Hot Off The Press

I am one year older and yet some things remain the same.

For instance, I still prefer to take bubble baths by candlelight. Whenever I come home, I bolt inside and search for my cat. I do spontaneous dancing whenever I mow the lawn, and I like to settle down in the afternoon for an extended "nap", which is more like a full on sleep.

Some things just never change!

But there are some things that do change, as well as new experiences I've had that've made me grow. Throughout the past year:

I filleted my first fish. I just applied for a credit card. I went out to a beer fest, socialized, and had an unexpectedly fantastic summer night. I made the grownup decision to stay home and help my mom open her new business. I'm officially done with school. I've gone on the most dates within the course of four months than I've had combined my whole life (thank you London). And I've gotten a bit more bold.

It's astonishing to see how communicative I've become, compared to myself a year ago. Granted, they've been baby steps, but I'm well on my way to becoming more expressive with others, something I've been trying to work on for quite some time.

It's exciting to think about my twenty-second year of living. What stories will I have to tell a year from now, what thrills and frustrations will I write in my journal? What new friendships will I make and where will I be, this time next year?

All in good time.

For now, I'll eat my purrrrfect birthday cake pops and enjoy the accomplishment of another year so joyously lived...

I finally get to start a blog post on an Alaskan adventure that includes an encounter with a bear.

At last, I get to write a story with my bear hands!

You're probably rolling your eyes cause you can't bear to hear any more puns!

I'll stop there...

So yes, there includes a bear on this tale of adventure.

On the second day of our stay we headed across the Bay over to Halibut Cove, where we were in search of a "wooden staircase in the woods."

Somehow, we found the trailhead and after anchoring, Dad paddled us over in the dingy and we began our hike on the Saddle Trail.

People often ask me where I would like to live when I grow up and the picture that comes to mind is Halibut Cove. I would build a place way up on the hillside, shrubbery concealing my humble abode, bay windows overlooking the cove, and I would run my magazine from there.

They all say I'm a dreamer, but I say that the first step is the dream!

Anyhow, we weren't five minutes into our hike when our fearless leader came speed walking back to us and informed us of a curious bear eating berries just ahead.

Or should I say, bearies?

There was debate on turning round, but we decided in the end that it was Alaska and bears come with the territory.

So we moved ahead. We ran into him a few more times (hearing his grunts and seeing him bound into the bushes) and we saw plenty of scat littering the trail.

We plodded on, carefully walking in the muddy wake of the hiker in front, and then we finally arrived at the beautiful end, where Grewingk Glacier lay.

It was a n-ice sight. And not a bad hike either! About four miles roundtrip.

To tie off our afternoon like the last, we motored over to Halibut Cove, another lovely seaside town, and walked up the ramp to have ourselves a hot cup of coffee at Halibut Cove Coffeehouse.

It was a bit sealy though, for lying across the dock was the local harbor seal who apparently comes out to sunbathe every week, and has been doing so the past twenty-five years!

Halibut Cove has my seal of approval.

What a day, I'd say, hiking in the Bay. Can't end any other way than with a caramel latte!

Proud Mary looking good this sea-son....