July 15, 2010
Girl, 3, floats Yukon River
READY TO ROCK? — A Fairbanks girl rests before embarking on another 25-mile stretch of Yukon River. (AP photo)
THE MIDDLE YUKON RIVER, ALASKA — Without much choice in the matter, a girl just under the age of four recently paddled from Eagle to Circle, Alaska. During the seven-day trip, she occasionally used her own small paddle, which sometimes pushed water downstream. Sources claim she had the time of her life, due in part to candy she stuffed in the cargo pockets of her father's pants during the Eagle Fourth of July Parade. She was rumored to withdraw bubblegum and SweetTarts to endure long days on the river.
She enjoyed viewing wildlife along the way.
The girl deemed the views from the tent acceptable . . .
And made sure her Mommy didn't skip any pages because she was tired.
She made friends with the locals . . .
and was OK that some passed in the night.
She found the perfect-size cabin . . .
and tripped over a loaf of rock while jogging.
Her camera malfunctioned at Slavens Roadhouse . . .
but her SteriPEN performed at Richard Smith's cabin, keeping the family relatively parasite-free.
The Yukon beaches couldn't be beat, she said . . .
OMG, they're made of sand!!!
When her dad became exhausted, she took over and reeled in a monster (and later ate it).
Packing for the Yukon is a breeze, she said. You need only a few items.
But, she warned, you will be very sad when you finish.

























