Tim's Journal:
Aaron and I spent most of the morning with good-byes and packing. At
10:00 A.M. we went down to the excavations where we made Susie Barr, Stephanie
Barr, Bonita Barr, Alvin Iyatunguk, and Robert Iyatunguk pose for a picture.
I gave everybody T-shirts from back home and Bob's wife presented Deering
T-shirts to Aaron and me. We walked the length of the village saying goodbye
to everybody we knew. For lunch Calvin Moto, our cook, prepared salmon
steaks from the fish that Aaron and Alvin
had caught the night before. At 2:15 the Bering air agent came to take
us to the airport. We also picked up Calvin who was to travel with us
to Kotzebue. Calvin had just been paid and was looking for the excitement
of a bigger town. At the Airport Rick Reanier (our leader) was just getting
off the plane we were about to get on. It was really good to get a chance
to say goodbye to him.
In Fairbanks we were met by our faithful friend and protector Renee Crain (ARCUS). Renee took us out to dinner and we regaled her with endless Deering stories.
Bob, Alvin, Stephanie, Bonita, and Susie digging away!
AARON'S ADDENDUM:
Saying goodbye was a lot more difficult than I had expected in the beginning. I am truly going to miss all the people I have met in Western Alaska. I wish them all the best of luck in the future and hopefully I will get a chance to return someday. With their help I received a wonderful tour of Alaska, not to mention a great experience with archeology. Thank you all very much.