Sister's Wedding in Alaska - Part 1

Brad and I got back from a whirlwind trip to Alaska Tuesday morning. Whirlwind!

It all started Wednesday night, when we boarded a late-night flight to Anchorage, arriving just after midnight. Things quickly got chaotic, as they do with my family, when we were picked up and informed that our "Thursday afternoon" boat ride had turned into a "you need to be on the road to the boat landing by 7am." Ouch!

We raced to the hotel and jumped into bed, but even so only slept from 2am-6am. Feeling better after some coffee, we arrived at the Deshka Landing to board the boat, owned by a family friend and neighbor, Russ.

Brad and I had a good time on the boat, though it was cold (windy).

We were traveling with one of the groomsmen, Todd, and his family. It was his 5-year old son Matteo's first boat ride!

He fell asleep pretty quickly though.

It was a LOVELY day, so we saw Denali! (aka Mt. McKinley).

An eagle flew over us.

And at the mouth of the Yentna River, where it met the Susitna River, we saw a bunch of seals sunning

themselves in between chasing salmon.

Arriving home, we hiked up the dock and unloaded all the gear, hauling it up the bank.

With over 60 people coming to the wedding, and us on the first boat, we had some spare time, and went

with the kids to the beach, skipping rocks.

Salmon run up the river in waves; it was Silver season, and the Red salmon run was ending. After they spawn,

they swim around until they die, just the natural way of things.

My parents are foster parents of an 11 year old boy, Anthony, and recently adopted my cousin's son,

Eric, who is 3 1/2. I guess they didn't get enough with 6 kids? Anthony and Eric and Mateo were on

the beach with us, and Anthony saw some movement in the water.

It was a fish, and it flopped over towards Eric.

Eric and Anthony trying to grab it.

Closer...

Success! It was a Red salmon, with a seal bite out of its back but still pretty healthy for a spawned

salmon. Anthony was SO proud!

I made him throw it back - it wasn't really edible anymore...

We also hung out in the lodge a bit. Anthony found Hooch's sensitive spot.

With so many people around, and over 30 staying the night, my parents had asked a

neighbor if some of us could stay at his cabin, only 1/2 mile away. Thankfully, he said "yes"

so Brad and I slept there along with another couple the first night. There's an old trail, so we

could walk back and forth, but it was a bit overgrown.

The water was low, so walking back we took the gravel bar instead of the trail.

Then, Brad and I went out with my youngest brother, Matthew, 16, and did some trail clearing. I got

to run the chainsaw for the first time in years! When we were done, it was a 4-6' wide highway.

Brad put up a marker so we could find the shortcut off the beach.

And he used the machete, so much his arm hurt for the next few days.

Here's the cabin where we stayed. The first night it was just another couple and Brad and I; the

second night there was another couple, a couple girls, and....yes....the bride and groom!

The bride and groom actually got a bit of a honeymoon suite, a tiny one-room out cabin next to ours.

The dresses (bridesmaid and bride) were hung off the catwalk upstairs.

My dad played music the first night. He used to travel a lot, had a record cut, and opened for Tina

Turner at one point in his youth.

We finally headed off to our cabin, fell into sleep, and got some rest for the next day: little sister's wedding!