If you’re just tuning in to our Alaska adventures, here are the links to Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X Part XI and Part XII. Where did we leave off last? Days were getting a little slower, but no less interesting. What follows now is a brief dark period – both in weather and in spirits – but it’s no less interesting. For awhile now I’ve wondered how to write the next 2-3 days, but I think the chronological truth is still straight from a story book.
My bear photos from many chapters ago are the only ones you’ll see, I’m afraid to say. We woke up after our second night in Homer and the bear expedition was canceled yet again. We didn’t have another day to waste and wander so after another breakfast at Fresh Sourdough Express, we left Homer for Seward. Not to give us a casual goodbye, we saw a giant moose in a field on our way out of town. We also stopped at an Alaskan gift store to see a giant moose head. How could you not?
The road from Homer to Seward was wet and bear-expedition-canceled-disappointed. I probably dozed off for some of it. I remember snacks and a weird gas station with terrible anti-Obama pictures plastered on every square inch of a wall. The guy behind the counter looked gruff and murderous but he was actually warm and friendly. In Moose Pass, Alaska, we got delicious breve lattes. That means lattes made with cream instead of milk. And they had huckleberry flavored! We called a few places to book a glacier cruise out of Seward and the man on the phone started talking about orcas and chocolate chip cookies.
We arrived in Seward and first did some moose-viewing drives that the ladies in Moose Pass had told us about. We didn’t see any moose, nor in Moose Pass, but we definitely saw fresh bear prints. The air was wild and wet and somehow welcoming too.
We found a place at the Alaskan Wish Lodging & Art Studio which was pretty gorgeous actually. Innkeeper Carol had snacks, a big fat cat, beautiful and clean rooms (with a wall fireplace), and examples of her metal Alaskan art. She told us to hit the Alaska Shop (which her sister ran) as well as Thorn’s Showcase Lounge for the “Bucket o’ Butt” – which was breaded (but I don’t think fried) halibut. We also hit Once in a Blue Moose and I got two Alaska shirts. In the Alaska shop, we picked out a piece of art and she customized it for us to have a moose and a wolf, just like our wedding theme. Best souvenir ever.
Dinner at Thorn’s was fun! The food was exquisite but I was a little too excitable to eat much. I hate when that happens. A nice couple from New Jersey sat next to us. They were touring Alaska before moving from Jersey to Florida. They had gone on a glacier cruise earlier that day, and with the rough weather, they told us that half the boat got seasick. The woman even told us she had puked on herself. Not good for a vomit phobic to hear at dinner, the night before her own cruise!
Can you guess which one I wrote?
When the sun was close to setting, we decided to hike the Exit Glacier. I didn’t think we’d make it but we kept on going. We didn’t make it up to the Harding Ice Field, where there are surely Ice Giants and Ice Spiders, but maybe one day?
All in all, not a great day for bear expeditions or photos, but I’m glad I took a few phone pictures to give you a feel. Alaska is still the most fascinating place I know, and this is only the smallest fraction of it. Stay tuned.
That “before I die” board is pretty cool. Mordor is breathtaking, I’ve never seen anything like it.
It’s crazy! So gloomy too! I’d love to see it on a sunny day someday.
Love that board and I know you have seen a moose, but still that was the one I thought immediately when I read through the choices 🙂
hah, not me! I first saw a moose when I was 24. I thought “own a goat” was funny and perhaps I could have written that one too.
How could you even stand it?! I would be freaking out. I didn’t even go and your pictures and stories give me goosebumps!
Dude. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I’m still freaking out, three months later.
Great adventures!! I was so awestruck by the first glacier I saw. The bluish hue is beautiful. I share your disappointment with the bears. When I was in SA looking for elephants, all I ever saw was souvenirs that they left behind 🙂
ha! I bet they were rather large souvenirs too!
Oh SO excited to be catching up on your honeymoon posts, T! Fresh moose prints would have been amazing, but fresh bear prints, I’ll take those too!;-)
Ahh.. seeing you here is awesome! Thank you! Bear prints are pretty scary out there! So large and amazing.
Well, it doesn’t hurt to have a ‘down’ day on vacation—even in Alaska. One where you can sit back and sip on a creamy latte. So, I saw two on the board that might be yours. One; ‘see a moose before I die’ but you’ve already seen one or two or three so not sure if that was yours. Another one was ‘see the Northern lights’-was that yours?
There are a few down days, sadly. But I’m with you! The first 4-5 days were off the hook insane. Everyone needs to breathe.
Ok, so you’re right. I wasn’t the moose one because I’ve seen them since I was 24. I WAS the northern lights one!
That glacier is so neat!
I hope to visit there someday. We watch a show called Bering Sea Gold where people who live in Nome, Alaska hunt for gold. It’s interesting.
I always think of the Simpson Movie where they move to Nome and have an embroidery on the wall that says, “Nome Sweet Nome.” I’ve never been!
So very amazing Tamara – and your pictures are gorgeous. Glaciers are amazing. Almost every time we go to the Rockies, we check out the ice field. I would love to take a trip to Alaska.
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.
xoxo
What a dream! I’d love to see the Canadian Rockies, and the ones here too! I did once and it was a blizzard!
I’m SO BUMMED it was cancelled again! UGH. Well, I have hope for the cruise!! You leave us in suspense a lot, ya know that don’t you? I immediately saw the moose- but seeing as you HAVE spotted MANY in your life, I’m going with NORTHERN LIGHTS!!
haha, I’m not even sure I mean to do that but eventually I get to 50 photos or 1500 words and I realize I need to stop. This one was a quickie but still took ages!
You are so right about NORTHERN LIGHTS!
That does look like Mordor!
Completely! I wonder what it looks like on a sunny day!
I know the answer for the board from Facebook, so I won’t spoil it. However, I did just notice the handwriting on the bottom right says “love mommy!” So cute!
Exit Glacier was so full of snow when we went that we didn’t get very far, especially since we had a 5 year old and 7 year old hiking with us and no boots! It had been very snowy that winter, so even though it was June, there was still a ton of snow. That is the one thing I want to make sure my husband sees next time we are in Alaska…a proper glacier! A calving glacier would be even better!
I went back this week and caught up on all your Alaska posts! I feel like I should write about my Alaskan adventures since I haven’t properly written about them at all. I have to finish writing about my Yellowstone adventures first, though!
ha! That’s so cute!
Exit Glacier was so full of rain for us! Just like.. endlessly pelting us. Eventually you stop feeling it. I’m glad we did see some sun in Alaska.
A calving glacier! Bucket list!
I love that board! The moose one right? Although I see about 10 that would work for me. Gold nuggets, travel the world. Not sure about owning the goat…
I DO want to own a goat, but mine was the northern lights one. I’ve already seen so many moose!
bummed about the bears, but thorn’s looks fun! and the ‘before i die.’ i love that art project.
It’s awesome. I’d love to see more of it in other places!
What an amazing trip you had even with the down days. It’s hard to be on the go non stop on a trip!
I agree, and that makes me feel better to hear you say it!
I’m sorry your bear trip got cancelled. “Own a goat” jumped out at me!
I absolutely want a goat and I tell my family all the time! They can mow the lawn by eating it! Mine was the northern lights one, though.
I was looking for something moose related 🙂 I’m glad this trip has provided lots of opportunities to see moose. That’s too bad so many people got people got seasick.
People should take Dramamine first, I think!
The moose one wasn’t mine, but the northern lights one was!
I could NOT guess which one was yours, so many good choices and I love that idea so much. Now it has me reflecting on what I would write because it all seems so FINAL once you write it on chalkboard. 🙂
Agreed! But the best part is that there’s an eraser and you can get as many do-overs as you want!
Mine was the northern lights one.
Hurray for more Alaska posts!!! I’m so going there one day. I know you didn’t write “see a moose.” I mean I know you did, but I know you didn’t because you’ve already done that. *shake my head* That’s funny, and i know it’s silly, but I need to know if you wrote that or not. ha!
ha, sorry I took so long to reply here! It wasn’t mine. Mine was the northern lights one!
Well that does make more sense!!
Oh Wowzers! That Before I Die chalkboard is a jarring reminder. I am guessing moose. . .
Nope, I already saw so many! Mine was the northern lights one.
I spy a Cubs fan!! 🙂 Seriously, I never thought I would want to visit Alaska, but then you keep showing me that I’m a cotton headed ninny muggins.
XO
There’s always a Cub fan! Always!
You have to go to Alaska! You have to!
One does not just walk into Mordor…?? Or apparently, you can. 🙂
That Before I Die board is a brilliant idea. I feel the trek to base camp one… but mostly just LIVE.
Oh, you certainly can and I had NO idea!!!
I remember the Before I Die thing from Facebook, don’t know if I participated in the comments but I know I thought you were the moose one. But since this is being told chronologically and by that time you’d seen a million so I going to say you wrote “LIVE”.
Also, I’ve seen moose since my mid-20’s! LIVE is awesome, but mine was the northern lights.
Sorry the bear watching didn’t work out. Sounds like you still had quite the adventure!
That’s the thing about Alaska! There’s an adventure waiting around every corner!
I vote like Kenya – you wrote “LIVE!” Trying to catch up on all of your adventures!
I love LIVE! But I wrote northern lights!
We almost need a TamaraCamera documentary of your trip. The photos are amazing – but I can only imagine the visages you saw. Even on your off days.
I keep taking your comments into consideration! A book AND a documentary? I have to go back!