May and June...

This month has been filled with work, work, and more work. The beginning of May was filled with training. Then on the first Friday in May our busiest day of the season happened with 7 cruise ships and about 13,000 people visiting Ketchikan in one day. I was very thankful to have a job where I take less than 150 of those people out into the wilderness. 

May was pretty much all about work. There was a surprise trip to Petersburg for a boat swap one week. There were a few days off where we got to go and play on the beach. There was a -4.5ft low tide which led to incredible tidepooling one morning before work. I also developed a weird death cold that was trying to kill me. I lost my voice for about a week at the start of June. And my voice has been in and out since then, coming and going as it wants.

So far it has been a pretty cool and rainy summer. This makes for beautiful and breathtaking views in the Misty's. The rest of this post is just going to be pictures. I got a new camera in May, so there will be lots of pretty pictures to share.

In June Tristan and I snuck away to the muskeg to play among the wildflowers and the dragonfly larva for an afternoon, between both of us being sick. Since I was pulled out of work for a week because of my voice, I got to visit my parents in Yellowstone. Tristan and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary at the end of June. Then I was whisked away for an adventure on one of the Dream Cruise boats at the end of June into the first week of July (another post for this one as well).

Sorry it has taken me so long to post, but I have been pretty busy since the season started. So here are some pictures throughout May and June.

The captain on his first solo Misty trip 

I love when Eddystone floats in the mist

An afternoon hanging out in the Hammock 

Moonsnail love

Leather seastar with Eel grass, Bull Kelp, and Rockweed

Sailfin Sculpin

My love looking for dragonfly larva in the pools

Shooting stars

Breaching Orcas thanks to Claire 

Cute little Black Bear

Petersburg

And this post's quote:

At some point in life, the world's beauty becomes enough...

A new season is here...

And just like that another season has arrived. I finished up teaching for the year at the beginning of April, and started my 3rd summer with Allen Marine. This month has been super busy. Mostly we have been cleaning and stocking boats, doing drills, training new staff, and prepping for new tours. There have been some long days and weeks already, and we aren't even into the summer yet. 

To start off the month we had a crawfish boil to celebrate my birthday (April 5th) and my friend Matt's birthday (March 31st) and him passing his captains class. Danielle had the crawfish shipped up overnight and Tristan made cheesecake. The boil was similar to a Low Country boil, just with crawfish instead of shrimp. The crawfish were very tasty, but nothing compared to some good SC shrimp. 

Crawfish boil with Victoria, Jason, Matt, Tristan, Bryce, Danielle, and Jamie (picture taker)

One of the perks of being back to work so early was that I got to do a charter to the Misty's in early April. It was a different perspective, since I haven't  seen the Misty's that early into the season. The day was filled with sunshine, snow covered peaks, a few Humpback whales, and about 100 Dall's porpoise. 

We have been busy training for the new wildlife and beach bonfire tour as well. This means lots of days on the water pointing out wildlife to our new naturalist, and lots of times practicing building fires. We got to do a sample tour with friends and family which was great. We saw seals, humpbacks, eagles, scooters, murrelets, many more birds, and my first Alaskan Minke whale!! We had a great evening of roasting s'mores and reindeer sausages on the beach, with a beautiful sunset.

Yesterday was our first official Misty tour. We took a group of locals and all of our new staff out. It couldn't have been more different from my trip earlier this season. It was a typical Ketchikan day with drizzling rain and mist...the best weather to visit the Misty's. It was a special trip, because we got to venture back into a part of Rudyard Bay we rarely get to visit. It's named God's Pocket for it's beauty. And it didn't disappoint. There were tears that came along with the beauty and the wildlife...it was so wonderful to be back in this beautiful place! 

God's Pocket...photo by Danielle

Tristan the expert wildlife spotter...photo by Claire

Waterfalls in the Misty's...photo by Claire

Jenett came along for the ride

Not only did we have beautiful views and snow flakes falling on us, we also had a wonderful wildlife day. There were 2 beautiful humpbacks and porpoises on our way out to Rudyard. The tide was super low, so we could see all types of tidepool creatures at the base of the rocks on all of the islands. But the winners of the day were the 2 black bears spotted in Rudyard and more mountain goats than we could count. Unfortunately I have no pictures of any of these beautiful animals, but it was an amazing day.

A few more pictures from April to leave you with...and a beautiful quote from John Muir.

Everybody need beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and the soul.

There is No Place Like Home

For those of you who don't know my dad retired January 1st. And him and my stepmom pulled out of Ringgold a few weeks ago. They accepted a job a job in Yellowstone National Park as campground hosts for the summer. You can follow their adventure at the Ramblin' Ruis. They are super excited. So I decided to go home for one last time while they were there to help clean out the house and visit friends and family. And as usual any trip back east is whirl-win adventure for me.

View of the Lowcountry as I landed in Charleston

So I flew into Charleston on January 18th, and Kat picked me up from the airport. She took me to Chick-fil-a so I could have a wonderful chicken sandwich and a sweet tea, then we headed on our road trip to Columbia. We spent a couple of hours catching up and then had dinner with her sister. We made the most of our time together...but as usual it is never enough. She deposited me at Austie's apartment, and back to work she went. 

I spent a few days in Columbia with Austin which was nice, then we drove back to Ringgold. I had a week of going through my stuff at the house one last time and trying to figure out what I could cram into 2 suitcases to bring back with me. I visited family and friends. And there was a retirement dinner for my dad. 

Probably the first pictures we have of both of our families!! 

That was my main reason for going home, was to be able to attend the retirement dinner. There were people from all over the state from many different agencies that came to visit. People who we had been friends with for years, and people who I had never met before. It was great to see everyone, especially the people that I hadn't seen in many years. It was also so wonderful to see everyone show up to celebrate my dad! 

In town, I got to visit family and friends. I got to spend a Sunday afternoon watching football at my uncle's. This allowed me to spend time with my cousins and their new babies. My brother drove up for the evening and we even got to have a milkshake date. I got to visit with my grandparents and have a Simple Wednesday meal with the Hodnett's. It was a lovely visit in Virginia. 

I was surprised by 2 of my favorites for an afternoon of football!! 

I am in love with baby Noah

My favorite uncle Jack

Adam and Jimathy...two of my favorite giants

Along with seeing friends and family in town, we went to see Mama Jane for the weekend in Asheville. That is always a great bonus to get to spend some time with my grandmother. After Asheville, we headed to Myrtle so that I could go and spend some time with Ann.

Ann and I had our own adventure planned as we headed to Atlanta. We went to the Aquarium for the day, and took a few behind the scenes tours. We spent some time playing with otters and the beluga whales. I have had the privilege to be in the water with belugas before at Sea World camp when I was younger, but getting to do it with my best friend was an awesome experience! We also spent plenty of time watching the Manta Rays and Whale Sharks glide around. Many people have their views on aquariums and marine mammals in captivity. But the magical moments that get to happen when you can be that close to animals that you may never get to see in the wild, is something that will always make them worth it. The education and research that most aquariums is unparalleled and is why they will always have my support.

After the aquarium we drove back to Savannah to stay with my sister. I spent the next few days relaxing on my sisters couch, and watching sports with her and her husband at night. It was a great way to relax. 

The last few days before I left I took a little road trip with my mom back to Myrtle. We spent the night at my uncle's condo, and then got to spend the next morning loving on some of the babies in the family! We got to have a great breakfast with the cutest little boy Noah. Then we got to drive up to Southport and have a lunch date with my brother again. It was a great last day on the east coast. 

Mom with little Noah

Mom with baby Lucas

On Friday before I got back on the plane to head home, I spent the day with my mom and sister. Since I was flying out of Charleston, we spent the morning at the Tanger browsing different shops. Then all I really wanted was some Buffalo Wild Wings and a large sweet tea before I got back on the plane. 

It was a very busy trip. I visited a lot of people, and covered a lot of ground. But what would an adventure back east be without all of that. I got to say goodbye to the home I grew up in, and see my parents new home. I got to spend time with almost all of family and best friends back home! It was a great trip. As always...I wish I had more time and could see more people. 

And the quote of the post...

How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard....Winnie-the-Pooh