Thursday, January 3, 2013

January 3, 2013

I am Lauren Stokes. My husband is John Martin Stokes. He is a fly-fisherman, chef, gentleman of the South, and lover of all things bucolic. With his business partner, best friend, and brother-from-another-mother, Steve Appel, he co-owns the Unalakleet River Lodge in Unalakleet Alaska.

According to the (soon to be re-vamped) website "the Unalakleet River Lodge combines the warmth and charm of a true Alaskan lodge.  This exclusive lodge is the perfect setting to appreciate all the majesty and natural beauty of Alaska. The main lodge was built on a hill overlooking the Unalakleet River.  It’s nearly 100 feet long and built from hand-hewn log."

Allow me to put it in simpler terms, it is the actual perfect replica of the wild Alaskan lodge of your dreams. I tend to build things up a bit too much in my mind out of excitement. This often bites me in the ass. Finding little passion for your day job and great comfort in the delights of the world will do that to a person. I can tell you without a doubt that both Alaska, and the lodge, are even better than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Talk to anyone who has been to either place and you'll find that this is a common theme.

Right, ok, so, I'm terrible with cameras (and directions, and knives) and couldn't figure out how to remove the date or set the date correctly. This is a picture taken from a walk on the tundra.

John Martin Stokes and myself, reunited after six weeks with no phone or internet. We roll snail mail style, ya heard?