Our Trip

Mom and Randy's cousin Loren took the ride with us from SLC to Bellingham. We had to take Randy---fuming, because he hates site seeing---to take in some of the sites in Portland. The temple was beautiful...What else should you expect? We had fun walking up and down the river.

We were able to visit with Jessica and the girls while we were in Washington. Randy's brother came home after we had gone to bed and left before we got up the next morning. We were happy that we got to see them. Rex and Jessica are expecting a baby about February. Congrats guys!

This is the ferry that we took out of Washington to Juneau. It is called the Columbia. Randy says that the ferrys are like mini cruise ships. I could not complain about our accomidations.

People are allowed to pitch their tents on the deck of the ferry. So that they don't have to rent a state room. I am so happy that we had a WARM room, soft bed and a shower!!!

This is a Canadian lighthouse. I always picture lightouses as having a huge light tower but this is not so -- the errector set tower on the right is the light tower. I suppose a honking huge light is not needed as long as the boats pass safely around the bends in the watery roads.

We had a day to kill in Juneau. So we driving around and stubled accross the entrance to the Mendinhal Glacier. It was a great view and a lot warmer that I thought it would be. The shades of blue and green are awesome.This was the Kennicott. We hopped aboard in Juneau and rode it to Kodiak. I liked this leg the most because the views were prettier when we stopped and we got to see WHALES!!! Well evidence of them anyway. I was always seeing bits and pieces or taking the picture at the wrong time. Cheniga Bay was the best, there were two orcas playing. I caught the tail of one splashing in the water and they were both spouting near the cliffs.
This video is the welcoming committee for Kodiak. We were driving past and the Eagle didn't seem to care that we were there. I have never seen as many bald eagles as I have here in Kodiak.

Howdy from Alaska!!!

Thought I'd let everyone know that we have made it here safely. We are all unpacked and happy to be here. Just have to let Jeri know that I have not forgotten about posting. I promised at least once a week. We are so happy to have a place to call our own again! So I thought that I would start off---catching-up--with pictures of our new home. We are living in town...not at the base. There is no way we would have quite as good a view or the space if we had gone into military housing.

If you ever wondered what people were talking about when they refer to the long days in Alaska...well...this picture of the lake was taken at almost midnight without any type of flash. It is amazing. The lake is Mission Lake and if you can see the snow capped peaks...those are in the ocean. Off to the rigtht, out of the picture is Mission Beach. When I was up here visiting Randy we were scuba diving there. I asked the guys if they had ever heard of whales being in the bay and they said no...the front page of the news paper the next day showed a picture of two Orcas in the very bay that we were diving in. Glad as a diver you don't look like a giant seal or anything.

All around the house there are tree carvings. We have an orca, a bald eagle, two bear cubs, a howling wolf, and some type of an imp. Randy says that it looks like Gismo from Gremlins. Sometimes I think that it looks like Dobby from Harry Potter...or at least a chubby cousin.

From the deck we can see the fishing boats, the ferry, and sea planes. We have ducks, geese, and bald eagles that hang out around the lake. Every once in a while a someone will row out into the lake. Kodi loves taking a swim in the water.

We are living in a tsunami zone so every Wednesday at two o'clock we hear the tsunami alarm test. Every place has its own hazards.

Life is great. When we got off the ferry I asked Randy if he felt like he was coming home and he said that he was. I have felt more at home here than I ever did in San Diego. A.J. and I take walks up and down Spruce Cape or Mission Beach. It is so nice to get out, look at the ocean, the rough pine strewn streets, breath the fresh air and stretch.