Fall/Fire/Sunset/Moose

 The transition from summer to winter is happening very quickly. This time of year is most commonly referred to as "fall." But, here in Anchorage, I didn't transition from wearing shorts and tank tops to wearing sweaters-I transitioned from sweaters to puffy down coats and insulated rain boots. Thick frost is already forming every morning, and I live in fear of the first snowfall. The air smells like Halloween in Salt Lake City, and it I love it.

The evenings are especially gorgeous, because we are actually awake to see the sunset. On Wednesday evening we were lured outside, and decided to have a little fire on the beach (one of our favorite activities).

Jeff quickly put together a little meal of nuts, apples, peppers, bread, and delicious garlicky dip. We were sure to pack the Jet Boil, so we could have some hot chamomile tea to warm us up. I put on my wool underwear and layered up.

 
 As we strolled along the coastal trail, Oscar went wild off of his leash. I started to feel bad for him, knowing that winter would soon force us inside.

  September has made me fall in love with Anchorage.

 When we arrived at the beach, the tide was crazy high, and rising. We were so used to a long bit of beach from our usual spot. Now the water was creeping up over that log, and almost invaded our fire pit.

 Oscar was confused. He wondered why the ocean ate his beach.

 The tide rose just enough to almost touch Jeff's outstretched Crocs, but then hit slack tide.

 

The tide flooded our way out, so we had to scramble up the hill to the trail. I'm not much for climbing. I have a fear of falling to my death. Jeff said I should only have a fear of falling on my face into the leaves. Whatever. I was scared.

 

The sunset was quick, and we had to walk the 3/4 mile back to the car in almost total darkness. As we were remarking that we should have brought our headlamps, Oscar stopped on the trail, got very stiff, and wagged his tail viciously. Jeff and I stopped, squinted, and saw a dark shadow that could have been a bush. But it was most likely a moose.

I screamed at Oscar to come back to us, and he just got scared and moved away from us. Jeff acted fast, and scooped him up. Oscar let out a little squeal, and just then we heard a sound to the left of us in the woods. Jeff got in front of me, and we started searching for a way around these potential wild animals. We weren't even sure what we were dealing with, because we had no flash light. We could venture off the trail, and risk running into something more dangerous and not even realize it. Just when we were formulating a plan, we saw some bike lights in the distance. We flagged down the bikers, and told them there might be some moose in front of us. The slowly rode their bikes as we walked next to them, and sure enough there was a moose munching away in the woods, AND that shadow that Oscar was wagging at? Full on moose butt. Not a pretty sight. Both moose seemed completely engrossed in their eating, and paid us no mind. Thank goodness. And thank goodness for the nice German bicyclist who rode between us and the moose-butt.

We got to our car, and our hearts were still racing. As we pulled onto the road, Jeff put on the brakes just as a bull moose crossed the road. We watched it for a while, stunned at how these monsters just roam the streets of Anchorage. We had already seen a mama and baby moose on the trail a couple of months ago, plus I saw a moose at the park right by my house. At like 7pm! Some people get raccoons. We get moose.

Next time we go to the beach, I'm bringing a headlamp and Oscar stays on his leash the whole time.

xo

Alli

PS-We learned that the moose are extra dangerous right now, because they're mating. Jeeeez louise!!