Two recent acquisitions would be used to accomplish this goal - a boat of the same linage as "the Crow", and a 50 hp Mercury jet unit. The challenge would be to combine the two into a reliable configuration since they came from different sources, but if successful, the resulting product would be capable of travel to very shallow water, thereby vastly expanding the accessible geography. However, as any two bit bush boat mechanic will tell you, the mounting height of a jet unit is much higher then the traditional propeller units, and requires a greater degree of precision else there will be a great loss of efficiency. The mounting area on the back of the boat had to be re-jigged.
Much to the amusement of the Lodge patrons, this operation was conducted in front of the Aniak Lodge where there was a ready supply of electrical power and ready access to tools, advice, and help. An apprentice bush boat mechanic was flown in from Anchorage on his break from his regular job working for a major oil company. Plenty of advice (sometimes conflicting) was provided by plumbers, electricians, a helicopter pilot, and an entrepreneur from the hotel/restaurant business. Occasionally, when that advice was insufficient, the documentation was consulted. To the amazement of most, the project was a moderate success. In the grand Crow Village tradition of naming vessels after people, a name for the vessel was suggested by the apprentice boat mechanic, but that suggestion was successfully vetoed by a ranked member of the village council from her Hudson, Wisconsin office. As of this writing, the vessel is still unnamed.
Every thing was now set for the camping trip that hopefully would produce the desired moose, but the schedule was tight The trip would be up the very scenic George river which is about 80 miles upstream from Aniak. Two boats would make the major portion of the trip since the jet-unit was not capable of significant load capacity. Father Maichi was scheduled to join as well, and he planned to drive separately. Tom and Dakota were to leave early with the jet-unit since it's speed was slower, and the rest would depart once the kids were out of school and David was done with work. Some mechanical issues delayed Tom's departure but other then that, everything was on schedule. The second boat caught up to Tom and Dakota at Napaimute, and everybody gassed up. Around 8 pm, the fast boat passed Crooked Creek, and a fine camping spot was picked out just past there to spend the night. David showed up in the jet-unit about an hour later. There was till no sign of Father Maichi. Both boats took of for Georgetown the next morning after camp was broke. Georgetown would be the staging area, since from that point travel was up the George River which was only passable with the jet unit and several trips were required to ferry all the people and gear. Bob, Ann and Richard were very hospitable during that staging operation, and low and behold, Father Maichi showed up in time to join in.
The campsite chosen was about 15 to 20 miles up the George River. It was a very scenic and protected spot on a small island. Tom and Dakota spent many hours fishing, the kids built a nice stick house, and Lisa prepared some campsite meals. Several trips were taken farther up the river looking for that ever so elusive moose. After 2 days, it was time to head back. No moose was ever spotted, but it was a spectacular camping trip none-the-less. This place will most certainly be visited again. People and gear were ferried back to Georgetown, and after some refreshing coffee and "Georgetown nuggets", the trip back to Crow Village commenced. Stops were made at Crooked Creek and Napaimute. Extra time was spent at Napaimute consulting with Mark Leary and Senator Lyman Hoffman on various computer issues, and getting a quick fix of internet via their starband service (complimentary this time due to the consultancy work). We got the executive tour of all the recent improvements in the village, including Senator Hoffman's hot tub. The Aniak destination was reached just before 6pm just in time to purchase some more fuel required to reach Crow Village. A regular meal at the Aniak Lodge was readily consumed by all. The final day of the trip was spent working on the new restaurant (The Drift Net) scheduled to open this fall. Enjoy the pictures below.
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