pure JOY...

 

so much fun!  just a quick note in the wee hours. recovering from my week with the coolest people and of course, work as well. 5 nieces and myself never stopped and got lucky on weather.  we explored and adventured together. 

total giggles, laughter and love was experienced. everyone got along perfectly. no drama. this is how it should be always...i'm so happy they all came and that we all had such a grand time together. CB was first to arrive. at 3 am i was awake checking weather. things looked great in Whittier.  i set alarm for 0700 and called and got us in for a paddle trek. these are from that paddle. beautiful weather and  a great start to the week. love this of the fishing boat and the glacier

after our hike we explored Whittier a bit and then hiked up Portage Pass. that night SH arrived, more laughter and then we crashed. the next morning KR arrived. we got ready for a stay in a dry cabin at Eklutna Lake. we hiked Arctic Valley and headed to the cabin.  more good weather.  a baby bear sighting and a campfire with s'mores. we played a card game CB had brought. 

after a restful sleep we headed out to Matanuska Glacier. we played with the dogs out front and then took a walking tour on the glacier. it was a beautiful drive out and just an amazing walk on the ice.  tons of photo ops.  we ate dinner in Palmer on the way back and then got ready for the turn around for Homer. we got in to my place late, set up the house for the full house of guests. only one night did we all sleep there. KC and KT arrived after 1 am.  led them to the office and a blow up mattress and let them know we were waking up at 0600 for the next adventure.  

we got on the road early. we had a float down the Kenai River scheduled. that was a great break on the long drive to Homer. lots of laughter.  i got individual time with each of my nieces which was just some of the most favorite bits for me. SH and i got to chill in Seldovia as the sisters took a hike and the others had car time. long chats.  

we all just got along so fabulous. i really can't express how glorious the week was. 

we settled in to our digs at the Seaside Cottages in Homer.  we headed to the spit to walk the beach, walk amongst the flowers, eat i think and swing. 

in the morning i was braiding hair just like i had done for them decades ago. clearly something they all remembered and enjoyed from their childhoods. 

we played the card game again, laughed til we cried.  took a late night sunset walk on Bishops Beach. 

the next day was a water taxi out to do a hike to Gwenwich Glacier. you get dropped at one end.  take a side trail to the glacial lake and then hike back to another beach for pick up. it's about 5 miles so we had time to chill at the lake and get some photos. 

i ended up getting blisters....i toughed it out though and bought supplies when we got back in town. 

dinner out again and then more fun and laughter.  we went to sleep to the sound of giggling. 

saw a young moose on the drive and a black bear ran across the road ahead of us. 

our second full day in Homer we headed on the ferry to Seldovia.  we had looked at options but the ferry was the best one i think. the sisters took the otterbaun trail. SH and I had both been before and neither of us had been able to explore town too much.  for her it had been that most of the shops were closed and for me, i'd had the dogs. 

the dogs had a live in pet sitter for the time we were in Homer.  later my amazing friend, JH, stayed here between shifts to keep them company. love when i do not have to worry about the pets.  did miss them and they always love Homer so that is always hard to leave them  behind.  easier, especially with a large group. 

we woke early the next day and went for a walk on Bishops Beach. then to Salty Girl for last minute shopping.

the store clerk watched us all a bit and then was all, "i have to know, what is going on, who are you guys to each other".  it was explained that i was the aunt who had been the bad influence and they were sisters/cousins. 

guess i'm still a bad influence.  in the end the worst will always be assumed by a certain segment of the family. i will always be blamed, no matter what the truth is.  at some point you live for you and for those who like you despite your flaws, but also see you for the good that is in you. 

most of the time in these situations..it's more about them and their issues than your own.  the family secrets trickle out over time and you discover that the lives you see are not the truth of those lives lived. sometimes people don't like that you are happy.  i left so i was supposed to get punished. if i'm happy then they have to wonder what all their bizarre sacrifices are really for i  think. 

also had a 30 sec encounter that ended up turning into drama after my family had left. not sure what the point of even telling me was? really felt like i was punked in the end.  i'm usually the ruminating, overly sensitive one...so surprised when it was someone who is always unflappable and confident.  you can apologize but you can't always expect to be forgiven...after several back and forths...i guess i was.  i don't think it will ever be right though but in life,  you have to just move on some times. as i said, i really have to question what the point was of sharing this with me. just made it all worse. 

we wandered the docks after  shopping and saw lots of cool stuff, jellies and an otter.  we had a few otter sightings

this is a dirty mountain goat. i guess they were rescuing one today that got caught behind the wire net they put up to catch rocks. i hope the rescue was successful. 

we drove back towards Anchorage on Friday, stopping in Seward for a side trip.  we ate and hit the sealife center.  puffins were on the list to see. no time for a full boat ride.  

it's 2 am now so i'm not sure i'll make it out to Seward tomorrow for a boat trip tomorrow. there is one at 11:30 so have set the alarm and we shall see.  would love to see if i can find some whales to enjoy. weather and wind are supposed to be good.  they can usually squeeze one passenger in.  

i worked the last two nights and then walked with LS this afternoon.  we did the Campbell Airstrip

the mushrooms are starting to pop out like crazy.  all this rain is good for that anyway.

4 of my visitors left that night and it was just CB and i. we got yet another early start and headed back to Seward.  had a night at Orca Island scheduled. glamping in well stocked yurts.  just bring clothes and food.  it never stopped raining the whole time we were there. 

we went for a second paddle. we were at the mouth of a creek at high tide.  we just chilled there and enjoyed watching the salmon run beneath our kayak and there were a few sea lions that joined us and were busy fishing.  so that as super fun to watch.  

i had the most ungraceful exit out of the kayak.  they have kayak cradles on their docks.  Haley out there was super nice but we decided she's kind of the weakest link.  lol.  she was no help getting me out as i flopped around trying to not fall out of the kayak.  does need to be stabalized for exit. finally i got out of there.  we relaxed by the fire, walked the boardwalks and in the morning....humpback

i looked out our yurt door first thing and there was a humpback. so we watched in move out of Humpy Cove and then back in. it popped up right off shore in front of us. no photo's.  just a pretty surprising showing.  great to see. 

heart rock.  great to be home with the dogs. 

thankful for A.  an amazing and memory filled trip with my nieces.  B.  safe travels for all C. awesome weather and adventures.