Sunday, June 17
Another gorgeous day (and so many we’ve met have told us how
bad the weather has been prior to our arrival), and we set out this morning
back toward Cooper Landing to hike a trail off the Skilak Lake Loop Road. We braved a multitude of mosquitoes and our
own apprehensions of bear encounters for two miles to climb to a glorious overlook
that took in much of the 15-mile long lake.
The turquoise water of the lake, surrounded by green forests, and at the
foot of (yet more) snow-capped mountains afforded views that were absolutely
breathtaking.
We weren’t sure whether it
was the mosquitoes swarming around us or the sound of our singing as we hiked
that kept the bears away, but we hit the end of the trail without a close
encounter of the ursine kind. However,
just after leaving the parking area of at the trailhead, we did see a black
bear along the road and, shortly thereafter, a moose, galloping along the
roadside very much like a horse.
Back at Harborside Cottages, we got to see Mel’s friend
Travis, home for a couple of days from his job with a survey crew across the
Cook Inlet.
We caught up, absorbed a bit
of local color, and got some help planning
our next couple of days while enjoying the views from our deck. All the while, the eagles and gulls swooped
by, the locals fished in kayaks and on the beach below, and the still
snow-covered mountains and volcanoes loomed in the distance.
As happy hour ran on, Donna and I abandoned our
plans for a special Fathers’ Day grilled feast and opted for a pizza
instead. Fathers and mothers all, we
agreed that it was a pretty good way to mark the occasion – evidence that the
setting is everything!
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