Tuesday: planes

We stayed with Allie on base, which provided many hours of watching airplanes, both in the sky and on the ground. We started Tuesday with a look at a ground display of planes.

 

 While Lucas enjoyed the planes, and especially the F22s flying overhead, the kids enjoyed playing on a cement stage.

 Also by the planes were two bald eagles, both injured, now spending their  time at base.

 After that, Lucas, Owen and I went on a seaplane ride up to see glaciers.

 Lucas and Owen in front of our plane.

 Owen wanted another picture, but this time holding up their "winglets". Lucas was so proud.

 an airplane taxiing in.

 Owen and I sat in the back.

 Lucas sat up front, and their was one couple sitting in the middle. It was a small plane, but pretty airworthy. The pilot, a true Alaskan, flew us up to the glaciers.

 But first, over green planes, and rivers. We saw two moose, and circled around to see them again.

 It's stunningly beautiful.

 Next, up to the glaciers. Breathtaking really. We flew so close to the mountains, at one point, when we were lining up to go down into a canyon, Lucas asked the pilot if we were going down into that. The pilot replied, "pilots don't go down, we descend..."

 Blue waters of the glacier.

 Yes, that was the canyon we flew through.

 The clear water on the left from a mountain river, mixing with the silt filled river on the right. The glaciers move and grind the rock underneath to form fine mountain silt, which makes the waters look brown.

 This is just a sampling of photos we took... I think an entire book dedicated to Alaska will be in the works soon.

 Owen did great, until the last 20 minutes. Then, two big tears rolled down his face. He told me his throat felt funny... then he asked me to feel his chest and make sure his heart was beating. I'll admit I was a bit queasy too.

 An amazing experience. I'm glad Lucas talked me into going.