I
love looking though my picture archives, I am instantly taken back to that time
and place. I re-live the adventure all over again and for that I am grateful
for photography and the ability an image has to take you back and remember
those times. The brain has a way of forgetting details. Simple things and
fleeting moments that you swear at the time you will never forget... But then
you do. For this reason I'm writing and recording these moments in our lives so
I can remember and look back forever and cherish these times.
Our
honeymoon trip to Alaska is one I don't want to forget. I love the white and
blue hues of the cold landscape and glaciers, and the green that just swallows
you climbing in the mountains. It was so beautiful and so many moments and
experiences that could make the front cover of national geographic.
We
took the Norwegian Pearl and cruised from Seattle to Alaska along the beautiful
coastline to a bunch of the small Alaskan ports and through Glacier Bay
National Park. The cruise was pretty remarkable in and of itself with it's
entertainments options and endless supply of food and dining choices. We
especially loved the decks that circled around the ship. Riley was out with his
binoculars every moment of free time aboard and in the misty cool mornings
searching the shores for bears and wildlife and following the waterfalls from
beginning to the end down the beautiful terrain.
We
docked in several little towns along the way during the week and with each stop
we would ditch the mainstream of the tourist and souvenir shops and find a
hiking trail and just explore. We probably hiked an average of ten miles each
stop which helped balance out twelve course meals we consumed aboard.
Each
hike and mountain varied from the next, each bringing a new kind of beautiful
that was so different from our familiar Hawaii hikes. The hikes all unique with
a capacity to make us want to continue up and up and not stop until the boat
was about to undock and leave. These hikes were so quiet with just the sound of
wildlife, running water and our voices as we made our way up together talking
about our future, dreams, and reminiscing on stories growing up.
The
views brought solace as we would looked down from the top and saw how far we
had climbed and how the landscape stretched before us. Made me think of how far
we both individually had come in our lives to get to the point of a temple
marriage together and look down and see that journey but also to realize how
many other mountains we would summit together side by side in life both
figuratively and physically.
In
Skagway we had connections from when I worked there and got free milkshakes and
hooked up with discounted shirts at the Klothes Rush. We also were able to get
the helicopter ride at the local price, but it was still way out of our price
range as newlyweds. Quin and Rachel (who we saw in the airport just before
boarding) gifted us the money though and it will forever be a highlight of the
trip and of our lives. It was pretty remarkable flying above Alaska and to the
glacier and being able to land and get out on those big icecube landmasses.
We
also got to experience the famous marketplace in Seattle and visit Victoria BC
along the route. We got to see the old castles and have our Canadian fill and
see fish fly as they were tossed at Pikes.
The
trip was pretty amazing. It was a great start to the rest of our lives. Even
though the honeymoon week was just over four months ago I still feel like
it hasn't ended. Different scenery but still living a honeymoon
life. So grateful for the pretty views and mountain tops and getting
to hike next to my best friend through this life.
AWESOME possum great pictures. Yay for a honeymoon to start the Hawaiian honeymoon. What good times. <3
ReplyDeleteLove it! Your honeymoon sounds epic. miss you
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