Today, the kids and I went down to Bishop’s Beach in Homer before breakfast to throw rocks into the ocean. Like, all of them.
Then, Brian and I had calls until about lunch.
After arguing over whose backpack we’d pack, we went down to the Spit to catch a water taxi to Kachemak Bay State Park. Our boat captain Brian asked if we were interested in seeing some wildlife on the way. He’d seen orcas a bit earlier. As we approached, this pod of moms and babies swam by. Baya literally started jumping up and down cheering. Linc did his touchdown dance. And we got a, “that was really cool” out of Marin. Wow. It was just so, so cool.
We then stopped at Gull Island. Imagine, for a moment, the smell of a summer’s worth of bird poop from 15,000 squawking, flapping birds. Yeah, so that was that.
We also saw these tufted puffins who alluded us in Iceland. Someone better with their camera could have gotten a good picture. I couldn’t- too small and too far away.
When we arrived at the park, we started the 4.5-mile round trip hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake. The signs warning of bear sightings earlier in the day captured our attention and imagination.
Remembering Kendall’s bear attack prevention tips from Day 1, we all started looking tall and talking. A lot. Baya was particularly chatty. We finally got a chance to hear her views on use of the Polaroid to no-show socks.
The lake (and glacier behind it) was spectacular with these big chunks of floating ice. It was also freezing. We had a snack, threw more rocks into the water, and started back. Talking more and more.
As Captain Brian picked us up to head back, we saw otters eating and playing in the lagoon. This was a highlight for me. They were seriously one of the cutest animals I’ve ever seen. Their furry faces and little arms…Aw!
We got back late and had dinner around 8pm- not that anyone really felt that tired because it looks like it’s 3pm outside. There was more puzzle and showers before bed.
Things I want to remember:
Thinking through our survival plan if Captain Brian didn’t come back to pick us up off the island. It occurred to me too late that we should probably travel with matches. I laughed when our Brian confessed that he’d scouted out a place to sleep and had started mentally divvying up the remaining goldfish crackers and almonds. (We waited for about 30 minutes and Brian the boat driver was exactly on time. This is just the things you think about when sitting on a un-comfy rock in a completely deserted cove after walking 4.5 miles worrying about surprising a mama bear.)
Baya’s feedback that I’m on my phone too much and wasting her time when she wants to draw together. I hear that. Really.
The feeling of the ice-cold air coming off the glacier lake.
Marin confidently leading the way on the trail saying “hiking is really not THAT bad.”
Feeling so thankful to bump into another couple on the trail who had bear spray.
Linc looking for bigger and bigger rocks to throw into the water and comparing the splash to fireworks.
