Sunshine!

All Alaskans know one of the first signs of the coming autumn is the bushy tufts of cotton that appear on top of the once vibrant pink fireweed. The plant marks the beginning of summer with its pretty flowers, and the start of fall with its cotton seeds blowing in the wind.

So much of the fluff gets turned about in the wind, that sometimes it looks like an early winter has struck outside!

Most of Melissa’s garden is finished for the year, but some fall flowers are just starting to show their lovely colors, while some late blooming roses still flaunt their beauty.

And if you look carefully, you can still spot some raspberries who have not been found in the many waves of hands who have already scoured the bushes:

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When the sun peaks out its head

and wakes us from our nice warm beds.

He says the rain has gone away,

the clouds are parted in the sky today!

And so we’ll stare up at the sky,

we’ll feel the warmth and want to cry.

For it will seem like years have passed

since it seemed to be here last…

So when it comes the stores all close,

and those inside stare out windows,

and count down the hours until its time

for them to be out in the warm sunshine.

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Busy with practicing and playing up at the tram, Emily and Quinn were happy to sneak away for a while to get out into the sunshine. They took their friend Aaron and Emily’s sister Valerie along, and together they hiked the East Glacier Trail.

And maybe had some shenanigans along the way. . .

The trail was beautiful in the summer’s setting sun. And already the leaves were starting to fall from some of the trees, making the views of the surrounding mountains breathtaking.

Juneau has such a rich mining history, it is very easily seen all throughout the town. This trail was no exception! Although most of it cannot be seen directly from the trail, if you go off the beaten path you are sure to find some interesting things (such as an oven, or a random telephone pole!):

The most exciting part of course is the mine shaft itself, with relics from another time scattered all around it. Large amount of water were flowing out of the mine in a stream that must have made its way all the way down the mountain. Huge gears and parts of machines were a shocking thing to see against the otherwise perfect forest.

The mine shaft was very cold and dark, so we didn’t venture far inside. It was interesting to see the equipment around it though, and maybe play on it, a little.