Bettles: Day 1 (09-03-2023)

 

We are up at 7:15. Breakfast is served 8:00 to 9:30.  Our National Parks Collector Wilderness Tour leaves at 9:00am. Weather permitting.  Yesterday the tour didn't leave until 11:30. It is overcast this morning.  Yesterday the pilot (Stuart?) said he will let us know the schedule at breakfast.  We have our day packs and gear ready and get to breakfast at 8:00.  The breakfast menu is 2 eggs any style, choice of meat (bacon, sausage, reindeer sausage), hash browns and choice of toast or pancake.

Weather is not conducive to flying.  The dining room is crowded this morning.  A plane headed for Wiseman, a town about 50 miles northeast of Bettles, landed here to wait for the Wiseman weather to clear.  The passengers are joining us for breakfast.  Pilot Stuart tells us leave time of 9:00am is a no go for our park tour.  He will get back to us at 11:00 with an update.  Five disappointed guests head back to Aurora Lodge.

We didn't sleep much last night due to aurora viewing.  We nap until time to move to the lounge for a tour update.   Stuart comes with disappointing news.  Weather is still not good for flying.  He will check with us again at 2:00.  There is a chance for a short flight into Gates of the Arctic then if the weather cooperates.  

We learn Braden is upset.  He slept through the wake up for the aurora last night.  He is really irritated that no one, especially Jason, woke him up.  Now he believes the tour won't happen and he will have taken an expensive trip to Bettles for nothing. I feel his pain.

Noon is lunch time.  We head over to the Lodge and hang out until lunch is served.  We met an interesting character (never get his name) in Bettles for work.  He is here to install wiring and conduit; I think for equipment associated with the airport.  Once the job is done the FAA comes to inspect it.  He tells us he has been here for a week or so but hasn't been able to work.  All the correct supplies he needs for the job didn't make it to Bettles.  He checks delivery status each day and apparently gets told it will be on the next plane.  Next plane comes and no supplies.  He doesn't seem too bothered about it.  Bettles isn't overflowing with things to do but he seems to get by talking with the guests, watching Netflex movies and taking walks.  He goes on vacation in a week or so and it appears he is hoping the supplies don't show up until after he leaves for vacation. Lunch menu is chicken salad sandwiches and French fries.  BB doesn't eat mayo and gets a PBJ instead.  

BB with PBJ.

We spend some time after lunch in Bettles Lodge to take advantage of the internet.  Then back to Aurora Lodge with hope of hearing good news from Jason.  It is a false hope.  No flying for us today.  Braden, Pamela and Allen leave tomorrow morning, so they have no chance for a tour.  BB and I have a chance tomorrow.  Although now our chance for a tour is dependent on two things, weather and seat availability.  The guests that arrive today have priority on tomorrow's tour.  BB and I can only go if there are two seats available.

Pamela goes to her room to nap.  I mention Scrabble.  BB, Braden, Allen and I settle down in the lounge for a game. It's a good game.  We use all the tiles from the bag but three of us have some tiles left on our racks.  The game passes the time and I believe we all had fun.  Braden wins with Allen coming in a close second.

Braden, Allen, BB, Sal

Time for some fresh air.  BB and I walk on the road towards the lake.  We look for blueberries and find them.  They grow low to the ground and the leaves are starting to turn red.  Fall has arrived in Bettles.

Still not quite dinner time.  We head for Bettles Lodge.  Our gang is there.  We get drinks from the bar and socialize.

Bettles Lodge Lounge.

I like the artwork over the bar.

The ice in my drink looks like eyeballs!

Dinner is salmon, rice and mixed veggies with tropical fruit cobbler for dessert.  We stay awhile after dinner to take advantage of the internet.  When we go back to Aurora Lodge we put on a documentary showing how musher Sven Haltmann trained for his first Iditarod in 2008.  Eric tells us that Sven has helped train dogs and employees at the Bettles kennel. The documentary is almost over when our gang comes in. Scrabble and some other games are mentioned.  We settle on Movie Mania.  It is like Trivial Pursuit except all the questions pertain to movies.  We play in teams; Pamela and Allen are a team, BB and I are a team, and Braden plays solo.  Again, the game helps pass the time, however, movie knowledge doesn't seem to be a strong point for any of us.

Bedtime.  We decide to be at breakfast by 8:00 tomorrow in the slim chance we can get on the tour.

Sal