Our trek into the great beyond

We agreed long ago that our meager resources would be directed to traveling and building memories with the kids.  We're not interested in the power toys (especially four wheelers, snowmachines and boats) that so many Alaskans tend to blow their money on.  So we save up each year to take the kids somewhere unique and meaningful, which we toggle back and forth between someplace affordable and somewhere more far flung.  Last year was our big (and expensive) RV tour of California, so this summer we stayed closer to home, and concocted a round trip circuit along the picturesque Glenn, Richardson, Denali and Parks highways, traveling close to 600 miles in four days.

We had perfect weather for most of those days, and only once did it rain on us (though when it did, it really did).  After driving past Matanuska Glacier about two hours into our trip, and traveling through our first area of tundra, we arrived at Lake Louise, where we stayed the first night.  Despite the beautiful weather, the campground was nearly empty.  Islands dot the lake, many with houses and cabins on them.

Our second day took us through the town of Glenallen, where we connected with the Richardson Highway and headed north.  The terrain thus far consisted of mixed spruce forest (taiga), with instances of highland tundra.  Glaciers could occasionally be seen in the distance, and snowcapped mountains were never out of sight.  We would often have the road to ourselves, and though we saw many caribou crossing signs, we sadly never spotted any of the animals themselves.  As it was, the only critters we'd see throughout the trip were several brave campground birds and countless arctic ground squirrels.

After a brief run up the Richardson, we turned east at Paxson and began the most scenic and wild leg of the drive, along the historic Denali Highway.  Constructed as the original road to Denali National Park, the highway is a 135-mile two-lane stretch of mostly gravel, meandering through taiga and tundra, near the Alaska Range, and crossing the Susitna River.  The highway is famous for offering an exceptionally beautiful look at wild interior Alaska, with epic, sweeping vistas at every turn.

Our second night was spent at Tangle Lakes, one of the most concentrated archaeological sites in North America.  The final night was spent at Brushkana Creek, at the eastern end of the Denali Highway.

As we made our way south and toward home, we stopped at Byers Lake for a couple hours of canoeing.  It was the perfect end to a truly memorable vacation, and despite the mosquito bites, lack of showers, ever present campfire smoke and waterlogged tent, we all had an absolute blast.  Camping is one of our favorite activities, and we'll definitely be planning another outing for next summer.

Another cool and cloudy summer

It's been a relatively wet and cool summer this year, despite the record-breaking high temperatures the rest of the country has been experiencing.  Whether that means we're in for a colder winter than last year, when the summer was warm and sunny, we don't know.  But we're not letting it stop us from getting out and having fun.


Malcolm spent a week at a marine biology camp run by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, based in Homer.  The Center, among other things, operates a remote field station, complete with microscopes, computers and a lab, plus lodging and services for several guests.  It was Malcolm's first experience camping that far away from us, and for five days he hiked, explored tidal pools, identified over 100 marine animals in their natural environments, rebuilt a complete sea otter skeleton and went on a whale-watching cruise, where they managed to drift up alongside a pod of orcas (one even touched their boat).  As you might expect, he had a blast.


Homer itself was such a beautiful, fun place, we decided to all go back as a family, and camped a couple nights at a local campgound.  The town is surrounded by water on three sides, and offers stunning views of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet.  The Spit is the well-known peninsula running out into the bay, and is dotted with shops, restaurants, camping and fishing spots, and marinas for small boats, fishing vessels and cruise ships.  However, the central town area on the mainland is even more lovely, and with fewer tourists.


Of course, Calvin turned four in June, and is growing up faster than ever.  It's hard to believe that this time next year, he'll be getting ready to enter kindergarten and join his big sister at their elementary school (even harder to believe, Malcolm will be moving on to middle school next year).


We recently added a few members to our family, in the form of five chicks.  Brandon built an insulated coop, and the birds now have a cozy home to snuggle up in when it's cool out, and a broad fenced run to stretch their legs in when it's warm.  We should start seeing eggs from them next year.


Finally, we're nearly packed and ready to head out on our next adventure, a five-day camping trip looping around counterclockwise through interior Alaska, including the entire stretch of the Denali Highway.  People come from around the world to visit Denali National Park, of course, but the gravel highway east of the Park offers some of the most beautiful, inspiring vistas in the state, as well as some of the only alpine tundra accessible from the road system, all with far fewer tourists and other visitors.  Given the setting's remoteness, we've taken added precautions with our car and our gear, to make sure we're ready for anything.  And we'll be sure to take lots of photos during our trip, which we'll share the next time we update!  :)


Take care, and enjoy the summer!

♥

All set for Summer

It's been so long between blog posts recently, we thought we'd chime in with another update, albeit a brief one. Winter (at least in southcentral Alaska) is over, and break-up is underway. The snow and ice are either melting or completely gone, animals and insects are popping up everywhere and we're more than ready to start having some major fun this summer.

Chloe's cast is off, so she's back to her usual exploits in gymnastics class. She loves it, and has been invited to join one of their advanced teams. She's also still spending time with the pony we lease for her, and hasn't lost her love of horses one iota. Calvin is as funny and energetic as ever, and has started writing his name. Malcolm recently placed second in his Cub Scout pinewood derby race, and third in his science fair, and is preparing for the week-long marine biology camp he'll be attending across Kachemak Bay from Homer. He'll also start his new season of baseball soon, and both he and Chloe will be going to a kids' wilderness survival day camp in nearby Palmer. Yep, busy summer.

To top it off, Stephanie and Brandon finally succumbed to their long held dream of traveling by motorcycle (urged along in no small part by these troublemakers), and bought a 1975 BMW R75/6 "airhead". After driving it up from Kenai in the back of a Uhaul van and parking it unceremoniously in the tool shed several weeks ago, we at last were able to take it out this weekend and motor slowly up and down the street. The kids had an absolute blast, and loved it only slightly less than the grownups did. Brandon has been staring longingly at this site for years, and it's about time we started realizing our dream a bit.

Sorry there are only a few photos this time, but with summer essentially here, we'll be taking far more pictures again. Until next time!

♥

WAY too long since our last post!

Jeez, talk about slacking. It's been six months since our last proper blog post. The blame is entirely Brandon's. However, we've been busy as always, if it's any consolation. Looking back over half a year's worth of photos, it's great to see just how much we've been up to. For those who haven't seen Stephanie's new car, we bought her a 2011 Subaru Outback early last year. It's the ultimate Alaskan car, and goes wherever you point it, regardless of the snow and ice.

We got out and about several times, including a road trip north to our usual camping spot, only to find the road leading to the public use cabin we'd rented was under four feet of snow; we made it on foot for about 20 minutes till Calvin started falling through the snow up to his armpits, and we had to call it quits. However, we did get a great glimpse of Denali on a clear, sunny day, a feat which is quite rare, given the mountain's proclivity to create its own cloudy weather.

Malcolm had another terrific baseball season, if a bit shortened - he broke his arm playing on the neighbor's trampoline and missed most of his games (well, missed playing in them; he still showed up to cheer on his teammates). But it was a fun season nonetheless, and he earned a 3rd place trophy at the end of it.

Malcolm and Brandon also got out into Chugach State Park for Malcolm's first true backpacking experience. No cars, no RVs, and few people - just the occasional group of tourists and other outdoor types, a handful of happy dogs and one young bull moose who checked us out while he helped himself to a snack a few feet away. This summer, we'll head farther into the park, along the Historic Iditarod Trail, also called the Crow Pass Trail. About three or four days will take us from one side of a mountain range to the other, and fording the Eagle River. Very exciting stuff, especially since Malcolm is determined to be a biologist.

Chloe's 7th birthday was in August, and we held her party at the horse ranch where she's learned to ride (and where we now lease a pony for her). She's an excellent rider, very calm and confident, and despite her young age and petite size, she held herself beautifully, even when leading older kids along for rides. Malcolm, of course, managed to hit double digits by turning 10 in November. It's amazing and sobering to think he's more than halfway to college already.

Brandon also built a new treehouse for the kids, which they then decorated the interior of. Next will come a rope bridge from the treehouse to a platform on a nearby tree, where a zipline is already attached. But for now, we're under several months' worth of snow, so all construction projects get squeezed in between May and September. A chicken coop will also go up in our backyard this summer, with a broad, fenced outdoor run for our upcoming clutch of chicks to enjoy. A sheep may or may not join us at a later date, depending on how insane we feel at the time.

We will endeavor to update the blog more often. Truly. In the mean time, just imagine us staying busy and generally being crazy. We've made something of an art of it. :)

♥, The Tuckers