May Delight

June 1, 2015

I remember May like it was yesterday. And it was - by far - the best month of May of my life. Maybe it was the fact that May 2015 was Juneau's driest May on record. Or maybe it was because every single day held an adventure that stirred my soul. Who knows why I loved May so much - but I sure know May loved me back tenfold.

Why was May 2015 so incredible? Well, let's see. It started out with a fun photo shoot at Eagle Beach with friends, Becky and Kerry. Not long after, I bought a roadster hybrid bicycle and spent sunny evenings exploring North Douglas Island at sunset. The Alaskan Brewing Co. rocked my socks off at their Spring Fling event, and the Sealaska Heritage Institute fixed the pit and hosted their grand opening of the Walter Soboleff Center. Cinco de Mayo didn't disappoint either, especially since Juneau had weather reminiscent of South of the Border.

I spent a wonderful weekend in Anchorage, catching up with foodie/bestie Sharon, multi-talented blogger Gretchen, and my incredibly hospitable host Cyndi. Cyndi is one of the best cooks I've ever had the pleasure of knowing - and that's saying a lot.

Back in Juneau, I hiked with old friends (Denali the Dawg) and made new friends (Sarena's precious Momma, Maggie, visited Juneau from Fairbanks). One of my closest confidants, Michelle, celebrated her 50th birthday, though she doesn't look a day over 32.

I kayaked the golden hour with award-winning nature photographer, Daniel Buck and cherished an action-packed weekend at the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) event at Echo Cove.

Temperatures were regularly in the high 70s, and I couldn't resist soaking up the sun. I spent lots o' time in and around hawbaws (harbors) - like Auke Bay, Douglas, and Harris Harbors. To round out the month, I got my sealegs aboard the S/V Arcturus while sailing with Captain Louis Hoock of Alaska Adventure Sailing. As for the ICE-ing on the cake, I took a TEMSCO helicopter up to the icy blue Mendenhall Glacier for a Sunday afternoon walkabout, a trip that never gets old.

Every summer has a story - and this has been mine. Juneau in June is back to her rainforest self, yet adventure awaits around every corner. If there's anything this month has taught me, it is this: I am ready - rain or shine.

With two amazing women, Becky and Kerry.

Representin' the blue helmet on North Douglas Island.

Cheslea and Aileen rocking the sombreros.

Happy Cinco de Mayo from McKenzie and Candice (photobomb by Sonny Bunny).

Sharon in Anchorage with her tempura fried green tea ice cream.  Yummo! — Sharon in Anchorage with her tempura fried green tea ice cream. Yummo!

With Cyndi, the hostest with the mostest.

Sunset somewhere between Anchorage and Juneau.

Proof I'm not making up this temperature thing.

TEMSCO helicopter on Mendenhall Glacier.

At the helm of the S/V Arcturus. — At the helm of the *S/V Arcturus*.

At the bow of the S/V Arcturus. — At the bow of the *S/V Arcturus*.

Kayaking the Golden Hour

May 14, 2015

As the old adage goes, do one thing every day that scares you. And that's pretty much how it began.

What started as a “let’s stay close to shore” excursion quickly turned into my first, long distance, open water, channel crossing of North America’s longest and deepest fjord.

Juneau has been blessed with spectacular weather this month, so I jumped at the chance to join my friend and internationally acclaimed, award-winning nature photographer, Daniel Buck, on a kayaking trip north of Alaska’s capital city.

Initially, I just wanted to get a seal’s eye view of the spot I had camped at a few weeks earlier. But as we paddled along the foreboding granite cliffs high above our 14 foot kayaks, the surge of adrenalin was unmistakable. My mind encouraged me to “just go for it.” And so it began. Baby steps transformed into leaps of faith which led to an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime.

We found ourselves leaving the protected cove and venturing out into open water. Little did I know at the time, but our kayaks were cruising above the historic shipwreck site of the SS Princess Kathleen, a steamship that met her dark watery grave just 63 years prior.

Unfazed, we scanned the horizon for the jubilant exhale of humpback whales, occasionally spotting playful harbor porpoises close by. With this remarkable encounter alone, my trepidation and fear of the unknown subsided.

As the waves catapulted us closer and closer to our wilderness destination, at one point with my rookie hand I felt the tide taking my kayak in one direction, the wind pulling me in another. Powering through, we arrived at the shores of Shelter Island after an ambitious and arm-clinching paddle. Completely worth it.

Securing the boats above the tide-line, we scrambled along the rugged and rocky shore to gain a higher vantage point on the ocean landscape we had just traversed. The first half of the journey was now complete, though it felt like a journey just beginning.

After some time exploring the island's unprotected eastern shores and doing a bit of beach-combing, we paddled back to the mainland, surrounded by God’s wonderland stretching as far as the eye can see.

As the sun set behind the majestic snow-capped peaks, the waters we had just conquered were bathed in the warm glow of the golden hour. During a particularly Zen-like moment, I paused in the middle of the waterway, letting the silence of the world engulf me, comforted only by the presence of nature and the sound of the cerulean waves gently lapping the boat.

There, at sunset, as the small kayak gently rode the ocean swells, I had a revelation. Growing up in Alabama, I lived an unexceptional life. Now in Alaska, I am living a life without exception - a life where each day I do one thing that scares me, strengthens me, and fulfills me. Where each day is nothing less than an epic adventure, all in America’s Last Frontier.

Here's a big THANK YOU to Daniel for taking many of the photos above and sharing them with me so I can share them with you.

Check out Daniel's other awe-inspiring photographs at Wilderness Peaks Gallery, Alaska's premiere fine art photography gallery.

156 Steps

May 11, 2015

From the bottom to the top, it's one hundred and fifty six steps. That's right. 156. I counted them. And somehow I managed to keep count while gasping for air after trying to run up this plight of stairs.

Next time you're in downtown Juneau, check out this little cardio gem - the secluded alley up Decker Way to Gastineau Avenue. Try to get all the way to the top, whether it be in one minute or one hour. You won't be disappointed.

Take a look at this architectural dream at the top of the stairs along Gastineau Avenue.

The view across downtown Juneau to Egan Drive.

Bravo for Brewskis

May 7, 2015

Before I moved to Alaska, I didn't really care for beer. Okay, I'll be honest: I hated the taste of it. But having now lived in Juneau for six years, I've discovered that my taste buds just weren't well developed enough in the Deep South with all that Coors Light and Budweiser floating around (no offense, Clydesdales).

The exciting thing about Juneau is that it's home to the Alaskan Brewing Company, an internationally recognized, award winning craft brewery founded in 1986. And I must say, I actually like beer now!

This evening, our hometown brewery hosted an invitation-only event at the Twisted Fish restaurant downtown near the cruise ship docks. It felt like half of Juneau showed up to sample different flavors and welcome in summer.

I sampled the (new to me) Icy Bay IPA, but Raspberry Wheat is still my favorite.

Thanks, Alaskan Brewing, for rolling out the red carpet for your fans!