When we have each other, we have everything.
This is the year for "Whole Family Vacays!" We were able to get the whole family together for a cruise this summer to Alaska! We traveled on Celebrity Cruises to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, and Seward. We enjoyed our time on and off the ship, but I think we would all agree that Icy Strait Point and Hubbard Glacier were a favorite. The video sums up the trip perfectly, but enjoyed time with Dan, Garrett and Katie and Garrison, and my mom and dad. After getting off the boat, we spent some time in Anchorage in a 12 passenger van. Thoroughly covered this part of Alaska and would definitely go back! Our group of 8 was in for a ton of adventures when we signed up with REI Adventures to do the Tanzania Ultimate Adventure and Safari. A 13 day trip that started in Moshi and ended in Arusha. We biked in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, flew on a small plane to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro for 4 days of safari, hiked toward Lake Natron, and ended our time visiting with and observing the lifestyle of the Maasai people. We traveled with Scott and Libby, BK and Kelly, and Anne and Tom. It was really nice to have a private group in order to avoid some of the issues that come up with traveling with others you don't know well. The biking portion was admittedly harder than I had anticipated. There were a lot of ups and downs and rough riding due to road conditions. BK, Kelly, and Scott rode the 5 mile uphill section on day 2, which the rest of us passed on due to not feeling adequately prepared. It was a tough climb, but the three of them pushed hard and made it to the top. We were all impressed by their perseverance. The safari was even more impressive than I had anticipated. We saw so much even on day 1 of the safari! By the end, your brain almost couldn't process all that you were seeing. Herds of zebra and gazelle, a cheetah taking down a gazelle, leopards sleeping in trees, hippos flipping water to keep themselves cool, an elephant herd traffic jam for 45 minutes to an hour, hyenas sleeping in rock formations just like in the Lion King, lions climbing trees and falling out of them, monkeys picking at one another, and so much more. The thing I appreciated about being on safari is that you truly begin to understand how animals behave in the wild and come to appreciate the "circle of life" that takes place out there. I thought I would have struggled seeing the lions and cubs eating a zebra, but you understand that they have to eat too and that a loss of life is what it takes to survive. Every creature / living being out there depends on the other for survival ... from the dung beetle to the cape buffalo. They all have their purpose and it was incredible to see the connections occur right before my eyes. We took a hot air balloon ride over the savannah one morning. I thought it would be scary being so high up, but out in the open. Surprisingly, it was a calming and almost meditative experience. Other than the sound of the fuel blasting into the balloon on occasion, it was so quiet up there. Floating along and looking at the landscape and animals below was surreal, almost as though we were trapped in a bubble being carried by the wind. After landing, we enjoyed a toast with champagne/juice and a breakfast while zebra and wildebeest roamed by us. Other than the safari, the hiking was my favorite part. I love walking and taking in the sights. The hiking was a little more challenging than usual because we were hiking in an area that was covered in volcanic ash from an eruption in 2008. It was like hiking 26 miles in sand. Our calves were definitely on fire by the end of the two days, but it was well worth it. We were in the Ngorongoro highlands walking through Maasai villages and strolling with local villagers and livestock. The landscape changed from barren grasslands to lush areas with umbrella trees. I always appreciate the satisfaction that comes from sitting in a camping chair at the end of a day spent walking for miles. One of the coolest aspects of traveling with REI Adventures (this was our 2nd trip...the 1st being Thailand) is that the itineraries give you a typical "tourist" experience, but also include many cultural aspects in their trips as well. While hiking, we had a Maasai guide leading and teaching us about the Maasai lifestyle. We toured two schools and a medical clinic. We visited a local coffee farm that sells beans to a cooperative that sells to Starbucks. We were able to go into a Maasai village and observe the cows getting milked in the morning in addition to going into one of their homes. Their homes are made mostly from wood and then they use cow manure/urine to create the paste on the walls. While biking, we stopped at a dairy cooperative run by women. Women from the surrounding villages sell their cow milk to the cooperative which in turn makes various dairy products and sells to local markets. All of our guides were incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, animals, and culture. We could ask any question and they responded with thorough answers. Tanzania was an incredible experience and one that I did not want to leave! I have compiled my favorite group, animal, and landscape photos below and of course included my trip video. Video 1 is 20 minutes and video 2 is about 11 minutes. By far the longest trip video I have created thus far...but it tells a story and is a good reminder of the adventures we enjoyed on this trip. Hakuna Matata and Asante Sana Tanzania! Favorite Group PhotosFavorite Landscape PHotosFavorite Animal PHotosWe traveled to the breathtaking island of Kauai with several friends for spring break this year. This island is known as the garden island because it is lush and tropical, so our weather was not perfect the whole time we were there, but boy did we make the best of every moment. It also seemed like the weather cleared up exactly when we needed it to for photos, the drone, or just to enjoy certain types of activities. Here are the details: Who: Ross Berglund (master planner), Heather Berglund (master packer), Heidi Brown (nurse), Jade Brown (master blender), Ben Thomas (drone pilot), Wade Alness (Group ATM), Alisha Alness (Chef Extraordinaire) Epic Adventure # 1: Queen's Bath...hard hike because of ruts, tree roots, and slick conditions, but this gives you amazing views with cool water features! Ignore the "Stay Out" sign and go around the fence. Epic Adventure # 2: Seven of us that are certified dove Sheraton Caverns using SeaSport Divers. This is where the turtles on the island go to rest as they can sleep under the rocks and be really protected. Unique structure and SO MANY TURTLES! Epic Adventure # 3: Makaleha Falls Hike. It poured on us all day except for an hour when we finally arrived at the falls and launched the drone, jumped in the waterfall pool, and took photos. It continued to pour all the way out. Regardless, it made it an epically cool experience as the river was flowing incredibly strong that day and we had to cross it many times. We climbed over fallen trees, ducked under trees, scrambled over rocks. You name it. We were muddy and soaked, but the destination was well worth the effort! Epic Adventure # 4: Waimea Canyon, Kalepa Ridge Hike, and Poipu Beach. This unfortunately was not a great weather day and we were unable to see Waimea Canyon from the park. 5 members of the group successfully made the Kalepa Ridge Hike. Two bailed due to a fear of heights (hike was completely on a cliff side and you would die if you fell over) and another turned back after slipping 5 minutes into the walk and didn't want to test fate. Regardless, the group of 5 got great photos and video of a the beautiful Napali Coast. After the group rejoined, we drove down to Poipu Beach and enjoyed some time relaxing. Jade, Ross, and Wade jumped off the famous cliff 20 ft above the ocean. We found humpback whales just off the coast using the drone and were able to get some great footage of the whales surfacing and diving. I met a local and he shared a Hawaiian version of the mussel that he was catching. I ate it raw and it was surprisingly tasty. Epic Adventure # 5: We went on an ATV tour with Kauai ATV. It was an especially fun ATV tour because it was pouring on us that day as well. It made for great mud puddles to drive through! Epic Adventure # 6: Dinner Boat Cruise with Captain Andy's. What a beautiful boat and the dinner/dessert that they served was scrumptious. The southern coastline has a lot of interesting features and we saw spinner dolphins, humpback whales, and a monk seal. Epic Adventure # 7: We went on a helicopter tour. I was incredibly nervous about this one. I actually was so nervous I had a small panic attack and started crying. Nonetheless, I got on the helicopter and held Alisha's hand for about 20 minutes. The views are unmatched. We flew over Waimea Canyon, saw the Napali Coast, coasted over Hanalei where we stayed in an Air BnB, and saw too many waterfalls to count. If you scroll through the slideshow, you will quickly see that Garrison is now the center of attention in the family. Garrison was born on December 5th, just in time for the holidays! He is such a good baby and Garrett and Katie are already champs at parenting! It was so much fun to spend time together in Seattle and at the cabin in Pateros. We took a lot of walks, played a lot of games, ate a lot of food, and enjoyed time together as a family. After a week in Seattle, we traveled to West Yellowstone to help my parents get their rental cabin, Moose Meadow, ready for the rental season! It was a lot of work, but the effort paid off. It is a beautiful cabin tucked into Targhee National Forest. We are thrilled for them and look forward to making many memories there!
Ben and I flew all the way to Mauritius, Africa (24 hours travel time) to enjoy a week in the sun! We had a ton of fun exploring the island, seeing wildlife that we don't normally see, and doing a lot of reading. I read 5 books on this trip! A truly epic journey with good friends, delicious food, and breathtaking scenery. We began our 13 day journey in Alesund, Norway. After 777 miles, we ended our trip in Bergen. Along the way, we... 1. We hiked some really hard miles. We did several 5 - 7 mile "Norway" hikes. These hikes are LITERALLY a straight up climb. Like Stair-stepper climbing. Nothing is flat in Norway. Hikes we listed as "moderate" should have been listed as "epic." We made it to the viewpoint on all of them though and it was well worth the effort. 2. We rock climbed a 2,000 foot peak called Via Ferrata Loen. It was such a challenge mentally, but I am really proud of myself for overcoming several fears that day. I even ventured onto the "E" out of "F" route and really pushed myself physically. Our guide was awesome and we had several conversations about adults needing to continue to learn and step out of their comfort zones in order to stay malleable. I definitely took a few steps in the right direction! 3. We fed Norwegian ponies and avoided a steer! We were driving around passing the day because it was rainy. On our drive, we came across two adorable Norwegian ponies. They were so friendly and sticking their little heads in our car. So, we did what anyone would think to do. We drove back to a grocery story, bought some carrots, and went back and gave them a treat! 4. One day, we took a train from Flam. The train is on a route that some say is one of the most beautiful in the world. On the way up, Ben noticed a zip line and suggested that we get off the train at a stop and go check it out. We did...and it resulted in an impromptu excursion that was awesome! Not only was the zipline about a mile long in length, but you ended in a goat farm! I could have sat there petting those goats for hours...they were so friendly. We capped it off with a Norwegian pancake and some hot chocolate. 5. We conquered the 13.8 mile round trip hike out to Trolltunga for an epic picture. Fortunately for us, we were the last car that was allowed up to the upper parking lot. The attendant originally told us no, but then changed her mind and let us go up. From the upper lot, the hike is really doable. It was most flat except for a few uphill sections. The hardest part about this hike, the length and if you get bad weather, it is even harder. Our walk to the Trolltunga picture was scattered clouds with the occasional sun break. We really lucked out with the fog during our pictures and had a clear view all the way down to the lake.
On the way back, we ran into a guy who was really struggling with extreme knee pain. We knew he would be slower getting back to the upper lot, but we offered him a ride since they were parked at the lower lot and it would add another 2 miles to an already long hike for him. When we got to the parking lot, Ali and Ben went to get the car while I waited at the trailhead for them. While I was waiting, I started chatting with a kid who was ditched by his friends because he was having issues with new shoes and blisters. I peaked my head into the car when Ali and Ben pulled up and said, "Do you think we could put him in the trunk?" It was a wagon to be fair, so there was enough room for him. Eventually, the bum knee guy and his wife showed up and we hauled everyone in their wet gear down the mountain. Not long after dropping them at the lower parking lot, we ran into two more kids with their thumbs out. They looked pretty pathetic in the rain with all of their gear. We picked them up too and they just happened to be going to the same town as we were! They were a little more terrified and hardly spoke any English. But we chatted with them the best we could and they were happy by the time we dropped them off. Moral of the story: When in Norway...pick up hitchhikers! I had the absolute pleasure of joining 5 ladies on an adventure into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota for 5 1/2 days. We bonded while paddling, portaging, dealing with nature in our individually quirky ways, sleeping in tents, and exploring. It was fabulous! My favorite thing...being disconnected from it all. There is something spiritual that happens when you don't have a connection to the outside world and you are simply existing in nature. Your world becomes only what you see around you. I enjoyed days of meditation and felt my soul replenished with every fresh breath of air in that stunning location. Here is a quick video (at least by my standards) of our adventure! Fun day on Lake Minnetonka with friends: Krysta, Mariah and Anders, Wade, Ross and Heather, Ali and Mike, and Heidi and Jade. We tied the boats together along with hundreds of other boats. Tim McGraw came to support the benefit of Liberty on the Lake. This benefit is to support veterans and animals to assist veterans. The weather was beautiful, the snacks were tasty, and there was a ton of entertainment to be had between the pontoon slide, the lily pad, and the concert! Ben and I spent some time in Seattle and Pateros for a few days prior to going to Alaska. We helped my parents complete some projects at the cabin (painting, installing baseboard heaters and smart locks). I was able to go into Seattle with Garrett and Katie for some amazing pastries at a bakery and loved the fresh pasta at a restaurant that is only open a few hours a day!
From there, we flew to Anchorage, Alaska to spend several days in Denali and Katmai National Parks. Our first stop was Katmai National Park. This park has the highest concentration of grizzly (brown) bears in the world! They come to this area for the salmon run. For a limited time, they allow visitors because the bears don't associate people with food and because the bears are so consumed by the salmon. It was incredible to watch and be surrounded by up to 9 grizzlies at a time! The float plane to get to the park was also a highlight. I have never been on one and it took us 2 1/2 hours each way. We were graced with a clear day so we saw the different peaks making up the Alaska Range and glaciers. It was an incredible experience. We spent the next few days in Denali National Park. Our first day was a bus tour that went the entire 90 miles into the park. It is only accessible by car up to the first 15 miles and from there you are restricted to buses. Although it was a lot of time in a bus, our guide was very knowledgeable, and we saw a lot of wildlife. We saw two moose and calf combos, a coyote, caribou, grizzly sow and cubs, red fox, dall's sheep, and a lot of birds local to the area. The second day, we drove the 15 miles and wandered some of the trails into the park. It is a stunning park that is kept so pristine because of the restrictions placed on visitors. You can travel anywhere within the park on foot as long as you follow the "leave no trace" expectations. While we were near Denali, we visited Husky Homestead. Husky Homestead is owned by Jeff King, an Iditarod champion. They own 40 huskies and they breed/train in this facility. They hand you husky puppies when you get off the bus, which was my favorite part of the trip for sure! We were able to hear about the prep work for the Iditarod and see how they train the dogs in the summer. It was really fascinating to learn about such a unique sport. Bunners (the little guy you see above in the video) is a special member of our family dating all the way back to my parents living in Kansas. He makes an appearance a few times...keep an eye out for him! |
AuthorsBen, Julie, and Amelia Archives
June 2022
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