen Yukon River that's about as wide as Lake Washington in some points. As noted as the 'Last Frontier' during our trek venture in the wilderness and stopping our snowmobiles. you could hear yourself breathe no vehicle traffic or plane noise just you and nature and it's defining elements. Cold?, yes minus 20-40 degrees., but well suited for the weather in our snow suits. An experience to behold for sure My flight back and landing in Anchorage was a little scary those everyday cross winds was an experience' we had to abort twice before landing sideways. I'm now planning a trip to Prince Williams Sound, visiting Valdez then' utilizing their train system to a Old History Town called Whittier and then up to Cordova either by fishing boat or continuing by train. I have a distant friend I just found out that he now lives there.in Cordova with his wonderful wife who I also know from Seattle. I been to Cordova before in my fishing days and loved the area. not anything you would experience in the lower forty eight. There main industry is year around fishing for some. Anyway' glad to be back' and hear that we are also heading to the Super Bowl. Best of luck to the "SeaHawks!!! 04/08/2014 Well' like everyone else' Hopefully' taxes are out of the way. Came close to paying this year made to much for a single person. I got this bad habit of Venturing and making money' a down fault' some times I meet some undermining people in the Venturing Industry' it can be risky' but profitable. Anyway' as planned heading to Cordova last part of May' since the salmon season starts in early part of June. When I went to Fairbank's, my plane transfer in Anchorage was directly to Fairbanks's and wasn't able to stop and ex...Expand for more