Tzana's visit: 2012

My mother-in-law, Tzena (pronounced Zay-nah), came to visit us for a week at the end of June till just after July 4th. And with her visit, our adventurous exploring of Alaska continued. 

The beginning of our venture took us to Whittier, AK. To get there, you have to drive through a 2 mile tunnel. The tunnel was built for a train, and so its very thin - only one direction of driving at a time (the direction changes every 1/2 hour), and we were driving over train tracks.

Whittier tunnel entrance, straight into a mountain

There's not a whole lot to do in Whittier, so we walked just outside of town to look at the river and waterfalls.

Heather and her Momma by the river

Yes it was June, and yes that's snow behind them!

Whittier is one of those quirky little towns you hear about. One of the "quirks" is this building. This is the dormitory, where everyone (yes, everyone) in Whittier lives.

Makes life easy for the postman

Alas, we only briefly passed through Whittier, because soon after touring the small town, we drove Jayne onto a ferry. Our plan: take the Alaska Marine Highway (a.k.a. big boat that holds cars and stuff) over to Valdez (another quirky town) and drive back to Anchorage.

The boat ride was absolutely beautiful. Completely surrounded by snow-speckled mountains, there wasn't a dull view in sight for the entire 6+ hour boat ride.

Front of the boat, with gorgeous-ness in sight

 This is one of two glaciers we passed on the trip. Sorry, but I've forgotten their names.

The second glacier we passed was s tide-water glacier (meaning it ends in the ocean) and it left lots of floating ice chunks in the water.

Sea Otters sun bathing on an ice chunk

The captain slowed the boat way down to navigate the clogged up ice-filled waters. But there's no avoiding it. We were constantly crunching into the ice chunks. He was just avoiding the really big ones. And there were plenty out there as big as a house. (You can see the tide-water glacier in the back ground in the picture below.) (Click to enlarge)

This is what I mean by "lots of ice chunks"

We passed this buoy, which had three stellar sea lions hanging out.

Cuties

Awesome mountains with waterfalls were everywhere

Finally, we docked in Valdeze, AK, home the second largest oil spill in history.

We found this cool little "park" called Dock Point Park. It was more like a really high knoll on the side of town, you had to hike up and then walk around in the woods following a trail.

You can never get too many hugs

We also found the base of a huge waterfall that you could see from anywhere in town. It made its way a few thousand feet down a mountain that bowled in the town.

Momma and daughter, enjoying the falls!

Our friend, and Heather's former pharmacy tech, Coleen, was doing an internship in Valdez at the oil terminal. When she had to go out on a boat with her boss for something work related, her boss was like, "Well, we're out here, why don't we put out the shrimp pots?" Later they pulled up a bunch of fresh caught shrimp, of which Coleen generously gave us a bag.

Don't mind that Coleen is flipping YOU the bird!

The next morning, we walked out to the car, ready to start our journey back toward Anchorage, and right across the street (only about 50 feet away) we saw this black bear. And he had strewn someone's trash all over the road.

I gotta admit, this one made me laugh

"Bazinga! Score! 

Then he made off with it like he stole something.....which I guess he did

 Here's the final moments of him making off with his treasure.

Before leaving town, we drove out to the oil terminal, where all of our Alaskan oil ends up and gets processed. It was kind of neat to see, but we couldn't go past this spot.

At one of the pull-offs we spotted this guy in a tree only 10 feet above our heads.

At the next pull off, we spotted this little inquisitive harbor seal looking back at us.

Looks like little puppy eyes

Moments later, a steller sea lion popped up and started yawning and growling.

Everyone told us that just outside of Valdez there are some beautiful waterfalls. But, we never found them. We only found these lame ones.

Jayne like water fall

Horse Tail Falls

A few hours into our journey and we unexpectedly passed Worthington Glacier. This is an in-land glacier that you can walk right up to, which I did.

Notice the pathway is completely covered in snow in early July

Worthington Glacier 

We came into Anchorage from the north, and that drive up through the valley is one of the most beautiful drives. It follows a carved out glacier valley that now is home to the Matanuska (pronounced matt-uh-noos-kuh) River. But along the way there are some breath taking sights. Here' sone of them. 

Behind us, in the picture below, you can barely make out the Matanuska Glacier (the little white strip that's even with my hair).

We were also celebrating Tzena's birthday during her visit. Below is the blanket we had woven with a picture on it from Tzena's last visit to Alaska. It's a piece of scenery from Kenai Lake, AK. The water was so crystal clear it made for a perfect reflection, and on the left hand side you can sort of make out the front portion of the train from which the picture was taken.

She liked her blankee

We then took her up the tram in Girdwood to take in the sights of the Turnagain Arm before eating at the restaurant on the mountain called Seven Glaciers, so named for the nearby ice formations. Can you guess how many there are?!

At about 3,000 ft elevation, looking down at sea level

And lastly, before she left, we took her up to Flat Top to walk with the puptons to take in the sights. This picture is very near the spot where my brother-out-law was the coldest he's ever been!

Momma T and her grand-dogs

Tzena, as always we loved having you visit, and you can't come back too soon!

Alaska w/ Robert and Anna, 2012!

Our friends Robert and Anna visited us back in April, for their 2nd trip to America's Last Frontier. We love seeing them and never get to spend enough time together. While they were here this time, I made some strong head way in my plan to convince them to move to Alaska. 

One of the first nights, we took them to eat at Simon and Seafort's, a fancy shmancy restaurant that sits on the water with a view of the sunset.

The sunset view from our table

Of course, in April, we still had to wait until after 9pm for the sun to go down.

Driving around some neighborhoods after dinner, Robert erupted in the car, "Ahhhh, STOP!" We all jumped. Then we realized, he had only spotted a moose in someone's front yard, feasting on a tree. It was a bit dark, and so he didn't show up in our photos too well. But here's the best one I could get.

Their visit this trip was less main-event-ful than last year's visit to Denali National Park. We spent more time around our apartment, playing games, and going to the YMCA. We love spending regular days with our friends.

One day we met some local friends at the dog park to walk a spell. There were 9 people all together and about 5 dogs tromping around in the still thick snow.

Lola and Kona competing over stick chewing rights

Good times were had by all.

Our two babies racing back to us!

At one point we spotted a moose off the trail in a field. Anna walked the trail to a good picture spot. Robert, the hunter, took the wooded route. Only the snow was up past his knees so my friend was anything but stealth moving through the trees.

Here they are walking back after photographing the moose (on the trail route)

The one main "event" activity we did together, was to go skiing. Anna and Robert and wanted to try out their Eastern North Carolina ski legs again after having done it growing up.

Heather and Anna with their "game" faces on

Heather convinced Anna that a ski lesson would be a good idea to refresh herself. Robert opted out and followed me around.

Anna - wore out

Skiing is tiring. But after her lesson, Anna was a little snow bunny. She followed Heather around with her snow plow technique and could've gone anywhere.

Robert about to fall out

"Snow bunny" is not exactly how I would describe Robert on skis. He powered his way down the hill, using muscles he hasn't engaged since....well....probably ever. Only once did he go down and refuse to get up until he was able to sit and rest.

Anna, finally to her feet, ready to go. "Go Anna go!" 

All in all, it was a good ski day. The weather was not the greatest, however. Overcast with spitting rain at the bottom, and sleet mid-mountain. Snow at the top, although, with beginners we didn't spend anytime there.

And lastly, before their trip to Alaska, Robert and I had a bet in place. A slap bet. To encourage my friend in his weight loss effort, he had agreed to a slap in the face if he hadn't reached a certain goal before coming to Alaska. I will let the video give the results.

p.s. Robert and I have yet, another slap bet in place for when we will see each other this coming October. Hopefully, the results will be different.

Colorado w/ the fam

Back in March, my parents got, what seems to have been their wish for the past 10 years, all their kids together for a family ski trip.

From left to right: Heather, Me, Mom, Dad, Adam, Audrey, Nora

Well, they almost got it. We were minus one essential person without Lance-a-roo.

And I learned just how difficult it is to be part of planning a trip that involves at least four different couples' schedules and time-off needs. There was a circus of emails at one point just trying to find if everyone was able to go at the same time. Nonetheless, we converged on Breckonridge, CO during spring break in March.

For some reason (we're still trying to figure out why) Heather and I left Alaska (the place with record breaking snow fall) and travelled to Colorado (the place with almost record breaking lack of snow fall). This entire winter, Heather and I have been spoiled with deep fresh powder almost every day we went skiing in Alaska.

For instance, I'll interrupt with this brief story about all the snow we've had. One day I was skiing the North Face (longest double black diamond accessible by lift in N. America), and having a good ol' time. But the clouds were very grey and overcast. The light was very flat and it was difficult to see the terrain in front of me. On a more flattish area, I was cruisin' at medium speed when suddenly (!) the ground from underneath my skis fell away! I started to yell, "Oh shi" when Kupluff! I didn't have time to finish my cuss word before I pancaked into the vertical side-wall of the huge trench. Like the wily cayote, I was arms-out, still-standing, face-first, smack into a wall of snow! Stopped, dead in my tracks. I never saw it coming.

My trench! I went back and found it and photographed it. Behind you can see the meanest portion of the North Face. It's hard to tell the dimensions of the trench, but standing in the center bottom, both side walls were over my 6'3" head. 

But the point of this story is that there was over a foot of fresh soft snow that day. My impact, though it knocked the wind and scared the be-geezus out of me, was considerably soft. Had I hit anything else at that speed (tree, person, slow-sign) I would've no doubt been injured. But, in my trench, after checking my face for blood, I came out unscathed and laughing. And that folks is how much snow we had last winter.

Not so in Colorado. In the end, we had a great time. We found the good patches of snow during the day and played lots of games in the evenings. I got to laugh at my sister's obsession with Dominion (which I started), and we all laughed the entire time during a painfully long game of Quelf.

My brother is doing his best impression of Jayne Cobb, while in Canton. You know "....the man they call Jayne."

Every day, the weather was beautifully clear and hot. Mostly it was around 50 degrees in the day. This meant skiing open jacket and risking sunburn--the real reason my brother and Nora (his pseudo wife) are so covered.

My sister, celebrating and showing off her massive guns. Though I'm not sure what she's celebrating, cause she's about to go down a really steep sheet of ice. 

There's a small momentous occasion worth note from this trip. After this trip, I feel I can say I have surpassed by father in skiing ability. This isn't bragging for me, but rather a recognition of sorts. Really, one might say that it's about time a twenty-something was better than a fifty-something at such a physically taxing sport. But, growing up, dad was always the best skier. He has a very smooth form and could always ski any run on the mountain he wanted to. It took me two seasons of regular skiing in Alaska and a few pointers from a ski instructor to take the mantle. Not bad, dad. Not bad at all. I hope I'm in my fifties before my kids get better than me. That's no small feet.

A view of Breckonridge Ski Area from Keystone

Lastly, here's a video of me killing a mogul field.

Sadie Bee

Meet Sadie. She is a pure bread Miniature Doberman Pincher, who belongs to my dear sister-in-law, Lauren. And as such, she is the newest member of the family. She was born Oct. 9th, 2011. 

Probably full grown at 6 lbs.

When Lauren graduated from college, her sister promised her a puppy when she was ready. Approaching this past Christmas, Lauren told us she was ready for a little darling.

Already knowing which breed we were looking for, we found  Minpin breeder not far from Raleigh. And during our trip home to NC before Christmas, we picked up a 9 week old cutie!

In the car ride from the breeder's

We met Lauren at work and presented her with her new baby. 

Lauren meets Sadie for the 1st time

Her first leash outing with Lauren, already has beautiful stance

Back at Lauren's apartment, Sadie is no stranger to "ruff" housing and playing around. 

But, like every puppy, after a bit of fun play, she was out like a light on her new bed. 

You can't tell from this picture, but she's sleeping under the X-mas tree

Lauren may not like me saying, but she's got some sassy-ness about her. And because of this, I thought it was hilarious when that little dog, after the first time Lauren tried to discipline it, gave Lauren all the kind of sassy protesting she could muster. A fitting match, I think.

Sassy Lauren, waiting for her new "dog"hter to pee outside rather than inside again