Captain Cook State Recreation Area, Alaska.

Last night we spent the night at a Walmart, tired from trying to decide where to go. In the morning, with fresh coffee in hand, expensive (Walmart) groceries in the Airstream and even more overpriced cheap beer in the shower, we headed to campground that was one way in and one way out, Discovery Campground at Captain Cook State Recreation Area. We were trying to give our buddies Kerri and Tim some space but you know what? For a huge state, Alaska is one small place. Haha. Hello again, neighbors!!

We didn’t luck out with an oceanfront site like our neighbors but this will do just fine until one of the other oceanfront sites opens up… then… snatch! We will swoop in before anyone else does.

The trees and foliage in Alaska are so dense. When you drive the roads here, you have no idea what is beyond the trees. A river? A bear? A building? We have no idea! This non-oceanfront site is a little rough for our solar so a move in the next day or so is a must if we don’t want to run our generator.

Here is the view from the oceanfront site.

Let’s try to figure out a way to get down there. Quick.

Why all this smiles? Because the kids figured out that the beach is here is not only made up of sand. It is also made from that gooey mud that many have to be careful of in the Turnagain Arm.

We all very carefully tested it out.

And then they got braver and braver.

And then maybe a little too brave.

Oopsie.

Off to wash off his hands.

Hey stop laughing at us, mama! Look at your own feet!!

Does this count a spa day?

At low tide, the water recedes and exposes these large boulders in the water.

It was so surreal, so out of place, to see them in the water. The boulders are remnants of the receding glacier.

The very next morning at Captain Cook, an oceanfront site opened up right across the way from us.

Hello there, neighbors. I swear we are not following you on purpose.

Look at this view!!! And for $12 a night. Sigh.

And yes, I did bring a teepee with us all the way to Alaska. I shove it on the side of our bed in the Airstream and bring it out for a play area for the kids. Who am I kidding? It’s just as much for me and is for them.

Since this campground is first-come-first-serve, we paid up for the week and so that means… dump out ALL the toys! We’re moving in!!

In the summer, our roadschool/homeschool schedule is pretty relaxed. We do some workbooks.

And focus on the national parks and the ever changing world outside our window.

And the wildlife buzzing on the flowers we picked for our campground table.

It’s awesome to find a campground that makes you are so content that you have no desire to leave it.

So everyday we spent it hiking to the beach. Sometimes in sweaters and other times in our bathing suits.

The kids didn’t do much swimming since the water was chilly.

Except for a few splashes to play with Byron and Moose.

Morning break time from the office looks a little different when you live on the road.

And it smells a little different too.

In the beginning of the blog, Dan and I used to split up blogging duties 50/50. But after a little while, I stepped back, not comfortable with my voice on here. Which is silly really because it’s my blog too. It’s the whole family’s. We blog to record our adventures as a family. My voice is part of that journey.

I’m trying to be less concerned about choosing too many photos for the posts also.

There are slight differences in each of these photos. Those slight differences are things I yearn to remember as they grow older, as I grow older.

Our time here in coming to a close so one more romp in the mud and sand is on the agenda.

“I don’t care about my clothes or my toys. I just care about my life”, she explained as we sat on the wet sand making castles and moats. Turning eight has made her more aware that our time here on earth and with each other is not guaranteed. She is no longer that baby that started this journey with us 7 years ago as she is blossoming while bringing her world into sharper focus. Her new awareness is somehow inspiring and heartbreaking all at the same time.

It makes me happy to see them playing so well together.

And happy playing alone too.

I wonder what they will remember from our adventures when they grow up?

Hopefully they will remember smiling a lot.

And getting real messy.

And always being together.

Thanks for reading,
Marlene