A Few More Fall Photos

Yesterday evening the light was perfect, so I had to take a few pictures of the fall colors.

It is quite surprising how many leaves are still left on the trees.  While it did freeze last night, there haven't been many frost filled nights yet this fall. 

Fall

A couple of weeks ago, snow started to rear its ugly head up high in the mountains.  It's been such a rainy fall, it's surprising I was even able to find a day to take a picture.  On September 23rd, Gus and I walked to the bus stop with little snowflakes all around us.  By the time I went to work an hour and a half later, there was a thin layer across my windshield that I had to swipe away.  Of course the kids at school were excited.  As weather would have it this time of year, it was melted by the time I left work and the only evidence that it had snowed at all were the little snowmen left behind in the soccer field.

In between the raindrops, a construction crew has been busy most of the summer, "improving" the 1/2 mile stretch of road between us and the main drag.  If my boys were 4 years old again, I would find this project a source of entertainment as the novelty of seeing the equipment would supply many hours of joy.  But as it stands, its been a little irritating.  Twenty-five years ago, a section of road was built in the electrical easement, and now they've decided there are enough funds in the borough budget to make the electrical company happy and improve the spring drainage.  I've had a hard time appreciating this new and improved road because all I ever see are big ditches my teenage drivers could slide over in the winter and what used to be a get out and push stuck now becomes a "call the tow truck" situation. 

Last weekend, Wyatt and I drove to Fairbanks.  There were beautiful blue skies, fall colors and Denali mountain views for most of the way.  Since we'd left so early in the morning, I witnessed a range of colors and shadows across the Alaska Range.  It was one of those moments that Bryant and I often joke about and say, "Why would you want to live anywhere else?" I experienced another moment like that 24 hours later as I approached the backside of Ester Dome, 14 miles into the Equinox, Marathon when southern views of the Alaska Range and Denali came into view.  I just completed 2000 feet of climbing on trails and knew I had accomplished something I wasn't sure on how I would fair. Furthermore, I had energy left in the tank and had these wonderful views to reward me. "Why would you want to do any other race?"  

I finished the last half feeling pretty good and wondered if I signed up for it next year, would Wyatt be attending UAF like he so enthusiastically expounded upon during our campus visit the day before or if he would choose some other path. 

As it stands today on this Saturday morning, we are quickly falling into winter, but I cross my fingers that the snow stays up  high for another month.





Summarizing Summer . . .

Superior:  Wyatt, Gus and I flew down to Michigan where we stayed with my parents at their camp in Little Traverse Bay on Lake Superior. The water was a little cold and the mosquitoes were prolific, but we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the family.  And even though Alaska had a warmer and drier than normal summer, the summer temperatures are always warmer other places.  Michigan was no exception. 


Gus enjoying a campfire on the beach with his cousins.



Wyatt's fascination with snakes hasn't diminished.

 

Surfing:  From the U.P., we flew down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, rented a car, and drove north to Todos Santos to surf.  We stayed minutes from the beach and spent 4 days at the beach surfing, boogie boarding and playing in the waves.  By the end of day four, my body was aching and my eyes so sunburn it hurt to open them in broad daylight without sunglasses.  It was a good thing that I had a travel day.   

 Scuba Diving:  Although it had been nearly 25 years since I put on a scuba gear and received my PADI Open Water Diver, I was anxious to put on gear and try it again.  We made our way to Cabo Pulmo Dive Resort on the Sea of Cortez to explore the underworld.  I took a refresher course, Gus a Discover Scuba Class, and Wyatt became certified as an Open Water Diver.  

Snorkeling by the Arch:  After we finished the diving classes, we circled back around to Cabo for two nights.  My mission was to get to Cabo's famous Arch to snorkel without taking one of the million tourist water taxis.  Ironically, it was a local, who was selling tourist adventures around Cabo, who told me where to park and assured me it wasn't too difficult as long as we didn't mind getting wet from the shore break and climbing over a few rocks.  

Lover's Beach; where the Sea of  Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean

After we finished snorkeling, we walked out between the rocks and watched the enormous surf of the Pacific bang against the beach.  The Go Pro ran out of batteries, so we didn't get any good pictures. 

 

Europe: While the boys and I were busy in our travels Bryant was thousands of miles away pursuing a dream of his own - traveling Europe.  He flew into Germany, headed south to Italy, north to the French Alps and back to Germany.  Condor Airlines has straight flights from Anchorage to Frankfurt, Germany.

Along with seeing some of the culture the area had to offer, he climbed thousands of feet in the mountains on his road bike.  A highlight at the end of his trip was being able to ride his bike up the mountain to see a couple of stages of the 100th Running of the Tour de France.  For someone who has spend many hours riding a bike on the trainer in the garage watching bike races, it was exciting to see him have the opportunity to fulfill this dream.   

The pass Bryant road over to get to the Tour De France

A couple of weeks after his return, we biked to Hatcher's Pass from the house.  Looking at the pictures of the two places side by side, I had to chuckle at how similar the terrain looks! 

Bryant at the top of Hatcher's Pass near Palmer, Alaska





For the past couple of years, I've been making my way to the top of the pass at least twice in a season and the only satisfaction I have is that the end of the year ride always feels a little easier than the beginning of the year ride.  And this day was no exception. 

 Top of Hatchers Pass near Palmer, Alaska

While June and July were warmer and drier than normal, August was its usual rainy and cloudy self.  Finally when the weather cleared on a Sunday afternoon in late August, we decided to headed up to Hatcher's Pass. 

Yesterday after Bryant finished his long bike and I my long run, we dug in the closet and actually found some nice clothes to wear and celebrate our 10th Anniversary by eating out at a local restaurant.  We both feel very fortunate to have had all the adventures we've had in the last 10 years and look forward to many more.   

10th Anniversary

That pretty much "Summarizes Summer."  Over the years, I've been keeping this blog for a dual purpose, to keep others informed and for me to document events.  I've realized my memory can't always keep up with everything and the details over the years and events sometimes contradict themselves.  The blog will keep it all straight if I stay faithful, and I will attempt to do better as we have already approached fall.