I’m up. We’re all up. From about 3am local time on, our family “playlist” was on shuffle.
Where are my headphones? My iPad didn’t charge ALL NIGHT. The coffee maker isn’t working. Oh wait, it is- just need to follow the instructions. Sorry, buddy nothing opens until 8am. Please make sure you wash your hands. Shh, shh, shh. Other people are still sleeping. Don’t throw clean clothes on the floor- I’ll help you find (random suitcase item.) Mom, mom (shouting with headphones on)- I got 1128, my highest score!
And on and on.
After an exceptionally long morning, the sun mercifully came up and we were able see the hotel from the outside. The day rolled on from there.
It’s best summed up in pictures. Here are a bunch.
We had breakfast outside at the Bake Shop. You know that amazing experience when the time, food, and environment hit you exactly right? It was like that. I was starving so scrambled eggs and this amazing sourdough toast doused in butter seemed like one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
We then floated down the Portage River with stunningly gorgeous mountain and glacier views with a break for hot chocolate. After lunch, we did a 5-mile round trip hike through a rain forest to Winner Creek. The kids did remarkably well. Only once did Baya fully lay down across the trail in protest. We finished the day with ice cream before dinner and testing every beer the Girdwood Brewery makes.
What I want to remember most:
The hours of laughs we got from recycling Linc’s term “get litten”- coined to describe the risk encountered when leaning in too close to an outdoor fireplace.
The look on Marin’s face during the river float when she looked off and said, “It’s so peaceful here.”
Their ability to continuously complain about leg fatigue on the hiking straightaways only to break into a sprint up and down the hills with their arms spread like wings.
The 10-minute date Brian and I had when they ate their dinner at a separate table while we tasted a bazillion beers.
Our float guide Kendall’s tips on surviving a bear attack.