THE highlight of this summer was our son’s wedding in beautiful Haines, Alaska. Danny and his new bride Erin were married on August 10th. We arrived in Haines three days before on the 7th.
Travel and Arrival
It takes a full day (at least) to get from Texas to Haines, Alaska. We left the house at 5:30 in the morning to head to D/FW Airport. From there we flew American Airlines to Seattle. There we changed planes and flew on Alaska Airlines to Juneau. Our daughter Cara, her husband Paul, and their two girls Helen and Edie left the house after us, but because they were on Alaska Airlines for both flights, they arrived in Juneau before us.
My brother Jack also flew up for the wedding. He does not like to fly, so that was no easy feat for him! He was also at the airport in Juneau when we arrived.
From Juneau, we still had to get to Haines. You either fly on a small plane or you wait until the next day and take the ferry. We were all flying except Jack, so we said good-bye to him at the airport when he left to head to his hotel for the night.
This is the plane that carried Cara and her family to Haines. We were scheduled to board the next one which didn’t take off until 2 hours later.
This was my view from the plane as we flew from Juneau to Haines.
We got to Haines around 7:30 that evening. After finding our rental car, we drove to Raevyn’s Cafe to meet up with everyone. The place was hopping, and it was great to see Danny and Erin and our long-time friends Lora and Denny. Their son Ryan and his wife Danina run Raevyn’s Cafe, which is where Big Eagle and I would be hosting the wedding-eve dinner on Friday night.
After visiting for a while, we drove to the house we were renting for the weekend. We stayed at the Blue Heron House. It was perfect for the seven of us.
Thursday
Danny and Erin had arranged for everyone to take the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Float Tour the next day. Because Erin’s family wasn’t arriving until mid-day on the ferry, they organized two tours – one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
A.M. Eagle Preserve Float
Lora had invited Big Eagle and me to meet her at Raevyn’s Cafe that morning for coffee. The groups taking the tour were meeting in the parking lot there also. So I was able to snap a few pictures before they departed for their trip.
Above it looks like Danny and Erin are going over some logistics with Andy. He was the tour guide for our raft later that afternoon. I was so impressed with his knowledge of the area and the wildlife.
Paul was making sure he had everything together for Cara, the girls, and himself.
Lora and Ryan were there to see the morning tour group off, too!
The Ferry Landing
While Cara and her family and Danny went on the morning float tour, Big Eagle and I stayed behind so we could welcome Jack to Haines when the ferry arrived from Juneau around noon. Erin also stayed so she could greet all of her family members who were arriving on the same ferry.
After we picked up Jack at the ferry landing, we took a drive up to the Chilkoot River to show him the weir and to see if we could spot any wildlife. Then we stopped by the grocery store on our way to the house to pick up a few things to make lunch.
P.M. Eagle Preserve Float
After a short rest and a bite to eat, it was time to head back to the parking lot of Raevyn’s Cafe to meet up with the group taking the afternoon eagle preserve tour. When we got there we loaded into a couple of vans and headed for the preserve. Once there, we all donned our life vests and boots provided for us.
Also in the front of our raft across from Jack and Erin were Erin’s parents. I wish I’d have gotten a picture of them. And then behind Andy, our guide, in the back of the raft were Lora, Denny, Big Eagle, and me. Erin’s Mom, Ann, was really good at spotting the eagles.
At the end of the tour, there were snacks for everyone: smoked salmon and cream cheese on crackers, trail mix, and granola bars. It was a fun afternoon!
Back at the House
While we were at the eagle preserve, the girls and Cara were out in the area around the house we were staying in picking thimble-berries.
Helen made some mighty tasty fruit popsicles with them using popsicle molds that she found in one of the kitchen cupboards.
That evening Paul made a great spaghetti dinner for the seven of us. Thanks, Paul!
Friday
Activities planned for Friday were a hike to the top of Mt. Riley, an afternoon disc-golf game, and the wedding-eve dinner. We did the hike up Mt. Riley, which is the highest point on the Haines Peninsula at 1,760 feet.
The Hike Begins
Everyone who wanted to do the hike met at the trail head around 10:30 that morning.
It became evident pretty quickly that Big Eagle, Jack, and I would be bringing up the rear.
At this point we were still feeling pretty good. But as the trail got steeper, we started to feel it.
It was a good thing Big Eagle had those trekking poles. And Jack found a sturdy walking stick along the way.
At the Top!
By the time the three of us reached the top, everyone else in our group had been up there a good while and had already passed us on their way back down. It took us three about 4 hours to get to the top.
The view at the top was pretty spectacular! And it’s a 360 degree view, if you have the energy left to climb around on the rocks at the top to see from every angle. At this point we were starting to joke about how it was going to take us so long to get down that we wouldn’t be back in time for the dinner. Maybe I was the only one that didn’t realize it wasn’t a joke.
The Descent
This pine cone valentine that someone had made right near the trail is the only thing I took a picture of on the way down. That fact is a testament to how difficult the trek down was for us. When we were only 30 minutes in to our way to the bottom, I had to text Cara and ask her to take over our hosting duties at the dinner. It was quite obvious there was no way we would be back in time. And sad to say, we didn’t get to the dinner that was supposed to start at 7 until 8:45!
But it all turned out great. Everyone was very kind about it. They let everyone know the situation and told them to take their time getting to the dinner. Ryan and Danina were wonderful about the delay. As it turned out, the appetizers held everyone in stead until dinner, which wasn’t served until after we got there. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of the night. I didn’t even think to take any pictures. I’m just so glad it didn’t all end in disaster. We have our friends and family to thank for that. What did we learn? If the hike is described as “moderate” in the literature, it’s beyond our level of expertise. Oh, my!
Saturday!
It’s wedding day! At the house we had a fairly leisure morning. A little past mid-morning Big Eagle, Cara, and I took a few things out to where the reception would be held. When we got there, those who had gone earlier to set up were just finishing. After having lunch at the house, Cara, the girls, and I went out and picked wildflowers for the girls to use in their job as flower girls. When we got back, Danny was at the house to shower and get dressed for the wedding!
Pre-wedding
Jack had these flip-up sunglasses over his regular glasses, and Edie thought it was hilarious to have him put them on top of his head and then flip them open. She said he looked like Minnie Mouse. Ha ha!
Getting a little help from Dad.
Cara and the girls choosing flowers for their baskets.
Paul’s ready to go!
And the groom is ready, too!
We all got in our various cars and soon met back up at the wedding site in Chilkat State Park.
Let the wedding begin!
Cue music!
Sam did such a great job! I wish I had a recording or a copy of his words.
Erin’s long-time friend Danielle and Danny’s long-time friend Ryan both spoke during the ceremony. Moving and heartfelt words!
Helen and Edie follow the instructions given to them before the ceremony by Uncle Danny and scatter any remaining flowers at the site of the nuptials. Good job, girls!
Everyone is in place, and Sam begins the ceremony.
The wedding took place with the Davidson Glacier in the background. Fitting, since that is where Danny and Erin met when he was working as a glacier guide. She had come from Skagway where she worked as a guide on the railway excursion. She and a group of friends went on the glacier tour, and she was in the raft that had Danny as a guide.
Edie helps Erin with her dress afterward.
The Reception: the set-up
The reception was held at Letnikof Cove at the pavilion.
The guest book table. Throughout the evening guests had their pictures taken using the instant camera. They then adhered them into the book with photo corners and used markers to write a message next to their picture.
The tables are ready!
A burn ban was in effect the whole time we were in Haines. Even so, different groups of guests still sat around the fireless fire pit throughout the night visiting.
The Reception: Time to Eat!
The Reception: Time to Kick it Up a Notch?
But before we dance, the cake needs cutting!
The perfect cake topper for the newlyweds!
The bride and groom are dancing to the Georgia Satellites’ song “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”. Fun!
The view from the deck of the Letnikof Cove Pavilion
Sunday
Morning
The next morning our family and a few close friends met for breakfast.
Afterward at the house, Danny and Erin opened a gift from Danny’s grandmother.
Bonnie had made them a quilt with well-known places from around the world. Perfect for them as they are both avid travelers.
Then it was time to get Jack to the ferry landing, so he could head back to Juneau.
There he is waving good-bye as he heads down the ramp to board the ferry. Bye, Jack!
Afternoon
Big Eagle and I walked around downtown Haines for a bit, and I bought a souvenir t-shirt. After we got back to the house, Paul, Cara, the girls, and I walked down to the rocky shore behind the Blue Heron House.
The girls played in the tidepool for a while.
After that it was time for them to head to the airport for their flight back to Juneau.
Helen and Edie waiting inside the Haines Airport for their flight to Juneau
Cara texted me this picture of Jack walking hand-in-hand with Helen on the sidewalk in Juneau. They all stayed at the same hotel that night and enjoyed a dinner together.
Evening
We stayed one more night in Haines. Everyone who was still in town gathered at the Blue Heron House for dinner Sunday night. I didn’t think to take any pictures. You’re probably pictured out at this point anyway!
It was a glorious wedding! The good Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. The newlyweds are honeymooning now. First they went to Croatia, and now they are in Slovenia. They will be heading back to Croatia next to spend time on the coast. And after that…who knows? I wish them a blessed and happy marriage and safe travels.