Seaward Family Time and a Cousins Reunion

We made it to Winterset! 

Nathaniel and Callie came up from Florida for the weekend and we had to take some family pictures

On Friday, Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim hosted a Hill Cousins Reunion at their lake home.  Here are 5/7 of the cousins:

Brent, Nathaniel, me, Amy, and Kim

 Cousins and their spouses

Second cousins meeting for the first time and having a blast swimming!

Emma & Camden testing out the kayaks

The Hill siblings
Mom, Uncle Roger, & Aunt Sue

Back in Winterset, we got to enjoy breakfast and play time at the park with Sarah and Kate

One evening at the aquatics center

A Day In Seattle

We had about 20 hours in Seattle between Alaska and Iowa, so it was the perfect chance to walk around downtown and meet up with some old friends for lunch.

The Starbucks fanatics in front of the original Starbucks

A reunion with the Holloway girls at the Pike Brewing Company

It was so great to spend a few hours with Maggie, Hana, and Lily!

Enjoying Alaska

Not only were we blessed with enjoying Alaska with the Iowa City Kaspareks, but we also got to enjoy Alaska with the Young family!

Roasting marshmallows in the rain at the campground in Seward Friday night

I was so happy to meet Melissa's youngest sister, Nadina!

Chris and Mel staying dry by the camper

Nadina and family were pet sitting for Murphy.
 Emma would have packed this cutie up in her suitcase in a heartbeat!

On Sunday morning we visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Girdwood.

Brothers checking out the bears

This is how I like to enjoy bears (behind a fence)

The bears near Girdwood woke up from their winter hibernation HUNGRY and we had been warned to be alert at all times because they were in town quite a bit.  

Chris saw one while running along the main road on Saturday evening and we all saw one as we came out of a restaurant on Sunday evening.

What an incredible trip for the Kasparek cousins!

Sunday afternoon, these adventurous Kaspareks decided to hike the mountain that was the end of the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon. 

Rock star hikers!

Nature at its best!

They were so excited to see snow!

Way to go!

Tim and Mel at dinner Sunday night.  

These 2 have partaken in some friendly banter on Facebook over the past few years.

Lori hiding in the hammock at our house in Girdwood

King Salmon caught on Friday and grilled for us on Monday.  This was by far the BEST salmon I've ever eaten!

Until next time!

Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality, Young family! :)

Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon

Last summer when we were in Iowa, Tim was looking at entering another triathlon.  When he decided to register for it, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to join them in Alaska!
Now Tim has competed in Ironman Triathlons, but this this took dedication (and crazy) to another level.
The Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon is a 2.6 mile swim with an average water temperature of 51 degrees, 112 mile bike ride through the mountains, and finishing with 27 miles of trail/mountain running.

Very early Saturday morning, the swimmers made their way through the fog over Resurrection Bay in Seward

Tim made it!

Chris helping Tim out of the water

Trying to get feeling back into his frozen body as we walked to the transition area

Hugs and high fives before heading out on the bike

Lucky to catch a great picture of Tim as we drove past him on the highway

Decorating the support van

About every 10 miles we pulled off the road so Tim could get more fuel (nutrition) and make any adjustments as needed

Sweet Bailey Mae

Camden was super excited to be in Alaska after his 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Pitts, shared her love of this state.

Lori snapping a pic of Tim as he rode by

What AMAZING scenery!  We were happy Tim had on a red helmet and a blue jacket.  He was easy to spot along the road.

Group shot at the last support site along the bike route

We went to check into our house in Girdwood while Tim finished the bike and began a long 14 mile run into town.  3+ hours later, Cole, Bailey, and Lori were there to give him some much needed encouragement

Lori and Tim on miles 14-20

Camden, Meadow, Bailey, Emma, Sky, and Cole

The peak on the far left is what Chris and Tim are about to go up...

Walking to the beginning of the trek up the mountain

"Can I have a thumbs up, guys?"

This is the perfect reaction of how the Kasparek brothers were feeling at this moment

Tim's nutrition at the end of the bike and during the run had not been what was needed to keep his body going.  Getting stuck up on a mountain was not a good idea, so he made the choice to come back down.
Tim was a rock star making it 20.5 miles into the run after everything he had done!  We are so proud that we got to be part of this journey.