This summer Martha didn't do too much because she was feeling sick. That didn't keep her in the house all summer though. She did go on one trip and that was salmon berry picking at Cukartalek, the same trip that I went on. Actually she rode with our boat and I drove there.

It was near the end of July and Martha's two daughters, sister, and their families were planning to go berry picking at Cukartalek, a slough across the river from Pilot Station and a popular salmon berry picking spot. She thought about it for a while and decided to go because she wasn't feeling bad at the time and didn't want to be alone.

The ride was long and cold for Martha, but she said it was worth it. She enjoyed her time outdoors, living almost the way she used to in the days when she was young. The whole time she was there it didn't rain and that was another thing that made the trip worthwhile for her. She and the other berry pickers were out a total of three days and two nights. The first day she picked a lot of berries, but the second day she picked a little less, and she felt tired that night. On the third day she didn't pick very many berries, and she was aching tired. She felt relieved, though, when she got home because she could rest.

In spite of her tiredness, Martha liked everything about the trip. She just wished she was younger so she could go on more of them.

Story By: Martha Evan

Interviewed By: Ben Peteroff