I had the opportunity to go sea kayaking with the group to a tidewater glacier today, but I chose to stick around Valdez instead. I have taken this kayaking trip before and it is amazing, and I am sure I would have had a great time with the group paddling on such a beautiful day, but I was happy to enjoy some the blue skies and sunshine at a mellow pace by myself today. I had a few things I needed to do for camp...restock the ice in the coolers, shop for a few supplementary groceries, fix a wire on the trailer lights. Then I caught up on a few personal things...calls to the family, paying online bills, mailing some letters and packages. In between I soaked up the sun, sat on the river bed, hiked a short trail and gathered wild fireweed flowers. The flowers are blooming all over Alaska right now coloring the roadsides and vibrant fuchsia. I stood in a field of flowers a foot taller than I stood while I harvested them with my pocket knife. When my arms were full I exited the patch of flowers and you could not even tell I had been there as there were still so many remaining. The flowers now stand in my rubber boots in the back of the van awaiting the drying process so I can use them for future projects.
The evening ahead includes dinner out with the group, a drive to watch the spawning salmon at the river mouths and hopefully the bears who come to feed in the area, a few late night camp duties to get ready for the following morning and then hopefully a bit of time chatting around the campfire.
I woke in an incredible mood this morning and have been enjoying the emotional high all day long. Tomorrow we leave for McCarthy where we will camp along the Kennicott river at the base of two glaciers and Mt. Blackburn. I really enjoy spending time in McCarthy and hope that this incredible mood will keep me energized for the upcoming days!