A Break from the Thick Bastards

THICK BASTARDS. Many a visitor to Seward Alaska has absolutely no idea that they are surrounded by white capped mountains or next to a sparkling turquoise bay. Why? Because of what a poet friend of ours named the "Thick Bastards:" a heavy cloud layer that sits low over the water and obstructs all views. When the Thick Bastards move in, parts of Seward Alaska become any flat working-class town in America, except that you just flew thousands of miles for thousands of dollars to get there, and it smells like fish!

However this June the Thick Bastards have been beaten back by an unusual sunny spell, allowing the mountains to rise high in all their glory, and allowing us to get out on the bay and on the trails from sea to summit.

SEA. Thumb Cove is a 45 minute water taxi ride from our small boat harbor. Part of the State Marine Park system, it houses two dry cabins and a jaw dropping natural wonderland backdrop complete with hanging glaciers, waterfalls, mountain goats and marine mammals galore. Usually booked out 6 months in advance, the Spruce Glacier Cabin must have had a last minute cancellation, so the Leslie Ladies and some friends jumped on it!

Tucked in a spruce forest beyond a tidal stream, the cabin is accessed by a sweet bridge and boardwalk.

The view of the Cove... Ahhhh....

Happy Campers, Indigo and Kim.

Who needs to pack toys when you've logs, sand and big rocks?

Yes, the ocean water is still frigid; these SUPers are crazy bonkers.

What does one bring on a trip such as this? Lots of dry bags, totes and coolers of course!

Returning from the Sea, with the Summit ready to climb...

SUMMIT. Team Leslie has been celebrating Father's Day the past few years by taking a backpacking ski trip. Yup, I said ski trip. In June. If there is still white stuff up high, J Leslie will get to it no matter what the season. So we stomp up Mt. Marathon from our front door, camp in the natural bowl protected on her north side, ski the snow fields, and honor J's loves of family and sharp slide-y toys. This year we hit the trail a few days early because we heard the Thick Bastards would be making an appearance over the weekend. So glad we did!

What does one bring on a trip such as this? Apparently, EVERYTHING. (J is super human - I couldn't even lift his pack off the ground, let alone carry it miles uphill.) 

Happy Campers, J and Indigo (and American Girl Doll Lily - Indigo is always happy to carry that extra weight!)

After getting sun OVERNIGHT through our tent, this was almost too much - maybe those Thick Bastards aren't so bad?

We made it!

Happy Father's Day!

PIPER. And this Father's Day is an extra special one because my little brother Chip gets to celebrate as a new dad! He and Kate welcomed Piper Rogers into the world at the end of May; we can't wait to start adventuring with her! How small do they make backpacks???

"It's so important to do something every day..."

"It's so important to do something every day that will make you happy."-Bob Ross

BOB ROSS. Okay, if for some crazy reason you don't know the name Bob Ross, for God's sake stop reading this blog and watch an old episode of the Joy of Painting. It's like meditating and listening to your favorite Kindergarten teacher and sipping sweet wine and using one of those scalp massage tools, all at the same time; good stuff.

J. LESLIE. No surprise, J loves Bob Ross. Like Bob, J "finds freedom on his canvas." In that spirit, J is throwing in his school teacher bow ties and donning his paint spattered sweatshirt - yup, he's becoming a full time artist! From little paintings, to big paintings, to murals, to design, my long haired bearded wonder is on fire.

Follow J on his new Instagram account!

@JLeslieArtStudio  

INDIGO. J isn't the only one getting his creative groove on. The Leslie ladies have been making art too, including some of the performing kind! Skateboard design, hip hop, singing solo? Yes!

KIM. As seemingly random as it is, the tribal belly dance culture is alive and well in little Seward, Alaska and Kim has been getting her shimmy on at festivals and beyond. Totally improvisational, her performances are full of trust, forgiveness, courage, friendship and yes, many happy little accidents. No doubt, Bob Ross would approve. 

"We artists are a different breed of people. We are a happy bunch." -Bob Ross