Chapter IX - Friends & Family -- Out and About

 

CHAPTER IX

Friends and Family — Out and About

(Summer 2022)

 

            Our missionary work must come first.  Of course.  But happily —as mentioned before — we are also encouraged to seize the day.  To get out and embrace the land and culture we serve.  And to welcome family and guests in doing so.

Thus, during this, our one full summer in Alaska, we squeezed in all we could.

A.      Homer

At the end of May, Doll and I made the four-hour drive — and an overnighter — down the Kenai Peninsula, to the outdoor adventure and fishing town of Homer.

At the tip of a last spit of ground at Homer is the Land’s End Hotel, where we spent the night.

The wildlife included a number of bald eagles.

The wind surfing looked exciting.

And the whole Kenai Peninsula is amazing.  Filled with scenes like these.

            

        Coming and going, we passed several volcanoes.  Including Iliamna.  Which last erupted in 1958 (the year I was born).  And the Redoubt Volcano (shown below) which had a major eruption impacting much of the state in 2009.  

Returning from Homer, we stopped in Soldatna.  And took some of our fine elders to breakfast.

B.       Portage Lake and Glacier

The first Saturday in June, Doll and I joined a base group for kayaking around Portage Lake and beneath the Portage Glacier.

C.      Shaws and Junks

In the latter half of June, my lovely sisters Kathy and Amy — and their even lovelier husbands Mike and Al — came to visit.  Their plane landed about 2 in the morning.  But, nearing summer solstice, it was still pale twilight as they arrived.  And never really did get dark that night.

Shortly before they touched down — nearly an hour after midnight — I took this photo.

For the record.  Here were the official sunset and sunrise the day before solstice.

With the Junks and Shaws, we did some of our favorite things -- like hiking the Matanuska Glacier -- and others we’d yet to try.

Cruising the Kenai Fjords National Park was a first for all of us.  We witnessed calving glaciers.

We saw pods of orcas (aka killer whales).

And humpback whales.  Including this one, who blew a tightening net of bubbles.   Thus trapping schools of fish.  Before swooping in to gobble them.

Our Fjords cruise included a stop for dinner on this picturesque island, whose name I have now forgotten.

With the Shaws and Junks we hiked through woods and amongst waterfalls.

D.  Some of the Kids

A few weeks after Shaws and Junks, it was Ashley and Hiram who arrived.  On a visit that overlapped with Paul.  And with a couple-day pop-in from Karin, Isla and Lincoln.

We these darlings did more Glacier hiking.  And hiked at other places, including the Alyeska Resort.

We ventured to the paranormal port-town of Whittier.

From Whittier we enjoyed fjords and wildlife on the 26 Glacier Cruise.

Paul was with us for several days after the others went home.  Allowing us time with him to visit Denali National Park.  Where we saw a grizzly bear, caribou, Dahl sheep, and moose.  Along with scenes like these.

One day Paul and I hiked about the Alyeska Resort.  It was now the height of fireweed season.

Grandson Ethan and our de-facto granddaughter Mariela also paid us a visit.  As they came and went from a stay with Karin and Ronny in Kodiak.  With them we enjoyed more glacier and other hikes.  And the annual JBER air show.

E.      Salmon Fishing

The First Counselor in our Mission Presidency is a good brother named Brian Smith. Brian, a decades-long resident of Alaska, is an expert hunter and fisherman who enjoys teaching others.  And he kindly helped in my dream of prime time Alaska salmon fishing.  He and his brother Bruce took me to a renowned spot on the Russian River for the run of Sockeye Salmon (also known as “Reds”).  Several weeks later, Brian and a friend took me to the same place — for the run of Coho Salmon (also known as “Silvers”).

The others, being more expert, did better than I.  But I soon caught the hang of it.  And with it my share of salmon.

One beautiful August day, Doll and I drove to Hope, Alaska.  Where the Humpback Salmon (or “pinks”) were running on Resurrection Creek.

Returning from Hope, Doll lounged and studied in the car.  Whilst I did a hike above the Turnagain Arm.

Throughout the brief summer Doll, true to form, kept a charming balcony.

The sunny photos just above are a bit misleading.  While the “Lower 48” were suffering from severe drought, throughout August it rained in Anchorage all but a very few days.  And several areas set all-time precipitation records.

F.  End of Summer

By Labor Day weekend, we were out gathering blueberries.  The greens of summer were showing Autumn hues.  Bright colored flora covered the ground.  And there was snow on the mountains.  By mid-October, the snow and ice were here to stay.