Back at it

I know it's been a long time but I'll do my best to keep this short.

We arrived in Minnesota to a warm welcome from Jon's family. Between visiting friends and family, a week at Lake Vermilion, sailing with our friend Art, and the Minnesota State Fair, six weeks was gone in the blink of an eye.

Parting was sad and exciting just as before. We headed west toward the promise of work... so we took our sweet time. We stopped as often as possible: Minnesota's Largest Candy Store, the South Dakota Bad Lands, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and finally Salt Lake City.

Our favorite stop was Devils Tower. Our least favorite was Mt. Rushmore. Although it is cool, the only view is one that must be paid for... there is no "entrance fee" (which our National Park Pass would have covered), but the $11 mandatory parking permit (which our National Park Pass does not cover) is good for unlimited entry for the entire calendar year. Now I don't mean to sound like a cheapskate but COME ON!! They know damn well that the majority of people will not be back again in the same year. How about the $2 twenty minute snap-a-photo-and-leave pass. Yeah, we were not happy. But we got our photo and that was that.

After Salt Lake City we blasted straight through Nevada and entered California. Beautiful California. Just under three months we worked. We did have Thanksgiving off which we spent in San Francisco with Jacob and Leah at their sweet pad where their amazing chef friend Jay prepared a Turducken (a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey), a very memorable meal indeed. We drove from San Fran to Yosemite for a few days of climbing then back to work. As Winter approached the work dried up. Lucky for us we must have made a good impression, because we were invited back in the Spring.

This brings us to about December 15th of 2012. I'll end it here and resume with leaving California on the next blog entry. Thanks for reading, we've missed you...

Our 'Welcome Home Party' with Veronica, Nick, Sarah, Jon, Clint and slacklining

'Team Art Johnston' during our two day race from Duluth to Portwing and back

Lake Vermilion - Jim got the biggest fish of the trip and Christopher pulled it in

Our first day on the road, looking for any excuse to stop :)

Our $11 photo of Mt. Rushmore

Old Faithful!

On the top of Devils Tower

During our Thanksgiving break in Yosemite National Park

Upper Yosemite Falls

Home

Twelve days passed between leaving Eagle River, AK and arriving to Duluth, MN. It was hard coming to terms with our 'long trip' being over... but the draw of family, friends, and Duluth in the summer was a light at the end of the long long driving tunnel.  It also helped that the drive was beautiful and we stopped for one day of hiking in Jasper National Park in Alberta Canada.

Now what?

Well, we are looking forward to about six weeks in Duluth then we must find some work. I imagine, if you have been reading our blog, we appear to have figured out a way to trick the tooth fairy into leaving $100 bills under our pillows. Unfortunately that is not the case and our hard earned savings is about dry. We must replenish, and luckily we are two young able-bodied ambitious workers. SO! Into the work force we go, laughing all the way, until we save enough for our next adventure...

Hot Springs

Chicken, AK

Entering Canada

Our dream home

One of the beautiful lakes in Canada

The Wal-Mart in Whitehorse 

Tourist attraction

Wildlife

Our day hike in Jasper

Also in Jasper

Our last truck stop dinner

Alaska: part 4

If Alaska were a restaurant, we had ordered the appetizer sampler- just a small taste of many things.  A month was hardly enough time to commit to something more rich and savory such as a main course of river rafting with a side of backcountry backpacking in the Brooke's range.  But even as we were satisfied that the time and energy we spent getting to Alaska was well-spent, Judy and Ken insisted we try a bit of dessert.  Bring on Halibut Cove!

Judy, having the same energy to weight ratio as a hummingbird, needed only a couple of days to get ready to go open her cabin down in the cove after having been gone for nearly two months.  She expertly bought and organized a week's worth of supplies and before we knew it we were on our way to Homer on the Kenai Penninsula where we would take a water taxi across Kechimack Bay.

When you think of a small and secluded coastal paradise nestled into Alaska's pristine wilderess, Halibut Cove is exactly what you are thinking of.  A small community of close-knit individuals have built their cabins in an area where there are no bad views.  A creative consciousness permeates the island and its residents which manifests itself in the form of two art galleries and a restaurant where the food is an artistic expression in itself.  Tall board walks line the inner rim of the island making it possible to access the various shops and residences where the only other way to get around is by boat or kayak.

Judy's cabin was spectacular.  It was the perfect jumping off point to explore the biodiversity of the surrounding waters or the hiking trails of the Kachimack Bay State Park.  We kayaked, hiked, drank coffee and talked politics, went clamming, had dinner parties with the neighbors, grabbed a drink at the restaurant, and just soaked up the surrounding beauty.  Juliet even got a ride in a bush plane.  The whole experience was, to finish my original food metaphor, icing on the cake.

As the water taxi sped away from Halibut Cove and the Island's land mass became smaller and smaller on the horizon, we realized that we were officially on our way home.

The wonderful Judy and Kenn.

Just outside of Homer.

Arriving by water taxi.

Welcome to the guest cabin.

Judy is ahead of us, we could barely keep up!

How did we end up here again???

Who needs to forge a river when you have a tram!

7.7 miles to the glacier - well worth it.

Clamming with Judy.

Austin: "I have to move this thing, who wants a ride?" Me: "I'm sorry, could you repeat the question."

It was a negative tide day so Judy showed us a secret tide pool. 

I had no idea they were so small/ colorful/ full of life!

Back at Homer.

Alaska: part 3

      When you think of the idyllic trip to Alaska what comes to mind?  Without question there is an endless amount of opportunity for recreation, but certainly on the top of our list were: Sea kayaking among the Kenai Fjords, and Hang out with world caliber dog mushers.  Check and check.

  Victoria! What a treat, a little slice of Duluth in Seward Alaska.  Let me just fill you in on a little secret: Seward is a gem. Victoria shared with us some of her favorite spots and we were hooked. A hike to a rocky beach on Resurrection Bay where whales and seals played in front of a mountain backdrop, fresh fish for dinner, and a day of sea kayaking. Victoria told us of a day hike that we should do on our way out of town that would afford us a bird eye's view of the town, bay, and surrounding crown snow capped peaks.  "It starts steep but levels off, it's really not that bad."  Wow, you guys must be in great shape. That hike felt about vertical the whole way up as we navigated mud and snow patches. But the view from the top did not disappoint.  How lucky we were.  It was so great to have caught up a bit and we hope to see you down the road.

  From Seward we split for Willow with a pit stop at Exit Glacier. What's in Willow you might ask? Ummm HELLO! Only our amazing talented dog mushing friend Joar! The Norwegian super star headed for the Iditarod. (It starts the first Saturday in March each year, follow it!)  Joar, having shipped his dogs to Alaska from Norway, had run the Yukon Quest last year finishing in an impressive 6th place.  His dedication is unmatched and it leaves us wondering what he could possibly set his sights on in the future if he checks off the Iditarod by the time he turns 25?  Where do you go from there?  We met his dogs and played with the new puppies.  We were cooked an amazing home-cooked Danish meal upon our arrival and the next day treated to a Solstice Party Supper at famous dog musher, Egil Ellis's house.  Now we're just getting spoiled.  Apparently our friends all want us to stay in Alaska and it just might work.

  We headed back to Eagle River to wait for Judy to get back from here travels in the lower 48.  Her and Ken were going to show us their cabin in Halibut Cove.  We couldn't wait...

Victoria took us on a little hike.

This is where your daily hikes take you!?   Photo by Victoria Witrak

What the?... 

Ryan, in the red kayak, takes us on a tour of the beautiful bay they live on. 

Seward: The population doubles when the cruise ship arrives.

Exit Glacier

Mille with her puppies.

Helen, standing (Egil's wife) was an amazing host.

Amazing dinner cooked over an open fire.

Cheers...

Jon and Joar

Alaska: part 2

       If you're driving around Alaska you have to visit Fairbanks, isn't that right? I feel like I heard that somewhere... anyway we went there aaaaand ---- it was worth it!!!! Aside from the drive being as beautiful as one would come to expect from Alaska, it had good coffee, hometown-y muesums dedicated to dog sledding, locally brewed beer, a giant oil pipeline (a staple of any cool city), and the *town NORTH POLE!!! Where it is Christmas all year round! That could be some peoples' dream come true- or some peoples worst nightmare, but if your just passing through it is a cute novelty. We snapped some photos and as we drove away down Santa Clause Lane (no joke) we couldn't shake the song "Here Comes Santa Clause" from our heads.

Feeling like we literally saw everything in one day we headed for "The Denali Highway" expecting the best views and wildlife sightings yet. Although it was foggy for much of the drive the few clear moments were everything we imagined. We saw two young grizzly bears eating a fresh road-killed moose and again paused to appreciate the resilience of all the wildlife that has adapted so well to living in such a variety of conditions.

Once we got back to our squatted cabin it was a quick sauna then packing for a midnight flight to Las Vegas for my cousin Nicolette's high school graduation party. Jon sat this one out opting to explore more of Chugach state park and trying to remember what life was like before he and I became attached at the hip. 

Here is some good advise: If you have realitives who are looking to relocate encourage them to move to Las Vegas and here is why - 

1) Family is a PERFECT excuse to go to Las Vegas where there is 100% chance of sunny skies. 

2) It is very close to Red Rocks National Park.

3) Plane tickes to Vegas from anywhere will be cheap!

The 1000 mile loop of driving around Alaska just wasn't enough for Jon and I so to see more we set out in search of our friend Victoria living in Seward.

A sweeping view near Fairbanks.

This was such a great museum.

Our friend Joar took 6th place in the Yukon Quest this past year!

Amazing beer :-)

Just what every beautiful place needs!

♫♪Here Come's Santa Clause, Here Come's Santa Clause, Right Down Santa Clause Lane♫♪

The classic 'open road' photo.

Freeze frame

Danielle (in blue) poolside in Las Vegas! Now it's a real family gathering <3

Victoria prepares a delicious 'welcome to Seward' dinner.