Alaska Day 6: Let's Just Say...Let's Just Stay?

 Bring on the sunshine!  After a soggy couple of days it was so nice to wake up to a some sun.  This day's adventure was the Exit Glacier at the Harding Ice Field.  As we prepped the RV for departure, Kate and Owen explored the campsite.  It really was a perfect RV site for us--hookups, showers, laundry, and a cute little gift shop that seems to have a great selection of things.  This little boat playground took Kate and Owen to a fantasy world.  I really love how these two play together.

Of course, Owen brought his new stuffed animals aboard!

Interestingly, the ice field has significantly retreated even since Karen and I visited a decade ago.  There are marker signs with dates leading up to the entrance and trailhead that show where glacier was at that point in time.  The glacial blue is mesmerizing.

Even though the kids were all but hiked out at this stage of our trip, they still enjoyed what this adventure had to offer.  Glaciers, snow, mountain goats, and incredible views.

Zac tried his hand at snowball golfing with my hiking pole.  Let's just say...Z isn't planning on joining the school golf team:)

Kate wanted in on the action.  She was trying the hockey stick style of hitting.  Let's just say...kids from Hawaii are not often seen swinging hockey sticks:)

Owen went for the baseball swing approach.  Let's just say...if the snowball was moving he would have been in trouble.  He was able knock some flakes off the snowball in the completely inert position.

Owen hamming it up!

Okay...now we were just getting silly!

Wait...Kate...how did you do that?!

Individual shots are a must at this location.

Call me silly but I really enjoy eating lunch at destination areas with a view.  I have lunch memories with our crew from Hawaii, Whistler, Olympic National Park, Mt. Rainier, Arches, Yellowstone, Denali to name a few.  This spot is now added to that prestigious list.

This mountain goat must have smelled lunch.

Owen didn't get the memo to look up!

Karen and I had a classic picture from this very spot 10 years ago.  Snowy capped, green mountains always make for good photos.

That winter season had brought unusually high amounts of snow fall.  The summer sun had not been able to melt all the snow which meant we traversed over lots of snow fields. 

You might think the kids were exhausted in this picture, but in reality they were just soaking up the snow.

Snow gals!

I was still in recovery mode from meniscus surgery on my right knee 3 months previous to our trip.  Needless to say, some of the hiking was a bit sketchy and painful.  Snow crossings were the most difficult.

This goat was the biggest star on the mountain!  When visiting here last time, Karen and I spotted more then one black bear along the trail.  There was a sign on the trail that stated a bear was recently seen in the area.  Our eyes were peeled and Karen was hoping, wishing, willing that a bear would show up.  No such luck.  The goat was screen hog on this adventure.

Elements of a beautiful location--vivid blue, vivid green, white, and a hiking trail.

The adventure continued on the way down.  The mosquitos must have called their friends and family because they were partying!  Kate was not enjoying it and finally submitted to putting the mosquito net over her head.  Lunch took its toll on Zac's digestive system and he needed bathroom quickly or Zac scat would present itself on the trail.  About half way down he took off ahead of us to get back to the trailhead restrooms.  

I have never received a traffic ticket.  What are the odds that my first would be driving an RV!  Following the Harding Ice Field we made our way to the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward.  Coming off the high from that adventure I apparently was not paying close enough attention.  I completely ran a stop sign.  And a policeman happened to be sitting right there to witness.  Ugh!  The officer was kind, but still gave me ticket that cost $100.  After the magic of the trip, a ticket wasn't going to ruin the day.  

We were fortunate to previously reserve an RV space right near the water.  This is likely the best photo was have of our RV.  It was about 32' long and had 2 extendable panels.  It was big and roomy and more than we needed, which was okay.

When you live by the ocean, you don't think your many nights by the ocean can be beat, but...bald eagles swooping overhead, campfires at 11pm, skipping stones, talking to locals and the satisfaction of knowing what we'd done so far...it was magic!  So much joy.

Dinner by the fire.  Curry and a lime rice with chicken was on the menu.  Thank you RV microwave.

Daddy's girl!

That's right...smore's, campfire, ocean, mountains, snow, crisp evening, and Karen in the background.  This kind of stuff is good for the soul!  

The moon added to the beauty of the evening.

Throwing rocks should be an Olympic sport.

Our roasting skills have evolved to handle candy morsels.  Yum!

One of my favorites of Zachary.

Owen putting his new pocket knife souvenir to good use.

These smiles say it all.  There was so much joy on this trip!

Although late, the sky was still bright (11:30 pm) which meant there was enough time to finish Harry and the Henderson's.  Thank you, Seward, for treating the Edwards family to a perfect day.....that only cost me $100:)