We drove out to Twin Bears Camp this morning and hung out for the day. It was great to see Mom and Dad after almost a month and see their trailer set up (I had only seen pictures so far), to meet some family I'd not met before, to watch the girls do their best to catch a fish, and to kayak across the lake (something I've never done before--I went in a lot of circles!).
Emma and I walked down this nature trail for about two minutes--and found ourselves deep in the middle of nowhere. So we turned around--figured before we went further we should tell someone where we were headed! We'll explore the rest of the trail with a larger group another day...
We also visited the Large Animal Research Station--Allison's fiance Jesse works there and gave us a private tour. So we got to see musk ox and baby musk ox and caribou and reindeer up close and personal. Very cool.
We had dinner with Mom and Dad and are back at the house. (The camp is just as rustic as the website said--we're feeling especially good about the decision to rent this house! Especially after our long, hot showers tonight.)
We're headed down the Chena River in the morning on a riverboat--should be fun!
I'm glad you decided to post up pictures! Love them all! Audrey and Emma look so adorable! And you're kayaking! Go...you! I love kayaking! It's pretty relaxing and really works those biceps!
Posted by: Puva | June 19, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Oh, what a fun trip! It's so beautiful there!
Isn't kayaking great? To kayak in Alaska must be wonderful. How relaxing.
And tell Emma that my Emma has the same fishing pole. My Emma will be thrilled when I show her in the morning! :)
Posted by: Angie | June 19, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Joanne--I'm dying for you to see some bear or moose (or both!). I'm praying you get to, from a distance, of course. :)
Love the fishing pics! And call me crazy, but I think I'd love the rustic camp.
Posted by: Meredith | June 20, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Amazing pictures ....Sounds like so much fun..I am so happy for you and your family. I hope and pray that you continue to have a great time.
Posted by: Priti | June 20, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Yay! Glad you guys made it there safely and are having fun! All your pics make me homesick. :(
You will enjoy the riverboat and all the stops. Definitely stop at the Denali NP visitor's center on your way back to Anchorage. It's only a few years old and is pretty spectacular (in the world of park visitor centers). I know my dad is very proud of it.
The video they have at the visitor's center is pretty neat, so try to see that. They show it frequently through out the day, and it's not very long. My favorite part of the visitor's center (and will probably your daughters') is at the back on the lower level. It's where all the "stuffed" animals and 3-D terrain displays are. (Sorry. Surely a curator would have a name for that type of display.)
Can't wait to see more pics from your trip!
Posted by: Sara | June 20, 2008 at 10:26 AM
That looks like fun! Enjoy yourself!
Posted by: Annabelle | June 20, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Wow, beautiful pictures! Have a ball!!! Blessings!
Posted by: Amanda | June 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM
I'm so incredibly envious of your trip! Alaska is probably one of the top 3 places in the world that I would love to visit. I'm a big camper so those rustic cabins overlooking the lake look heavenly to me. Have a wonderful time and keep posting those pictures!
Posted by: Mary | June 20, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Does the Musk Ox smell like musk?
I want to kayak with you!! I'd probably go backwards in circles.
Prayin' for you!
holly
Posted by: Holly Smith | June 20, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Stunning scenery! Can't see that in Paris!
Posted by: Holly B. | June 23, 2008 at 03:48 AM