Alaska Bound!

I’ve finally done it! I have been on a cruise! This was one of my life goals, and thanks to Heather’s family, it’s happened. Heather’s family this year wanted to do a cruise for our vacation, and since Cheri and Chris live in Fairbanks, we decided Alaska would be a fun adventure. And it was.

Here’s a photo-sequence of our trip:

VANCOUVER, BC
It was 7 blocks from our hotel to the pier, so the kids formed a train and "chug-a-choo-choo"-ed most of the way there. It was hilarious!








Camera duel! I think I lost.




AT SEA
We did a few of the competitions on board during our sea days. One was a mini-golf tourney. None of us made it past the first round, but we had fun. I did win the basketball competition. Of course, it was me against 8 men over 70 and we played horse from the free throw line. Oh well; at least I didn't lose.


Heather and I also played speed chess on the giant chess board.




Our first formal night on board.


KETCHIKAN









The Logger's Competition Show. Very fun to watch, but still weird to think that people train for these events like athletes train for track events. Strange place, Alaska!






JUNEAU
We were greeted in Juneau by the infamous Mooning Eagle of Juneau. Some state symbol! (Juneau is the capital of Alaska for all who weren't aware.)




Mendenhall Glacier.


While at Mendenhall, Heather and I had a very close up encounter with a mom brown bear and her two cubs. We were very close to the action, as you can tell in the photos below, and at one point, I accidentally got close enough to reach out and touch the mom. Needless to say, I stopped moving at that point.










The famous hoary marmots of Juneau. We actually saw one pretty close up but didn't get any good pictures of it.




Here I'm getting in touch with my Native American side.




While in Juneau, Heather and I went sea kayaking and saw all sorts of things, like bald eagles (including a young one), seals, and a salmon spawning ground.


This is Mendenhall Glacier from where we sea kayaked.


SKAGWAY
This is pretty much the town. It was tiny!


Here we are at the cemetary in town.






Dave wanted really badly to buy this shirt. I told him he was a pansy for not getting it.


While at Skagway, the whole family did a 4x4 adventure. We had to take a ferry to Haines first, and then we road up and all over these beautiful mountain paths. That was one of the best excursions we did.






In the middle of our 4x4ing, we came across this beautiful meadow, and it was just too perfect for frolicking, so that's what I did. It was amazing.













GLACIER BAY

A quick stop in Seattle

After my Henley reunion and on the way up to Vancouver for our Alaskan cruise, Heather and I made a quick stop in Seattle to visit some our close friends, DeAnna and Corey. DeAnna was actually due to give birth, but luckily for us, their baby was a little overdue, so we got to chat and play around for a few hours.

This was the first time we’d seen Hannah since she was a just an infant, and she was not shy in playing with us. She chased me around with a hose (and she is one quick little girl; she got me several times unexpectedly), she jumped on Heather’s lap, and she was very free with her hugs. It was great to see them; our only regret was that we only had a few hours before we had to leave.

Return to K-town

I couldn't believe it has been so long, but when I went back to Klamath Falls for my 10 year high school reunion, I realized that it had been about 9 years since my last trip to Klamath. And as I traveled the narrow, two-lane highway of 97 passing Chiloquin, I remembered why it has been so long: Klamath is out in the middle of nowhere! But despite the two 3 and a half hour flights and a 5 hour car ride in a rental, the trip was well worth the time and effort.
At this point, some of you might be asking, "But I thought you graduated from Woodinville High, not Henley?" That's true, but I spent most of middle school and all but my senior year in Klamath, so for me, that was the more worthwhile reunion.
Here are some pics of the trip:

Me in front of Henley High, home of the Hornets and former school of almost-track star Dan O'Brian.




The view from our old house. If we had a better camera, you would be able to see Mt Shasta in the background.


Before the official reunion, I had the chance to see a few old friends. First, I stopped by the Becerra's new beautiful home at the Running Y and visited with Kara and got to meet her two adorable kids.


We had a great time with Brother and Sister Becerra, too.


Next, I got to chat it up with Angie (Todd) and Stan Miller and meet her family. I even got to play a new version of chess with their son, Blake. I called it Destrusto-Chess.


I was also very grateful for the chance to stop by and talk to Travis before he had to run off to work.


Then at the actual reunion, I had the chance to catch up with a number of old friends. Here I am with Matt McDonald.


I like this picture of Ang and us.


And here we are with Nikki (Jaeger), Jessie (Horsely), and their husbands.