Parents visit

No one gets it, until they visit!  When I left for AK for the first time, 4 years 364 days ago, I didn't know that I would stay.  Now 5 years to the day tomorrow, I can't dream of ever leaving.  When I return home to visit no one understands.  To those friends and family who have made the transcontinental very expensive visit however it is a different story.

Last week my parents came up for their 3rd Alaskan visit, the weather wasn't much more cooperative than it had been on their previous 2 trips but the adventures were stronger than ever.  It is always so nice to have visitors here and (hint hint) we pull out the red carpet and make all the stops.

Here are some photos and a brief overview of their trip: 

Monday they arrived via Alaska Airlines on the 11am flight, we skiffed out 6 miles south to Salmon Lake, took a lovely 4 mile hike to the lake, and stopped to watch a coastal brown bear hanging out on the beach on our skiff ride home.

Tuesday was mom and dad's first and maybe last hike up Mnt. Verstovia.  2 1/2 hours of climbing without a single complaint, okay maybe one or two!  There was still quiet a bit of snow on the trail, and mom's Keens may not have been the best option for footware, but no one would have known!  My parents weren't intimidate by this 2550 ft. mountain and glided up like they were still youth!  That evening we hosted Tuesday Night Dinner, had a nice Alaskan style jam, and casually 4 different Wild Alaskan King Salmon dishes were brought to the potluck.

Wednesday was just a rest day, mom and I worked in the yard and we ate good Alaskan inspired meals.  We also ate at the most delicious restaurant I have ever had the luxury of going to, Ludvigs,  YUM!

Thursday we KAYAKED in the Pacific, it took mom a little convincing, but what a paddle!  We even had a little seal follow alongside our boats.  (I didn't even have to pay him.)

Friday we had another nice hike and some fishing!  Dad and I went out with a buddy of mine jigging for halibut and trolling for Kings, and as the swells on the ocean grew so were the fish that were biting.  Dad pulled in two lean cod and back to the house we went to grill up some darn good beer battered cod.   And though we didn't catch any King salmon we did catch the most surreal Alaskan tale I've had my near 5 years here, no emphasis added.  On the way home, in Dustin's 16 foot skiff we boated straight into a WHALE!  No harm was done to either party and I am just glad we only hit the tail of the whale and lived to tell the tale!