Kodiak Alaska, Heading to the lower 48.

Hello from Kodiak. We would first like to thank all of you for your encouragement, support and being with us as we traveled the many miles from Thailand to Kodiak Alaska. We have traveled well over 9000 nautical miles since this past February and, as we put our girl Equus to bed for a long cold winter, we look back with great appreciation and gratitude. The harbor website: http://www.city.kodiak.ak.us/harbor/Pages/default.aspx This has been our first experience at winterization since we started cruising 10 years ago. We have become familiar with tropical rains, mold and monsoons, not below freezing temperatures and icebergs, and this has made for an interesting start back in our home country. Although we have been assured that ice does not form in Kodiak harbor because of the high tidal currents, the temperature still can dip quite low. The channel between the two Kodiak harbors had winds over 140 miles per hour last winter, but locals assure us that it only reached 70 to 80 mph inside the harbors! So our in-water winter berthing will be a new experience for us all. The rigors of the winterization aside, we have been wonderfully surprised with the glories of Kodiak. Of course there are bears, fish, eagles and other north country fauna and flora in abundance, but the real joy for us thus far has been the people. Aside from our scrumptious meals like seafood lasagna, halibut in mustard sauce, salmon in white wine, butter and dill, all fresh of course, the people of Kodiak have been most gracious hosts, welcoming us like family; and the diversity and accomplishments of each family has been amazing. A succession of immigrants, from the Alutiiqs to the Russian fur traders to the present population of fisherman, teachers, and Coast Guarders has given Kodiak the eclectic personality it shows us today. We have a flight out of Kodiak on October 5th to the lower 48 to be reunited with our family and friends, it has been over 1 year since we have shared time together. It will be a welcomed reunion for us. We will also be on the look out for that perfect new land-lubber location. We welcome all comments and suggestions on this exciting new chapter in our lives. We also look forward to updates from you and what is new in your world. Life is Grand, eh! Please note we will be closing the blog site http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sail621/ and I will be updating this blog site : http://sailequus.blogspot.com/ Please be patient because I have much work to do on this site, thank you. Patricia and Steve SV Equus ps the other site http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sail621/ will still be accessible until I get everything switched over. Kodiak sites to check out; http://www.kodiak.org/ - http://www.alaskaflyfishinggoods.com/ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak,_Alaska - http://kodiak.org/explore-kodiak/wildlife/bears.html