Seward, AK 2014 - Day 4

Our temporary home (upstairs)

Teenagers like to sleep in. And because of this strange phenomenon, Ashley got a couple hours of one-on-one time with Chad and me this morning. The three of us walked downstairs and onto the street of a sleepy little town. No one was out, no businesses were open but one: The Sea Bean. So we went in for coffee. Chad and Ashley played chess while I read National Geographic magazines. Then we walked to the bay and followed a trail along the beach. This was the most interesting thing we saw:

Notice the look of surprise on his face. 
He probably died thinking, "How in the..."

By the time we got home, the kids were up and ready for breakfast. After showers, the three of them went to a nearby café which gave us time to get ready. When they came back, Ashley had purchased herself a double tall latte because she liked the taste of her daddy’s this morning. I promptly bought it from her (she had used her own money to pay for it) because eleven seems a bit young for espresso. First it’s lattes, then it’s whiskey, and before you know it, I’ll be raising my grandson Rayzor Blayd and wondering where his mama went. I know how these things go.

I wanted to see a moose. But not this way.

We got in the car and drove almost two hours to Kenai. I watched for moose (unsuccessfully) the entire way. Chad told us stories about his life in Alaska for a lot of the drive, the rest of the time was spent talking about Disneyland and, surprisingly, how gorgeous Alaska is. 

Chad moved from Damariscotta, Maine to Kenai when he was Jackson's age (that's 14 if you don't care enough to know how old my kids are). I’ve always wanted to see where he spent his high school years and he’s always wanted to show me. Having our kids with us was just a bonus, but they would probably disagree. 

Chad took us to almost all the places he lived in Kenai (he moved ten times in five years, so there was a lot to see). He showed us the places he worked (many are out of business now. I’m sure it wasn’t his fault), we saw his high school and he told the kids about many of the naughty things he did as a teenager. That was probably their favorite part. Some great conversations took place today; a lot of stories told and questions asked. Forgotten memories remembered and new ones made. And quite a few groans of boredom were duly noted.  

The highlight of the day was when we got to have lunch with Justin and Dillon. Justin is Chad’s best friend from high school. He lives in Phoenix and is up here fishing with his brother Dillon for the summer. Chad and Justin haven’t seen each other in almost fifteen years but their reunion didn’t seem like a reunion at all—they simply picked up where they left off all those years ago—cracking each other up, telling stories about the old days (they’re the best storytellers I know), and catching up on each other’s life. We left lunch in such a good mood because that’s just the effect Justin has on people. God really blessed Chad when he put Justin in his life over twenty-five years ago.

One of these two is a "sk8r 4 life." I'll let you guess who.

We continued our tour of Kenai, stopping to watch the dip netters fish for salmon. I’ve never heard of this style of fishing before. I only know the method where you stand on the shore all day and you're not allowed to talk because you annoy your dad and when you try to push him into the water as a joke he casually steps aside and you go in face first then have to sit in the truck wet and miserable until he’s good and ready to take you home. I think that’s the most common method. Anyway, in order to dip net, you have to be a resident of Alaska and have some special permit. We watched hundreds of people stand shoulder-to-shoulder, hip deep in the water. They formed a human chain along the shore and they each held a gigantic net with a hoop about five feet in diameter, and the salmon just swam right in. It seems like the lazy man’s way to fish, but I guess salmon are salmon no matter how you catch them.  Last night at dinner, Chad's colleague showed me a video of a 127-pound halibut being caught and then bludgeoned to death with what appeared to be an aluminum baseball bat. That was fun to watch. I wonder if the salmon take as long to die as that poor halibut did? I don’t even want to know. I’d much rather just eat my meat cooked and pretend it was born that way.

Watching the dipnetters from a safe and completely lawful location (Chad assured me)

On our way back to Seward, just as we were leaving Kenai, I spotted a moose laying down in a marshy field. I was not prepared for the excitement that overcame me at that moment. I unbuckled my seatbelt before Chad even stopped the car. I told him I was going to pet the moose. He told me I was forbidden. I told him he's not the boss of me. Even though he is, it feels good to say it. It just so happened that there was a walking path located next to the field where the moose was. We walked along the path and there he was, about 300 feet away. (Or 20, I’m really bad at measuring.) He saw us and started to get up. I instantly second guessed my desire to pet him, but he was spooked and started walking into the trees, and he was followed by another moose that had been hidden from our view. In total awe, we watched them disappear into the brush and that’s when we realized we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Chad had told me about them, but I really haven't been bitten in Seward. This, however, was ridiculous.

I wanted to shout something majestic like, "Go With God," or "Peace Be Upon You,"
but all that came out was, "Is that other one a donkey?"

The moose-sighting was the perfect end to our day in Kenai. The drive back to Seward was beautiful and quiet and I do not miss the traffic and noise of home. Not even a little. In fact, when we came to our first stop light in three days in Soldatna, I was confused and couldn't quite place the strange device. And I liked it that way. 

The Kenai River

We got home at 8:30 and everyone was beat. Chad went to sleep almost immediately and the kids are in bed telling jokes and laughing hysterically. It’s the delirious laugh attacks that set in when you’re exhausted but can’t go to sleep. It’s almost 11:00 and I’m not sure we’re used to this daylight-at-midnight deal. We're supposed to hike a glacier tomorrow. If you don't hear from me, please call the police. Or the Snow Patrol. And not the guys who sing Chasing Cars.

Alaska Fact #4:

Built in 1904, The Brown & Hawkins building is the oldest continually operated business in Seward. Charles E. Brown and W. T. Hawkins came to Seward in 1903 and started the Brown & Hawkins Company to serve as bankers and merchants for the building of the Alaska Central Railroad. The original safe is still on display.

The Niemeyers