The Mainland

As mentioned in a previous post, we spent the last two weeks of July on the Mainland. I'll just say here, bluntly, that we tried to pack too many things into one short trip--including family time, shopping, fishing, cultural experiences, and camping.

And now I'm going to try to pack too many things into one blog post.

First of all, the ferry ride: We had the good fortune to ride on the Kennicott, the larger of the two ferries that stop in Kodiak, and I have to say that, while the trip was not without queasiness, it was smoother and more enjoyable than I expected. 

Guess who loves riding on the ferry?

No ferry ride is complete without whale sightings.

One highlight of the trip for Rainbow and for and me was watching T and his dad go dip net fishing for sockeye salmon. Rural Alaska residents, a category that includes us, can apply for a subsistence fishing license that allows them to catch significantly more fish via dipnetting than people with "regular" fishing licenses. 

When the sockeye are coming in, hundreds of people drive their vehicles on the beach near the mouth of the Kenai River. Whole families come. They set up lawn chairs and grills. It's not rowdy, it's not a party scene, but there is a feeling of celebration. These people are catching food for their families. The fishermen and fisherwomen carry their ridiculously large nets into the water, where they stand and wait. The fish literally swim straight into the nets on their way to the river. On good days, a dozen fish can be caught quickly and easily.

T's dad in his fancy dry suit

T and his dad waiting for the fish to swim by

T and his dad didn't end up going on good days, but they did catch enough to get some salmon in our freezer. I'm thankful to them and to the fish.

Rainbow sharing a snack with her grandpa while he takes a break from fishing

Girl needed a day of rest after her big dip net fishing outing.

Most of the time when T and his dad were fishing, Rainbow and I hung out with T's mom. We also spent some time in Homer, Alaska, a beautiful, artsy town at the end of Alaska's well-traveled Sterling Highway. T's parents live near Homer. 

Rainbow got lots of snuggle time with her grandma.

View from the playground at Karen Hornaday Park playground in Homer

This seagull relentlessly shadowed this sea otter, hoping to get some nibbles of the crab the otter was eating.

We borrowed his parents' truck and camper for a five-day camping trip with stops in Anchorage, near Whittier, in Hope, and at Skilak Lake. 

We got our dose of culture in Anchorage, where we visited the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. 

Hands-on learning at the Museum

At the Alaska Native Heritage Center

It rained a lot on our camping trip, and I developed a bit of a cold. Both factors made me especially thankful for a warm, cozy camper. Luckily, the camping trip was fairly uneventful. The appeal of the trip came mainly from having access to unlimited miles of road.

This is what rest stops in Alaska look like. 

Fire: the reason men go camping.

Rainbow and Baby Doll having a snack on the back of the camper

Byron Glacier outside Whittier

Snow near Byron Glacier

Trail near Hope, with Turnagain Arm in the background

Lake Skilak

Our trip was a reminder of many of the unique aspects of life in Alaska. Shopping in Anchorage highlighted how remote Kodiak really is. The travel itself was a reminder (as if I needed one) of the vastness of Alaska. 

Sunset at Anchor Point, Alaska

Our trip to the mainland has also given me an opportunity to reflect on the thankfulness and fullness I feel in my heart when I think of this state which I have come to call home and to love so much more than I thought possible. Like all true loves, my relationship with Alaska is not always easy. It is getting increasingly difficult at this time of year, as the days rapidly lose daylight and warmth. But even on the darkest day of winter, there is more beauty here than I ever imagined I could find in the place I call home.