Seward--the next batch of days

August 5, 2013

Working at the food bank was good!  Matt and I started at the new building—moving furniture, cleaning walls and floors.  Helped bring over the first group of shelves from the "old" building, and started stocking them. This is a non-denominational, community-funded food bank, and as such, I have been fortunate to meet a unique variety of warm and wonderful local people.  Great to see a community care for its own!  Matt and I will work there again on Tuesday to hopefully complete the move and have everything set. The food bank is open every Thursday 3:00-6:00.  Each of the 100-150 people who need food are allowed to “shop” and take home 10 lbs. a week.

ANYWAY, as soon as we finished at the food bank on Friday, I got a call from Tracy.  He and Olivia had just gotten into town!  We all had a great time walking around, eating a late lunch, and shopping.  Olivia bought herself XtraTufs (note photo)—THE Alaskan rubber boot.  It is quite the fashion statement here! Interestingly enough, they do look VERY cute with breezy summer sundresses!  Katie was able to drive in later that evening, and so Tracy started a campfire, and we yakked!  Unfortunately, the rain started in earnest; Matt and I went back to the RV.  (Thanks for the ride Tracy!) Next morning it was “spitting”, but we still went out for breakfast, and then wandered the beach to find quartz.  My cousin, Olivia, loves rocks too!!!  Decided to ride around a bit to check out some of the local area. We did not get to the prison on the other side of the bay, so Matt and I will explore there another time.  Katie, Tracy, and Olivia all took off early afternoon to get back to Anchorage.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the visit dear cousins! MUCH LOVE!

Olivia and her new XtraTufs--cute!

Oh, while hanging out with just Olivia and Tracy, we did go up to see the last “chute” (a treacherous “path”) on Mount Marathon.  Seward is quite famous for this mountain run scheduled during the July 4^th celebrations.   I remember being here with Nancy in 2000—we watched as dirty, bloody, totally damaged people ran into town from the mountain.  Many of them had their socks and shoes duct-taped to their feet and calves.  Not that it detracted from their overall abused look—dang! 

If you are interested in more visual information--scroll through the photos on this site:
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/slideshow/photos-mount-marathon-race-2013

Mount Marathon-you can see the running trail.

The last "chute" the runners come down before sprinting in to town.

Most of this weekend it has been raining and chilly.  Matt and I have played games, watched our new addiction (“Merlin”—a British series), cleaned the RV, did laundry,  sent emails, talked with the people in the RV area, etc….Man, it does sound like a normal weekend!

Smiles and love to all!

Susan

King Salmon after spawning...not much time left.

Walking the beach looking for quartz