![]() to Alaskan Dinosaur Adventure [ home ] ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Most of us were up by 5:30 this morning. Slight drizzle, with a wind from the south (exactly what we had been praying for to make our travel easier.) It was probably the warmest morning of our trip at 62 degrees (F). The sky was clearing, and it looked like it was going to be another beautiful day. We were in the river before 7:30 and two hours later we were situated seven or eight miles from last night’s campsite! However, by the time we got to Ocean Point, the wind increased, and began to blow us into the beach. They must call this area “Ocean Point” because of the waves here. They are the biggest we have seen on the Colville. They are about two feet high and often break against our small rafts, soaking us with water. It certainly seemed like we were rafting on the ocean!
By 3:00, we beached and waited for a break in the wind. The wind had shifted to the west, and was blowing us into the eastern side of the river. We had something to eat and waited four hours for the wind to die down. During this time, we observed a large cloud bank roll in from the southwest, the weather was deteriorating rapidly. I didn’t take the temperature, but it must have been close to 40 degrees (F). The boats had taken on quite a bit of water because of the large waves. Our duffels were soaked on outside and lying in the water in the bottoms of our boats. It looked like it was going to be a miserable night for camping.
![]() The rescuersThen it happened. Mike spotted two Eskimo speed boats heading down river towards Nuiqsut! They had been hunting and fishing up river and were the same boats we had seen several days earlier. Mike was the only one to see them and he was able to get their attention and one of them stopped! Mike was desperate, he told us later he was reaching into his pocket to get the flares out if they had failed to see us. After offering them $50, they agreed to tow us the rest of the way to Nuiqsut that night. It was almost as if they were angels sent from God.
![]() A night in jailWater drained out of our duffels when we lifted them. It would be a cold miserable night, but somehow we felt better knowing we were in civilization again. As we were unpacking our soggy tents and sleeping bags, the peace officer came back and asked if we would like to stay in a garage for the night. [Apparently he had left to see if it would be O.K. with his superior officer.] Would we like to stay in a garage for the night? Of course!! He had a big double cab Ford four wheel drive pick up. We loaded all of our stuff into the truck for the short drive to the police station. When we got there, he said we had a choice—we could spend the night in the garage, or the jail cells. Without any hesitation, we choose the jail cells! What an end to an amazing day. Who would have ever thought just two hours ago, while setting up our tents on wet, cold sand that we would be spending the night in a warm, dry, mosquito free jail! The Lord sure does have a sense of humor! What an amazing provider He is. When we were at our lowest point, the Lord provided for us. I wonder what my wife Jamie will say when I make my one phone call from the jail cell and tell her I need a lawyer and some bail money? NEXT PAGE—livin' in luxury
|