Sunday, September 14, 2008

There's No Place Like Home

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel
until he comes home and rests his head
on his old, familiar pillow. ~ Lin Yutang


We're back from our Alaskan adventure, and what a journey it was! Hubby and I (pictured above in Resurrection Bay) hiked to glaciers and walked in autumn forests: watched caribou and spawning salmon; enjoyed gourmet meals and got soaked in the freezing rain. Alaska was everything we'd dreamed it would be.

And as for my main goal at the time I left? Yep, I saw puffins -- lots of puffins!

This shot was taken in the Kenai Fjords National Park, and it was really cloudy that day. You may have to click on it to get a better glimpse of the little guy hiding in the rocks because boy, is he cute!

We got a much clearer and closer view of puffins (and seals and otters) at the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward...

I was like a little kid -- so excited, and couldn't stop grinning at all the puffins!


Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate with us on this trip. I think we can count the sunshine we experienced in terms of hours rather than in days. Locals we spoke with all over the Kenai Peninsula said the same thing: this has been the rainiest summer in Alaska's history. How could we have known that when we booked everything back in February?

For the most part, we said to heck with the weather and got out and enjoyed everything we wanted to do. This was taken during our cruise on Prince William Sound...

Those are glaciers, which are incredible to witness. But you can get a sense from this photo how cold it was that day. The wind was fierce and drove the rain even harder. Brrrr!

However, we also had moments like this, when we were able to get out and enjoy the gorgeous scenery...

Alaska is beautiful, vast and clean. I'll be sharing a few more photos over my next couple of posts, since I can't figure out how to load more than five pictures at a time. Maybe that's a good thing: saves you from having to view the 200+ shots we took! I promise to share only a few of the most interesting ones with you.

I'll be around to catch up with your blogs over the next few days. I've missed you all! Two weeks is a long time to be on the road, and I'm very glad to be sleeping in our own bed once again. I love to travel and hope to do much more in the years to come because it's great to go -- but it's even better to come home.


Until next time...

20 comments:

Hanlie said...

Welcome back, Pattie! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! I hope to visit Alaska one day...

carla said...

WELCOME HOME.

loved the pics and CANT WAIT FOR MORE.

some day *I* am getting there too :)

Manuela said...

Yay, she's back! I wouldn't be surprised if your poor weather was related to all the storms and hurricanes that have been happening this summer.

I definitely want to go there one day and hope to enjoy it as much as you did--weather and all!

Looking forward to more posts and pics. Welcome back :)

Nonnas News said...

How beautiful!! What a wonderful trip. I hope to go there one day! Glad you made it home safely!!

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed visiting Alaska through your eyes.

Kathy said...

Pattie...that picture of your smiling face made me smile...a gift on this overcast Hoosier morning! Your pictures are gorgeous! Welcome home.

Susie said...

What a nice way to start my Monday by seeing your smiling face and knowing your home safe and sound!
Loved all the pictures and I'm so glad you got to see the puffins. The weather is just "one of those things"
Can't wait to see more photos..
Welcome back!
xo

Deborah said...

So glad you are home safely. We've missed your attitude.

Great photos. I'm really looking forward to more. I also took in excess of 200 when I went up there. It is just about the prettiest state in our union. (Second only to WV don't you know.)

Did hubby do any "combat" fishing? Mine did as I watched from way back and it was an experience.

Wendy said...

Welcome back! Sounds like it was an AMAZING trip. Can't wait to see more pictures.

Thanks for your kind comments over at my blog. Getting better slowly but surely.

Needled Mom said...

Welcome home, Pattie. I loved seeing the beautiful pictures. Even though the weather did not cooperate with you, it still looks as though you were having a wonderful time. I know how you love cold but perhaps this was a little over the top for even you.

I have found that if you upload five, save the blog and then edit the blog you will be able to add five more photos. Give it a try.

Warm up with some nice temperatures for the next few days. Hugs.

Lora said...

Welcome Back Patti! While you were gone - you won the stop watch! Send me your address and I'll get it off to you!

Carole Burant said...

Welcome home, dear Patti!!!

I'm soooo glad to hear that you had such a wonderful time and saw everything you wanted to see, especially the Puffins:-) Your photos show just how breathtaking the scenery is in Alaska, please show us some more!! Phooey on the weather but as you say, it didn't stop you from enjoying your vacation:-) I'm just so glad you're home safe and sound, have missed you. xoxo

Cammy@TippyToeDiet said...

I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip and that you enjoyed it so much. I'm even MORE glad that you're back! :) Welcome home!

new*me said...

What beautiful pictures!! Amazing!!! Rest up :) I missed your posts!

jillytacy said...

I'm so glad you had a great trip! It's good to hear your bloggy voice again, you were missed!
It looks beautiful! I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures. As for uploading more than 5 photos it took me a long time to figure that out. You upload the first five then go back and upload five more. You just keep doing that until you have the number of photos you want.

Diane at Crafty Passions said...

Welcome back!!!
Someday I want to go there too!! I have only heard good positive things.
Your pictures are gorgeous and I can't wait for more.
Diane

Karen said...

Glad you're home, Pattie! Glad you got out and enjoyed your trip despite the weather! Your pictures are beautiful and I look forward to seeing more.

ptg said...

Welcome home, Pattie!

Sounds (and looks!) like you had a fabulous and well-deserved vacation. Alaska is a place both Hubs and I would like to go one day, and I know your pictures are going to fuel that desire even more!

JC said...

I'm so glad you are home. I love the pictures. I can see your excitment in that wonderful smile of yours. I look forward to hearing and seeing more.

grammy said...

I knew you would have great pics and you sure do. Loved the puffin. Sounds cold but of course you had a great attitude about it. Nice to hear from you again.