Ski train

Meghan happy to be off the train and on her skis above the Susitna River Valley

With Mark and Laurence inside the "Wine & Cheese Car"

Live entertainment

An overdue post on our trip aboard the infamous Ski Train. Departing from Anchorage at 7 am and returning well after 8 pm, the Ski Train was full day outing consisting of early morning cocktails, costumes, a polka band, and a little skiing thrown in. At times it felt intercontinental - nibbling on cheese and sipping wine while sitting in the glass domed rail car as Alaska's wilderness flashed by. At others it felt like a cramped car trip with dozens of loud traveling companions. Although the scenery was spectacular and it was great to get out with friends, Meg and I agreed that once is enough for the Ski Train.

In the Sea

It is illegal to take shells from the beaches in Hawai'i...so I just collected and then replaced these finds. Lots of seaglass onshore, to my delight. We also learned that we could not carry fruit from Kaua'i on to Oahu and the fruit policeman and his x-ray machine caught Bruce trying to sneak an orange across the border.

The morning of our first day on the Island was cool and rainy-we were the only people to get in the water at Anini Beach-we tested the water temperature in our raingear before committing.

Another cool day, at Ke'e beach.

Strange Fruit

Our last supper on the Island-a fantastic fruit, smoothie, and sandwich stand that we stumbled across after our stop at Moloa'a Beach. We devoured mahi-mahi, ahi, tangelo, lychee, the most flavorful bananas we have ever tasted, and an incredible smoothie. Amazing after a day of sun and sand. We tended to enjoy the best dining experience on the occasions when I would be overwhelmed with frustration and throw the guidebook into the backseat of the Vibe.

At Moloa'a we saw evidence of the tsunami's impact-an unusually high wrack and an abundance of plastic beach debris. Beachfront home owners worked to repair damage to their buildings.

Bruce absorbs some final rays.

Time flies...

We enjoyed our trip to the North Shore so much that we are already plotting our return for next year. There are so many reasons to go back. We especially enjoyed the sleepy feel and slow pace of the windward side of the island. At the top of our list though, are the many different beaches to explore. Each sandy spot that we visited was unique. There were great reefs for snorkeling, waves for surfing, sun for tanning, and of course - sand for combing. Here are a few shots of the beaches where we stayed long enough to snap a pic or two.

Secret Beach

Anini Beach

Larsons Beach

Hanalei Bay

Island diversity

Located more than 2,ooo miles from the nearest continental shore, the Hawaiian archipelago is the most isolated group of islands in the world. Nonetheless, we've caught a glimpse of several species that have found their way here one way or another including animals not pictured below such as humpback whales and the great frigatebird.

green sea turtle

red-footed booby

monk seal

sea meghan

whitemouth moray eel

red-crested cardinal

Postcard from paradise

We'll keep the words brief to save space for pictures of the beautiful island. When not preparing for a tsunami evacuation we've been enjoying the North Shore.

Our greeting to the accommodations

The view from our lanai

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Haena Beach and Bali Hai

Next post, local wildlife...

Tour reflection

Before: with a Tour veteran

The symbolic end of another Alaskan winter came and went on Sunday as we took part in the 24th annual Tour of Anchorage ski marathon. After skiing the 40k distance last year I signed up for the 50k distance this year. Meg ran race support, shuttling me and friends to the start and cheering us on along the route. It's amazing how much mental space the Tour occupies throughout the winter. After the race I sat down and took off my ski boots and Lycra. I paused, and felt my brain empty out. I had nothing in the near future to prepare for - no more worries about race times or bonking or whether I was skiing enough. And although I would have liked to have skied the race a bit faster, I am satisfied with my results considering the winter that was. Meg's winter-long bar prep required added attention. I neglected to get seen for a knee injury that nagged all winter until three weeks ago. And preparations for this specific race were not adequate. At the risk of listing excuses, I rarely skied longer than 90 minutes at a time this winter and on race day I slept in and ended up eating breakfast too late which caused some serious difficulty on the very hilly first 10k. All in all, it was quite the learning experience and it was great seeing friends do so well. Looking forward to 2012...

After: 50k and still smiling

Meg in motion

Meg has taken to the trail every day after work this week.