Fitness Friday: Weeks 29 and 30

Even though it's not Friday, I have a fitness update for you. Been doing some WONDERFUL hiking the past couple weeks. Also went swimming with Tony at the Alaska Club which was nice.

Tony got me a bike for my birthday which I am VERY excited about! It is a "hybrid" bike which is a combination of mountain and street bike so will be very nice to try out.

I have not been doing what I committed to originally which was 4 times a week at this point in the year, so I really want to up my work outs with hikes and bikes this summer while it is still nice.

Especially these next couple weeks that I have off before school starts. Will keep you updated! :) Pin It

Fuller Luiken Vacation Palooza

Our friends Ben and Trisha Fuller came to visit us in Alaska for a week over July 4th. It was a sweet time of catching up with them and having adventures together! They are expecting their first child, Jackson, in October and we are so excited for them.

Tony and I both took the week off of work while they were here which allowed us to have lots of time with them and gave Tony and I a vacation too which was really refreshing.

Our week looked like this: On Monday and Tuesday, we showed them around Anchorage and the Palmer/ Wasilla area (which is about an hour north of Anchorage). During this time, we hiked and walked around an old gold mine. On Tuesday, we went to Girdwood, Alaska (a town about an hour south) where the ski resort is and we went gold panning together. On Wednesday, we drove out to the Kenai Peninsula and went backpacking on the Fuller Lakes Trail. We backpacked up 1.5 miles and camped at the Lakes which was BEAUTIFUL. It was one of the best backpacking trips I've been on. The guys were able to fish at the lakes. We spent the night and on Thursday after backpacking back down we went to the Ptarmigian Campground by Seward and set up our campsite. On Friday, the guys went fishing at the Russian River. On Saturday, we all took a fishing charter out of Seward, Alaska for salmon. It was a blast! I caught 4 salmon which was my best fishing trip ever. On Sunday, we took Ben and Trish to our favorite restaurant in town, The Brewhouse, and then took them to see the Saturday Market which is a little market with shops and food vendors and Alaska specific gifts.

Here are some pics from the "staycation":

This is actually in Hope, Alaska where Tony and I camped the weekend before Ben and Trisha came to visit.

Hope, Alaska

Thunderbird Falls - Our first spot to take Ben and Trish to hike!

Ben and Trish at Independence Mine near Hatcher's Pass- this was an amazing area to hike where an abandoned gold mine is.

A waterfall that comes down through the abandoned mine

Learning and practicing how to pan for gold at Crow Creek Mine

Fly Fishing at Fuller Lakes (where we backpacked to)

Ben and Trisha

Me and Tones

We also took some time to go to the aquarium in Seward, Alaska which is amazing and has sea lions, seals, lots of different kinds of fish, and a viewpoint

Fishing at the Russian River

The Russian River

One of the salmon I caught on the Fishing Charter! We used Seward Fishing Club as a charter and really enjoyed it.

Tony with his salmon

Gotta kiss the fish you catch!

We are absolutely loving this summer! I am looking forward to some time off before school starts in August and can't wait to do some more camping and hiking during the beautiful summer months. 

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Fitness Friday: Weeks 27 and 28

So the past couple weeks have been pretty busy for Tony and I! One of Tony's best friends, Ben Fuller, and his wife Trisha came up to visit us in Alaska during the week of July 4th.

We had a blast! We went backpacking, camping, hiking, and fishing while there were here. We loved it.

As far as fitness, during the week Ben and Trish were here we hiked almost every day which was great. So, for the week of July 4th, I hiked a total of 3 times that were more strenuous.

This last week, though, I have been taking more of a rest week ;) I did go hiking yesterday for a 5 mile hike which was beautiful!

My goal for this upcoming week is to really get back into running, swimming, biking and taking classes at The Alaska Club. I really want to get up early and get in the mode of working out in the morning.

Next week is my last week working as a social worker which is bittersweet but as I am happy to start my new job teaching but sad to leave my families and kids I have been working with behind.

But, I will have a 3 week break between jobs to get prepared for teaching so I am hoping to really get in a workout routine during that time.

My workout goals for this upcoming week are as follows:

Tuesday- Cycle Class at 5:45 AM
Wednesday- Step Class at 5:45 AM
Thursday- Cycle Class at 5:45 AM
Friday- Swim for 20- 30 minutes

I think it will help me to set up my week goals the week before.

Wishing you luck on your fitness goals! Hiking has been one of my favorite activities. I love finding outside group activities so I am going to keep trying to hike this summer. :) Pin It

When Nebraska Meets Alaska

One of my best friends, Christa Davidson, recently came to visit me in Alaska for a week. I knew Christa from working with her at a summer Christian camp called Pine Cove. It was so good to catch up with her! It was so refreshing to spend time with a close friend and have good conversation and rest and time together. She came all the way from Nebraska for a visit!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

We went fishing on the Kenai River with my husband Tony and also our friend Drew!

Me and Christa :)

Me, my sister in law Jessie, and Christa

The beautiful scenery

Tony with his rainbow trout

Video of Tony catching his rainbow trout and Drew helping him net it!

Christa! Loved getting to see and hang out with this sweet friend.

Some of the guys smoking pipes at a BBQ at Tony's parents house

Jessie

Christa and I went white water rafting while she was here!

Our bus that took us to the River

Ready for rafting!

Rafting Bestie :)

View from Flattop

Tony teaching Christa to shoot a bow

Katniss Everdeen!

Eklutna Lake

Bye Christa we will miss you! 

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