Living the Juneau Adventure

Herbert Glacier

This morning was another beautiful morning.  When I woke up and the sun was shining in though the windows I decided instantly that today was a good day to ride my borrowed mountain bike out to the Boy Scout Trails.

I wandered the boy scout area with my room-mate the day after I arrived in Juneau in early January.

It was grey and freezing cold on that day in January, with snow on the ground Out the Road, but that cold day seemed like a fine time to go to the beach. 

Four months later the skies were blue, it was sunny with temperatures in the upper 50's, and it also seemed like a fine time to go to the beach. 

I hoped that I rememberd where to turn off Glacier Highway, because I noticed even back then during my one visit, that the trail was not well marked.

Within 10 minutes of leaving the house I had already shed my outer layer of clothing and stashed it in my pack.  It was turning into a very warm day.

As I was riding Out the Road I ran into a number of road bikers riding in groups.  I have never honestly felt like I had much in common with "roadies".  They ride state of the art drop-handle road bikes that are so light you could pick them up with one finger.

They wear shiny, brightly colored and matching bike "outfits" and hard-case road bike shoes.  They always seem to be clean and color co-ordinated.

Even when I rode century rides down in Tennessee with roadies just for the training on some Saturdays I always stayed in the back of the pack and tried to "blend". 

Me with my unmatched mountain bike clothing - no-name bike tights that I got on sale from one bike catalogue or another, assorted socks and shirts that I picked up at various random races, and mountain bike shoes that were usually worn out and very dirty - from bike whacking in mud, riding in pouring rain and from multiple creek crossings in the middle of races throughout the southeast US.

This morning I passed by the roadies (or they passed me) and we nodded politely.  As I got closer to the Amalga Harbor turnoff (and planned on continuing further out to the boy scout area) I noticed that the road riders were turning around and heading back towards town.  All of them in their respective small groups.

As I continued on I wondered why the roadies were all turning around.  I think I know why - Amalga Harbor turnoff is the location of the last piece of really good paved road.  From that point on there is no shoulder on the road, the road has cracks and multiple potholes, and is not as well kept.  Skinny tires don't do as well in that kind of environment.

As I continued along Glacier Highway I stopped at a trailhead to look at a map, and was correct in where I thought I remembered the location of the turn off. 

I biked just a short way down the road and saw a house that I remembered from my prevous trip, and knew that I was heading in the right direction.  A few minutes later I was at the boy scout trailhead.

These trails are wide open, non-technical gravel pathways, and the walking (or biking) is easy.  Although it wasn't real "mountain biking" I was happy to have my bike off-road for the 3/4 mile trip to the beach.

And at the end of the trail I came to this very beautiful place.

I know people who moved to Juneau from places all around the country, who have been here for years, and who have not seen some of the things I have seen in my short time here in Alaska. 

I cannot imagine not seeing the trails and beaches and mountains and waterways and touristy things that this place has to offer its residents.  I came to Alaska to see and feel Alaska.

Yesterday I was playing in the snow in the mountains. Today I was walking on this beautiful sandy beach. I am constantly reminded that I correctly titled this blog "Living the Juneau Adventure"........

Today is Mothers Day, and I spent a lot of time off and on today thinking about my two sons.  Sean lives in Nashville and Chris is based in New Jersey.  I heard from both of them today, which means a whole lot to me.  I miss them so much.  But they are healthy, working, hopefully happy, both doing well and living their lives.  And as their mother I can't hope for anything better for my two children.

Happy Mothers Day to those mothers who read this blog.