Anniversary Weekend

Lake at the B&B

Loving the Sun
Bella, the B&B owners Dog
The Sewards Folly, no we did not order this

Fall Leaves at sun set

Hunter 14,500 ft, Foraker 17,100 ft , and Denali 20,320 ft

Sunshine Lake in the Fog

Mountains again

It was a little Bright out

We packed up and headed to Talkeetna, AK this weekend. We stayed at Talkeetna B&B. (http://talkeetna-bandb.com/). Alice, the woman who owns it was really nice. There were canoes to use, but we never did. She also had a sweet dog named Bella who greeted us. We headed into town and ate at the West Rib (http://www.westribpub.info/) for dinner, the hamburgers were delish. Mike wants to go back for the Seward's Folly, i.e. heart attack in a burger. After dinner we walked down the one main road in town, but all the shops were closed, so we headed to the river to watch the sun set. We could see Denali perfect. After the sun went behind the mountains we walked back to the car and headed back to the B&B for the night.

Saturday we got up and had an amazing breakfast cooked by Alice. We had halibut fillets, toast, eggs w/ avocado, fresh fruit and coffee. Yummy. We went on a walk near the B&B to Sunshine Lake, although all we could really see was fog. We packed up the car and headed back into Talkeetna we looked in some shops and then went back down to the river, walked across the river and along the railroad tracks in search of a bear. We never found one but the sun was shining. Once back in town we went the the Denali Brewing company. I had a cream soda and Mike had a couple samples of beers and then bought a Growler of beer. We looked in a couple more shops and bought some honey, some jam, and a native art piece. Then headed back into Anchorage. It was a great night away for our anniversary.

Rain Rain Go Away

This weekend Mom, Dad, Mike, Samantha, Hans, Jacob and I all packed up and headed down to Anchor Point for a mini-vacation. We rented a cute little cabin "Cabin in the Woods." It had a loft with 2 beds, a bedroom with 1 bed, a living room, bathroom, kitchen and a washer/dryer. It was very nice to have place to warm up from the rain.

Mike, Dad, and Hans were "supposed" to go halibut fishing on Saturday morning... however the winds were to high so it was postponed until 1, and then the charter was completely canceled. So the boys headed up to the Kenai to dip net, with Dad on the shore watching. They only caught one fish.

Samantha, Mom, Jacob and I headed into Homer and went to Bear Creek Winery for some wine tasting. Jacob had a juice box and some string cheese. They had some really yummy berry wines, Samantha who "does not like wine" even bought 2 bottles. Their Strawberry Rhubarb wine was super yummy and we each bought a bottle. Then we stopped at the National Wild Life Refuge looked around the small but interesting museum before heading out on a walk. Jacob was so cute on the board walk, he at times looked like the one who had been drinking the wine.

Sunday Mike and Hans got up early and headed out to the Kenai for some more dip netting. Mom, Dad, and I went on a short walk around Anchor Point before starting the treck back to Anchorage with Samantha and Jacob. The Boys made it the the River at the PERFECT time Sunday!! They caught 10 yes 10 salmon!!! Mike 6 and Hans 4, between 10 AM and 3 PM. Needless to say they were happy. While they drove back we all went to church to welcome our new pastor. We ended the long, but short weekend with a pizza and the boys cleaning fish.

I will try to post pictures sometime...

Day 11... the last one

Coffee Farm

infront of the condo

another view

the condo we were in the middle one at the top

Name in the Sand

Mike and I got up, made coffee and pancakes for breakfast and watched an amazing last morning whale show. There were whales all over, and really close to the condo splashing, jumping and flapping their tales at us to say good bye. We packed up our bags and were out of the condo by 11:00. First we drove through a Coffee plantation near the condo, it was pretty but not note worthy. Then we drove towards Maalaea, to find a beach to swim at before we had to be at the airport, around 3:30. We ending up at Hay Craft Beach in Maalaea Bay. It had a shower head for us to rinse off at after we swam! While swimming we saw yet another whale show right in the bay. We loved seeing the whales.

After swimming for a while we went into Maalaea and shared a burger for lunch at Beach Bumms Restaurant. again there were whales right in the harbor splashing around. Have I mentioned how big they are? A full size is the size of a school bus. A baby when it is born is the size of a land rover! and some how they have the power to spring their entire body out of the water and make a HUGE splash. After lunch we walked around a few of the shops and bought some coffee to bring home. Then we bought ice cream sandwiches from Hula Cookies... they were so good!

We made our way back to the airport. We got there way way to early and there is nothing to do in the Maui airport, so we called family and the played war, Mike beat me. We took at 20 minute flight to Oahu. Then had a 3 hour layover. We went to a restraunt and split a sandwich amd had a drink. Mike dorked around on the computer and I worked on my Bible Study Home work. Our flight to Anchorage was full to say the least but we left pretty much on time and arrived in Anchorage at 5:30 Am on the 1st of Feb.

We had an amazing time on vaction and it was much needed! We do not know where our next vacation will be we have so many places we want to go. This is a last of the vactions posts... on to real life.

Day Ten

The Moon

Mai Tai

Me and Mike at Dinner

Mom and Dad at dinner

at the beach

in the water

flippers

mike going to Snorkel

Black Rock

We slept in a little this morning and then got up to watch the whales and turtles while drinking our coffee. Mom and Dad's flight left at 11 PM that night so it was our last day together. We decided to pack up and go to Kaanapali Beach and Snorkel by Blackrock. So we loaded on the sun screen and found some free parking for beach access. First we decided to walk down to Whalers Village and go through the Whalers Museum, it had tons of history on the hunting of whales, let me say I do not want to work on a whaling ship. Sometimes the men were at sea/ on a voyage for 5, yes FIVE years. And would only make like 10 Dollars.

Kaanapali beach was perfect; white sand, little coral at the shore, nice wave to jump in/float on, and calm areas to snorkel at. We got our gear on and headed out to see some fish. I think this was the best place we snorkeled at. We say hundreds of fish, and school of fish, the Hawaiian State fish (the humuhumunukunukuapua'a or Trigger Fish), and could hear the whales/dolphins calling to each other under the water. Let me tell you that was an amazing experience. We got a bunch of sun, started to turn pink so we headed back to the condo.

We all took shower, and Mom and Dad got all packed up. We decided to go to the Aloha Mixed Plate for dinner, they serve native Hawaiian Food, with out the Luau price, or show. Mom and I got Mai Tai's, and we watched the sunset. After dinner we went into Lahina and walked around. Mike and I bought a Tiki guy, with a turtle on his head. (Since getting him back to AK he has cracked in a few placed, due to lack of humidity but he is still so cool. Currently he is on our mantel.) Then we headed to the airport. Mom and Dad dropped us off at our rental car place before going to drop their car off. Mom and I cried :(

After crying a little more, since I do not know the next time I will see my Mommy and Daddy, Mike and I went to the Melting Pot (http://www.meltingpot.com/). We had made reservations online for 10:30, but got there at 10:00. It looked closed??? We went in and it took us a while to find someone... who told us they were closed, confused I said we had reservation that had been confirmed by a phone call, so she seated us. I can't tell you how strange it was, with no one else in the restraunt and the bar closed at 10 on a Saturday. But Mike and I ordered Yin & Yan chocolate fondu and enjoyed all the dipper. ( FYI I did an online survey complaining about our dessert experience and the manager called us and is sending us a Gift Card to use later.)

We went back to the Condo. Sat on the deck, listening to the ocean, until we got ready for bed. Denying that we had to leave the next day.

Day Nine

after our evening walk!

at the top... in the clouds

On the way up... really sweaty

Pretty Trail

Pretty Valley

At the start of the Hike

We got up early this morning, packed lunches and head out to hike Waihee Ridge Trail. Mom and Dad have done it twice before and knew it was a cool hike. The trail to get to the top was steep... to say the least. It had also been rainy so the dirt and changed to mud and was very slippery. On the way up the sun was out and the view were beautiful it reminded me of Jurassic Park. The valleys were so steep, the water falls in the distance were breath taking, and it was hot. It was also very humid, if you ask everyone I was kinda whiny on the way up. We also saw some cool plants. By the time we made it to the top as few clouds had come in, and they were a blessing. The clouds made it about 10 degrees cooler, so a more reasonable temp to hike with. We had a snack/lunch at the top of the ridge and then hiked back down. On the way down guess who fell... yep that would be me, I did not get hurt but got a little dirty.

We drove back to the Condo, Mike and I showered, and headed to our Couples Massage we had book earlier in the week. It was so relaxing, a perfect thing to do on vacation. We hung out at the Condo and Dad made some yummy stirfry for dinner. We went on a walk that night down towards Kapalua, bought a bottle of Pineapple wine and listened to the ocean for the night.

Day Eight

Water meets Rocks

...again

the rooster
Bamboo

Waves and a tiny surfer dude

Dad and Mom

Cool Tree

Me and Mike

Water Fall

Water

Today Mom and Dad wanted to take us on big hike. But it was raining in that area of the island so we decided to go to hike Twin Falls that was recommended by our friends. So we drove south and the first 2 miles of the Road to Hana. Once there we hiked back to the the falls. It was a easy walk, although we had to take off our shoes a couple times to cross some water. Once we got back we kinda got lost and could not find the falls, but we saw met a couple other people who guided us down the right path. We could not go to the main falls, since the area got rain recently but we went to a smaller one and had lunch sitting on a fallen tree. Mike and Dad walked up to the top of the falls. We had planned to swim, but because of the rain the water looked dirty.

On the way back to the condo we stopped at a pull out to watch the waves. THEY WERE HUGE. We watched a kite surfer, a surfer, a couple wind surfers, and a body surfer. It was totally totally crazy. We made our way to the condo and Dad made an awesome steak dinner to eat while watching the sunset.

Day Seven

At Molokini

SEA TURTLE
MOLOKINI

A Closer look

Whale Hump

Today we got up and drove Maalaea Harbor. We took a boat tour out to Molokini Island Preserve. On the way out we saw a group of whales and learned that normally 6-10 male whales crowd around a female whale and you see splashes because the males are fighting over who gets to be closest to her. I am glad I am not a Whale... the boat ride was about an hour and when we got to Molokini we had an hour to snorkel. Mom, Mike, and I rented wet suit tops to help keep us warm in the water. We stayed in the water the entire time and did not want to get back on the boat for the ride into shore. On the way back we got lunch on the boat. We stop in an area where sea turtles are often found. We got so close to them it was amazing, they are HUGE, like trash can lids HUGE. I have a love for turtles and I was jumping up and down, not kidding.

After the boat ride back to town we had ice cream and shaved ice at Hula Cookies in Maalaea. Then headed back to the condo to hang out. We decide to go to Whaler's Village, a shopping area near the condo for dinner. We had a steak and seafood dinner at LeiLani's on the Beach. Mom had Mahi Mahi, Dad had Shrimp scampi, Mike had Sword Fish, and I had steak. After stuffing our selves we walked along the board walk next to the beach for a while. It kinda spit off and on. We also saw some of a Luau at one of the hotels.

Day Six

The Trail

The four of us
All the way at the top

At Haleakala

the Crater

pretty cactus

me and mom

the Crater

Today we went to Haleakala National Park. After breakfast we drove to the southern part of the island and then up and up and up. We drove to the highest part of the island which is at elevation 10,240. It is normally really cold but the day we were up there it was sunny and "warm" in the mid-60's. The view was AMAZING, you could see the Big Island from the top. We were above the clouds at some points and even above helicopter, Dad thought is was a "big bird" ha. After looking around at the top we drove down a little to a visitor center and then went on a hike. The hike took us down into the big crater, not really a crater but a big divot in the mountain. The colors in these pictures do not do it justice to the deep and varying colors. After eating a wonderful lunch out of the trunk of sandwiches w/ yummy sweet peppers.

We drove back down the mountain and farther south to the Maui Winery. We went on a tour and sampled some wine. We bought a few bottle, one to take home. Our favorite was the Splash! or pineapple wine, made only from pineapple. We drove back to the Condo and went for a quick swim. Then we washed up and had Hamburgers for dinner. We just hung out at the condo for the night.