Seward, AK 2014 - Day 11

Touching Exit Glacier

Life is so much better when Chad doesn’t have to work. The two of us got up early and walked down to Zudy’s Café on the water for coffee and breakfast. It was misty and a little chilly, but by the time we’d finished breakfast and walked up the street, the sun was out and it was warming up. We watched a sea otter playing in the water for a bit and then we got the car and went for a drive. After an hour or so, Ali texted us saying they were ready to join us. We picked them up at the apartment and then walked to the post office so I could mail something. We checked Chad’s post office box and his mom had sent cards to each of us with a little spending money for the kids. 

  

The next couple hours were spent walking the beach, skipping rocks, and enjoying the warmth and sun. For lunch we ate sandwiches at the Showcase Lounge while watching the WNBA All-Star game (not by choice). I told my family I can’t think of anything I’d rather watch less than women’s basketball. Something about it bugs me so much. If you love women’s basketball or if you play women’s basketball, I’m sorry… I’m not sorry. 

We decided to hike to Exit Glacier one more time before we leave for Anchorage tomorrow. On the drive I decided to play a game. I told the kids, “I’ll hum a theme song and you name the show.” After my family’s rude comments about my inability to hum in the right key, I showed those losers. The first song I performed was the theme to The Facts of Life and then they couldn’t get enough. I loved seeing them so happy, and they knew nearly all the 80s theme songs I hummed. If you’ve never heard me hum, just close your eyes and imagine Mary Poppins singing Jane and Michael Banks a lullaby, when suddenly, a car outside runs over a cat and the cat begins to howl and scream in pain. I’ve been told I sound like the cat.

We continued the game until Chad spotted a porcupine way up in a tree. Ali and I jumped out of the car and Chad drove down the road to turn around since there was no place to pull over. For a moment, I thought it was a bear cub in the tree and I imagined Ali and I being mauled to death by the mama bear that was surely hiding in the bushes. It was just a huge porcupine.

The hike to the glacier was even more beautiful than our hike with the Vigor group. It was hot, but once we reached the glacier, the cold air blowing down the hill was so refreshing. This time, there was no ranger, so Chad took the kids on the treacherous hike right up to the glacier. They touched it, licked it, and drank from it. Because of my dumb calf muscle, I hiked back down to the Outwash Plain, sat on the rocks, and enjoyed the view, loving the peace and privacy.

It was windy near the glacier

A quick rest on the way up

Drinking glacier water out of  Ali's lip balm lid 

Being sworn in as a Justice for the Supreme Court
(or something equally cool)

We stopped at the visitor center when we were finished and Ashley turned in her Adventure Guide so she could become a Kenai Fjords National Park Junior Ranger. A park ranger took Ashley outside and standing under the American flag, Ashley repeated the Junior Ranger oath:

As  a Junior Ranger, I promise to help protect

Kenai Fjords National Park, my community, and the earth.

I will explore and discover the natural world

And other cultures wherever I go!

When I heard Ashley say, “I will explore and discover the natural world,” I got a big lump in my throat as I thought of her growing up and with her love of nature, doing something amazing for our planet and those who live on it. I really think she will. Either that, or she’ll be a candy taster for The Willy Wonka Candy Company while wearing footy pajamas and live in our basement.

Although we have two more days in Alaska, the kids are already making plans for when we get home. Ali said, “When we get home I’m locking myself in my room for the rest of summer because I have spent way too much time with you people.” Heartwarming and tender.

Now we’re in the apartment. Chad made dinner, I’m doing the last load of laundry, and we’re packing up so that we can say goodbye to Seward tomorrow. And guess what's on DirecTV? Rocky IV. It's the part where Ivan Drago is about to find out that Rocky is "not human. He's like a piece of iron." I can't take it. Delirious happiness just settled in my heart.

Alaska Fact #11:

An estimated 100,000 glaciers cover almost five percent, over 25,000 square miles of the state. There are more active glaciers in Alaska than in the rest of the inhabited world.

The Niemeyers