Maybe 2 trillion

she says:

There are certain types of mystery that don't translate very well, mystery that can not be captured on film and is hard to describe in words.  I unfortunately have experienced two of theses types of mystery during my time in Alaska.  

The first was last fall; cold and damp.  I found myself watching The Alaska Experiment and thinking "Why are Jeff and I in our rain gear, it doesn't look that bad."  Then remembering it was a downpour, and you just couldn't tell on TV.  The discomfort of being chilled down to the bone by the moist and frigid Icy Bay air didn't translate.  

The second mystery I thought I could handle, (I've been to Australia, had flies crawling all over my face, up my back, in my ears and I adjusted... I was serene and seriously found peace with the flies of the Oz...  and so) I thought I was prepared for the mosquitos of Alaska.  However I was sadly mistaken. 

Of course that wasn't the way it started out.  When I first arrived I was ready to adjust, I even thought that the mosquitos though plentiful, didn't have as bad a bite.  Yes.. the high pitched sound of their wings buzzing by your head will drive you batty.. but I thought I could get used to it.  So as I happily worked in the bug-free-ish kitchen I thought, "the bugs are manageable, I can do this."  

That was until of course I worked outside for the first time.  I quickly learned that there are different types of Alaskan bugs and mosquitos are far from the worst of it.  There are these bugs called white socks.  And they are smart little buggers.  I swear they wait till you have your hands tied up, hauling lumber before they latch on to the tender skin in the corner of your eye and bite with such gusto that they leave a bruise.  A bruise that looks like you and a Kebbler elf have gotten into a fisticuffs.  Yes it will itch and your eyelid will puff up, but NO scratching it.  It will just make it worse.  

And there was the time I was staining the cabin, it was raining so you would think NO Bugs!  I was under the protection of the porch, unfortunately all the bugs were also drawn to the protection of the overhang and the strong sweet aroma of wood stain.  So after inhaling quite a few insects and cursing a ton, I continued staining with a bug net over my head.  Actually many of the things I now do outside consist of putting on my mosquito head net before venturing outdoors.  Sitting outside with a cup of tea at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset just doesn't happen around here.  Damn Bugs!!

Anyway, I think to worst of all is when the mosquitos disturb you from your slumber, ruining your fantastic dreams and your extremely restful sleep as their irritating soprano-like buzz, circles around your head like a  Cessna  attempting to come in for a landing on your face.  In my semi-conscious state I am irrationally angry at the tiny satanic flies.  I imagine the high pitched little flies were sent on some sort of mission to attack me personally, like they are trying to avenge their dead brother that I killed earlier that day or something...  I hate them. 

One of our kayaking Israeli clients questions Devon (the lodge handyman & deckhand) as he was getting ready for a 5 day camping excursion, "How many bugs do you think there are here?" 

"I don't know man, a lot" was Devon's reply. 

"I think maybe a trillion bugs," was the Israeli's response as he pondered the number and after a prolonged silence he reconsidered,  "maybe two trillion." 

So in short there are a lot of bugs. Though I must say they are improving my hand eye coordination tremendously.