Alaska - The Last Frontier

Stopped in Seattle for 2 nights. Here we are having brunch at the Space Needle. Seattle was starting a rare heatwave when we arrived and it was hazy with smoke from Canadian Wildfires.

Just arriving at Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage. Now I've been to all 50 states.

First day there we went fishing on the Kenai River

We were fishing for sockeye salmon but Amanda caught a king salmon that we had to release

I reckon that I cast over 1000 times that morning. I caught one fish.

Mairead trying to reel one in

Amanda drying off her sock. Evidently her wader had a leak.

The color of the water was beautiful. Glacial minerals and sediment turn it a murky teal.

Guide Cody cleaning the salmon

Seward, AK

Look at that water!

Lunch stop on Fox Island

Bear Glacier in the distance, It doesn't loo it but it's 2 miles wide and 12 miles long.

Then we decided to take a helicopter to a glacier, go for a dog sled ride, and get married!

The puppies were too cute. They'll be pulling the sleds soon.

Ceremony under way

A crowd had gathered. Dog handlers and mushers and the other folks on the tour. They threw snow on us when it was over.

If you wish to read my mother's blog about the ceremony here

First married selfie!

My mother posted several blogs here that go into much greater detail. I didn't blog this time because it would have involved me ignoring everyone.

Denali can be seen in the distance. It's hard to get a good look on vacation because you can only see it about 20% of the time due to weather and it's staggering height 20,310 feet.

Golden Heart Plaza, Fairbanks, AK

Mom and I under the Antler Arch. Fairbanks, AK

Big Daddy's BBQ in Fairbanks, AK. The most northern southern BBQ.

Mom Blog Life Alaska

The trip to Alaska was amazing and unforgettable. I checked many boxes - all 50 states, catching and eating an Alaskan salmon, riding in a helicopter, eating reindeer sausage, seeing bears, moose, and wolves, and of course getting married.  A lot of people thought I'd never do it - including my mother! I thought my mother's words during the ceremony captured the idea of marriage perfectly. You can read them here. 

There was of course some surprises along the way. Alaska does get dark during the summer. Not dark, dark, but it does get dark and you can sleep well. Sockeye salmon is my least favorite salmon. Reindeer sausage is delicious and tastes like kielbasa. 

If I were to plan the trip again I would stay around Anchorage, we stayed in Girdwood, and space out the activities. We were exhausted, or at least I was, after the first few days. We started off fast and furious. We went north to Fairbanks for three nights with a night along the way in Healy, AK. I had the best apple pie and BBQ of my life in Fairbanks but I think I would have preferred relaxing days in between our fishing, cruise, and wedding spectacular more, and I would have gone to Whittier and maybe Homer. Those are things you learn and I have no regrets, and you should be thankful for my recommendation. 

It was really exciting to get married on a glacier in Alaska. Today seems the perfect day to post because the Great American Eclipse of 2017 is about to begin and I've had a total eclipse of the heart.

Here we stand before the old gods and the new

On a journey to the last frontier 

Two souls desiring to be known completely 

I am blessed to stand here with my beloved  

When I’m hot you are my cool breeze 

When my flame is low you are the spark that gets me burning 

You would give me the air you breathe, if I asked for it

I will share my fire with you when the night is cold and dark to warm you and light your way

I hope the sun shines brightly on our path for all our days

With an open heart I vow to create a shared heart 

From this day until my last