Day 19: Seward, Alaska to Anchorage, Alaska

We drove back to Anchorage along the beautiful Turnagain Arm Bay and dad parked the RV in downtown Anchorage. He didn’t really have a plan so we walked through a few tourist shops. Tommy was bored and wanted to do something more in town, so I suggested the Anchorage Museum, which was nearby and sounded like something Desmond would enjoy. Dad’s back was bothering him, so he headed back to the RV while the rest of us went to the museum. 

We had to buy some nesting dolls here

Cool roof!

The Anchorage Museum houses art exhibits and historical artifacts as well as a planetarium and hands-on science and technology exhibits for kids (like the Cleveland Science Center or COSI in Columbus). This was the perfect place for Desmond. He loved playing with their massive LEGO collection, building circuit boards, and making large bubbles. Trudy liked watching the balls roll around the large metal machine that hoisted them up, slid them down tracks, and bounced them around.

Snap circuits. Santa, take note!

Look, Mommy, I'm going down a slide!

Fooled you. I'm walking down it.

After the museum, we met Dad back at the RV and he felt more recharged, I think, and had chosen a campground for us for our last night in Alaska. We decided to go out to eat and walked to a place called Yes Bistro near the RV park. The food was good (although our waitress was a bit forgetful) and then we had to head back to pack.

At Yes Bistro

I dreaded packing, because we had been in the RV for almost three weeks and our stuff was everywhere. Tommy and I both lost hoodies (we eventually found them under the couch, thankfully) and we did as much as we could before going to bed. We were blessed with some decent weather and Desmond was entertained with sidewalk chalk and bubbles while I packed his stuff, mine, and Trudy’s. That night we went to bed dreading what we knew would be a long journey home, but thankful for such a great experience.

Desmond impressed us by writing out Trudy's name in chalk. I didn't know he could write those letters!

Back at Great Alaska headquarters in Anchorage, we dropped off the RV and they did a quick inspection before we waited (and waited, and waited) for a shuttle to the airport. We marveled over the excessive amount of luggage required for all of us (Trudy, the smallest, had the most; the largest suitcase contained her bed, a travel bassinet).  

Waiting is the hardest part...

And waiting...

Two car seats, two strollers, seven suitcases...

The journey home was arduous. We had several layovers, first in Seattle (cue Nirvana music) and then in Atlanta. They were overnight flights interrupted by the layovers and nobody slept. Well, Trudy slept. And Dad. And Tommy. There was a lot of crying on the part of the kids, a poopy diaper mid-flight thanks to Trudy, and a lot of anxiety about flying from Desmond. I think I can travel anywhere with them after that! Plus, I didn't even mention the ridiculous treatment I received from airline security in Anchorage over the UNOPENED baby formula I had in my carry on (which I don't even think I used because I just nursed the whole time), which resulted in my being patted down in a very humiliating manner, while Desmond cried hysterically and I had to get someone's attention to watch both him and Trudy in order to be taken aside by security. Not sure the logic in pulling away a woman who is clearly the mother of two small children to give her an extra security screening over BABY FORMULA. This in an airport dominated by men traveling for hunting and fishing (don't worry about that pocket knife or fish scaling knife... get the lady with the Enfamil!). Grrr. I'm still bitter.

On the airplane, heading out of Anchorage

In the end, we made it back to Cleveland safely. The cats were ticked and left us a treat of shredded cardboard everywhere. The boys slept upon our return and I hung out with Trudy on the warm front porch as I reflected on what an amazing journey we had.

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