"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Seward, Alaska - where my heart fell in love . . .

Okay, these are going to be pictures of Seward, Alaska. I think everyone picks a different place in Alaska that they fall in love with. My son liked Homer - I loved Seward. It was a place I think I could be home at. Part of my heart is still there and probably always will be. I had tried gelato earlier, but this is where I fell in love with this particular variant of ice cream.

The start of the Iditarod used to be here - now there isn't enough snow at the time it starts to start it there so they moved it a bit farther north.


If I were rich - this Cabin On The Cliff would be mine! It had everything you wanted or needed in the cabin. A huge deck as big or bigger than the cabin - a hot tub, rocker, grill, table and chairs outside. A kitchen, fireplace, bathroom, the shower had a rain forest spout and you got totally soaked, television, and the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. In fact I had the best sleep there than I have had in 20+ years. Felt safe and at home . . .

A restaurant there - isn't that a cool name?

I went on an 8 hour cruise - saw a ton of marine animals - we went to see the glacier up close.

Now glaciers cover mountains and when they retreat they crush the mountain - literally - into tiny pebbles and silt (like sand) - here these smaller rocks stand - alone - they didn't get crushed - how did they withstand the crushing and nothing else? What made them withstand . . .

The actual glacier coming into view - with bits of ice that had come off - they look little but they are big and what is under the water even bigger. I felt like I was on the Titanic.
Going to Harding Ice Field - this is where the glacier was in 1917. This is me.
Now I walked the one on the left and my son walked the one on the right - the 8 mile hike. Mine was about 2 miles each way. It was the only part of the trip where I thought I might die - just kidding- but it was hard.

No moose to be seen yet, but their droppings were everywhere.
Dirt on my bluejeans - proof of my climb.

Glacier meeting rock - just like it is the most normal thing in the world to see.
Alaska has 5 active volcano's.
Enthusiasm is a volcano on whose top never grows the grass of hesitation. - Kahlil Gibran
If you stopped - and sat down - didn't rush - didn't talk - just listened quietly - you could hear the creaks and groans of this volcano. Much like slowing down in life . . .
“Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.” —J. Isham
“Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don't have to do anything else. We don't have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen.” —Margaret J. Wheatley; writer, consultant
Bear with me here - I'm almost done with my trip - my drive to Homer, Homer, and Alyeska Resort and sadly it will be over.
I'm already reading books on women who have made a difference . . . so stay tuned.

6 comments:

Changes in the wind said...

Have enjoyed getting to share your trip.....

Chatty Crone said...

Thank you - I'm worried I'm boring everyone, but I just need to share this. It was an experience of a lifetime for me.

^..^Corgidogmama said...

What a fantastic experience to have under your belt!
By the way, my daughter loved Italy. It would be yet another marvelous trip for you to take!

Chatty Crone said...

You read my side bar I'm working on! I would love to go there too.

ClassyChassy said...

Sure loved hearing about your adventures - great photos too!

Chatty Crone said...

Thanks again Buttercup - I enjoy yours about traveling and infomation about New York, New York!