Mid Summer

 I was thrilled to be able to join a gull study on Egg Island for 3 days.  Two nights away from the family, and the boys did great!

A great international team, and it was such a treat to meet new folk, talk about science and learn about Russia and Japan.  Great weather, amazing beaches, and we were even there for strawberry season. 

We've been "training" for our North Dakota Bike trip.  

Family day trip out the road (in the rain....)

                                               We've had some magical summer days.

Lots of swimming at the mouth of the lagoon at high tide this year, and I even tried snorkeling with the salmon. 

 Lots of berries this year... salmon berries, blueberries, nagoons.  

Salmon Run!  Peter's second year participating.  

Peter turned 4 today! He's grown over 2 inches in the last three months, and suddenly seems transformed to a leggy boy.  We've had some fairly long family hikes together, and he's a great adventure partner.  A new chapter, and it's fun!

Dustin and Peter heading off to explore with the zodiac

The salmon are in the creek, and we have hundreds of gulls visiting and a seal feeding in the lagoon at high tide.  

We've also had a new lagoon resident the last few weeks.  

A large male brown bear!

We have black bear every year, but this is only the second year on record of a brown bear.  We were treated to an evening of salmon-fishing action right below the house, and heard him fishing from our beds.  We've been walking in as groups, and limiting foot traffic.  

The last couple of days seem to have been quieter... so, maybe he's moved on?

Marking territory in the lagoon...  

We don't need convincing!

 Last weekend we did a practice bike-camping trip, figuring out gear and packing for North Dakota.  

Soo much fun!  We had a bob-trailer and the double chariot, and Peter had his bike (that could get tied onto the chariot when needed).  Leif rode in his seat for the some of the time, and napped in the chariot. We don't cover ground very quickly (about 3 miles/hr!), but we saw lots (had very frequent breaks...), picked berries and it was a wonderful family adventure.

  We camped at Alaganik, and Vera and family joined us for a picnic in the rain

Leif loved it!  We stayed in our new 4 man tent for the first time.  It was a wet, windy night.  The perfect time to stay in sleeping bags, read and doze.  Leif woke up at his usual 0630... and was soo excited to find everyone lying in bags around him... he's a crazy wrestler (and getting heavy)... so, we were soon all out of bed. 

Not a wilderness trip!  Thank goodness!

We cooked breakfast in the dry bird blind.  Pancakes for Peter. 

Had to take this photo... maybe the first documentation of Leif sitting still!

It was wet and windy at times, but we all kept dry and happy.  And, Peter ended up biking both ways (20 mile round trip).  Amazing what little legs can do.

Team Yellow

Celebratory milkshake for Peter on our return!

It's been quiet in the lagoon, and we've had some very happy days at home.  After a few days of adventure, both boys love having a day at home to play in the sand-pit, garden, read on the beach.  

  

Chickens have just started laying

 It's a birthday weekend, and yesterday we took the zodiac over to Observation Island.  Halibut fishing, picnic, a swim, and a nap

Today Peter turned 4!

We celebrated with bacon and eggs, church, balloons and a cake outside afterwards, time to play at home, and a very fun family game of hide-and-seek in the muskeg.  A very special day together.