My last few weeks in Alaska were jam-packed. Work on the dock slowed down leaving more time for exploring. Kaitlin was determined to take me to Homer. And Kaitlin being the determined lady she is gets what she wants. We made two trips down!
Although, the two trips were very different, they both were a blast. We ate our way around town, trying all sorts of delicious food, meads and wines, played Frisbee on the beach and had a glorious time getting more than just our feet wet in the cold, salty ocean. The first trip the day ended with us being kicked out of a restaurant for sending the food back, but it ended up calming down as we drove into the glowing sunset and reminisced about the beautiful day.
The second trip down completely melted away any bitterness I may have been harboring. Gabe, Kaitlin and I took a boat across the inlet to the magical Halibut Cove. We ate at the only restaurant in the cove, the Saltry. It was beautiful. The meal we ordered was so tasty, we asked for a second! Our cheeks hurt from smiling over how happy we were. 
The next weekend we made the long drive up to Fairbanks. What an awesome trip! The views were spectacular the entire way and the mountains are so grand and breathtaking. If you ever make the journey, I definitely recommend getting a chauffer so you have the freedom to safely stare in awe out the window. My favorite mountains were through Denali Park and the ones just before we got back to Anchorage.
On the way home from Fairbanks, we stopped by the homestead. This is where Kaitlin's grandmother lives, on a large amount of land just outside of Anchorage. The gorgeous log house sits right at the edge of a private lake and no neighbors can be found for what seems like miles. We fell asleep in the guest house as the stillness of nature surrounded us. Bruce woke us up early the next morning, upon our request so we would have time to paddle boat around the lake.
This summer was wonderful for the simple fact that I didn't do much aside from be completely present in the moment with what I was doing. The feeling is so liberating. Experiencing yourself exactly as you are, right now, with no reservations or concerns about the past or future is wonderful. I loved it. I love the laughter and the friendships, and the memories I will keep close by.
