People, Places or Things? (by Thomas)

People...

Places...

... orThings

We have bid adieu to Anna and are officially on our way back home, although we will be taking a serpentine route.  Our part of the trip is a bit more than halfway over and I have been reflecting on my highlights thus far.  We have seen some amazing places, done some awesome things, and spent time with great people.

The scenery has been beyond compare.  Over the course of the last three weeks we have driven through breath-taking mountain passes, walked up to and flown over glaciers, ate lunch at glassy mountain lakes and floated down turquoise glacial rivers.

Along the way we also have been able to see and do some amazing things.  We have seen bison, elk, caribou, mountain goats, mountain sheep, moose, bear, bald eagles, red salmon, hump back whales, puffins, sea otters and more.  We have been able to go halibut fishing, trout fishing with both spinners and fly rods, hiking, boating, and of course, a lot of driving.

Despite all these places we have visited and things we have done, the people that we have visited are what make the trip.  As of now, it is easy for me to determine the highlights of the trip.  It has been the time spend with family and friends: 

The Knutsons in Minnesota

Aunt Rosemary in Spokane, WA

Aunt Rachel, Sam, Shannon, Natalie and boyfriend Will in Portland OR

Dave, Heather, Tim, Barb, Rachel, Kelsey and Gillian (via Skype) in Vancouver, BC 

Amanda Keegel in Anchorage, AK

 Cindy Detrow in Homer, AK

All these people have made the trip for me.  Of course Anna and my Dad have been great travel companions and have made the driving a good experience. Yes, it has been great to see the places and do the once-in-a-lifetime activities, but it would not have been nearly enjoyable, or even enjoyable at all to have done them without good company.