Juneau, Ju-neau?

Juneau, Juneau, Juneau!

After four hours on a 70’s themed ferry, we hopped off and realized we’d have to drive into town – originally we thought we could walk, however, 12 miles is a bit too far. We drove to our hotel, walked down the main strip for some lunch at a hipster café, and waited for Dad. He was able to get onto a flight, but wouldn’t arrive until after 9pm. To kill time, Nick and I went and saw Super 8 (phenomenal, I love [non-Disney] child actors) and then I got a text from Dad (I’m so proud of him!) saying he’d arrived. I jumped in the car and sped to meet him. It was an odd meeting, simply because on the one hand, it felt like I hadn’t been away from him at all (call it his easily provided comfort), and on the other, was this feeling that his presence made me realize just how far from home I’d actually been. We parked at the hotel, unloaded his backpack, and the three of us walked to find some dinner at 10 o’clock at night. We found out pretty quickly that things up north close rather early – usually by 7pm the stores lock their doors and turn off their neon lights dictating its state of openness. Dad spotted a little trailer that was still serving food, and the three of us sat on concrete stairs eating burgers and watching bar fights nearby.

Breakfast the next morning was at an ostensibly chic café right next door, whose black coffee was exquisite. Dad scheduled our day with a mine tour that was to leave around 9:30am followed by a drive up to Mendenhall Glacier, and conclusively finish with a family dinner. I get such a kick out of tour buses, and on our way up to the mine was no exception. You always get those weird smells and interesting people – ranging from the quiet, yet first ones off the bus types to those who speak off the cuff and over the tour guide – not to mention that one person who won’t put their window up. I laugh just thinking about it. With the under-aged and indifferent kids (who all took a liking to Dad) performing a monologue at each stop we made, the excursion was enjoyable, to say the least – we even went into the mine (which, we found out, stays at a consistent 36 degrees because of the type of rock it was). After we panned for gold (and semi-precious stones) along with feeding peanuts to chipmunks, we then took my car up to the glacier. I’m sure to all the residents in Alaska the glaciers are nothing more than cows to us back at home – they’re pretty much everywhere. But to us outsiders, they’re absolute wonders. Dinner that night was pleasurable, especially since we hadn’t seen our cousins in a long, long time (15 years, actually).

On a side note, it’s been great having both Nick and Dad here, and seeing them interact with individuals. The way their minds work – their quiet demeanors, and thoughtful inquisitions I find myself repeatedly studying.

After this long day, we have an early flight out to Petersburg tomorrow to see if it’s up to Dad’s expectations and desires for retirement (right, Mom?). I haven’t flown in a while, but I’ve never really held anything against the activity like some, so I’m actually looking forward to shuffle past first class and take my seat beside the window.