america the beautiful

September 13, 2013

Day: 12

Total mileage (car): 1924

Total mileage (including ferry): 2769.5

Haines Is For Hikers.  And photographers.  Boaters.  Birders.  Bikers.  Backpackers.  Mountaineers.  Fishermen.  If you love anything to do with the outdoors, Haines is for You.



Can you hear the angels singing? Juvenile bald eagle on the tree.



After departing the ferry around 2 am (brutal by the way) we awoke to an insane view across the end of the Inside Passage.  The sun peered through a low cloud layer and I thought for a moment I was still dreaming- glacial peaks reflecting in glacial waters with a quaint town situated at the foot.  A flock of about a hundred birds skimmed across the glassy water and landed softly.  They dove in a wave of succession into the glacial waters to reappear a few minutes later several dozen feet away.  CJ and I were like little kids in a candy box.

A stunning day in Haines.

We meandered through the small, quiet town where everyone really does know your name.  We even managed a few loads of laundry.  We found the local coffee shop and health food store and camped out for several hours – Colter found a toddler-size antique car and CJ mingled with the locals, gathering info and advice.  A splendid day.

 

Vroom vroom.  Beep beep.

 

You have to appreciate that traveling thousands of miles with a young child requires a bit of adaption on our part.  What may seem like a brilliant idea if it were just the two of us, can become a complicated, challenging predicament.  Say taking a plane over to Glacier Bay:  sounds wonderful, yes?  I’ve flown several times with Colter and as much fun as that is, I don’t think I’ll spend $500 bucks to sit and entertain my child while we fly over some of the most unbelievable countryside.  What may seem simple and boring to the average 20-something with no kids, is a slice of heaven for us.  I can’t think of a better way to spend the better part of my day than sitting outside at a local coffee shop, sun streaming down on us, sipping on a hot cocoa and taking in the views.
 

Father-Son bonding time.

 

View from our campsite.

 

Eating some grub.

In the early afternoon, we headed toward Chilkoot Lake State Park on the north end of town.  We ran into Mama and her cub along the way and watched in wonder as they plodded past our truck.  Bald eagles soared around in the dozens.  Every fall, nearly 4,000 bald eagles congregate in Haines.  The largest density of bald eagles.  America the Beautiful.

Mama Bear and cub

 

Really close to our car (CJ was on the roof when he took this....)

 

Catching some fish.

 

After setting up camp, we skirted the banks of the lake with our kayak.  It was Colter’s first time in a kayak and he was in heaven.  His wide eyes and eager smile made me giggle.  Watching the sunset across No Name glacier while floating on the glassy, glacial lake was memorable to say the very least.

Chilkoot Lake kayak.

 

Love my little family!  You would love it here, Owen!

 
Tucked Colter in bed and enjoyed a few moments by the light of the campfire.
 

Kicking back.