I ran more this summer in Alaska than I ever have before. In part because the weather was so good and in part because I was enjoying it so much. From our compound, I ran roughly northeast. We live on the west side of Coffee Point, which protrudes into Egegik Bay.

The first part of my run is rounding the point, which meant that, no matter what the weather was when I started, it could change dramatically once I reached the other side.

The usual weather was wet, cool, windy, and overcast. This is the default state of the tundra in July. I happen to like these kinds of days because I’m not fond of the sun and not fond of mosquitoes, which come out in droves whenever the weather is “nice.”

The beach I run on is a working beach, meaning there are fishing sites every 300 yards or so.

This means I have to be careful not to trip on running lines.

It also means I have interesting things to look at the entire way.

My destination: a cannery about 3 miles up the beach.

Not far from the cannery, there is a little bridge over a little stream.

I’d often stop a moment there to stretch or take a breath. Here’s the view into the tundra.

And out into the bay.

Here’s a view from the cannery looking back toward home. You can see Coffee Point curving out to the west of the frame.

When Robbi’s dad bought the property we now live on, there was an old wooden barge at the foot of the bluff. The original plan had been for the family to live in the barge, but the first winter that they owned the place, a storm came in and ruined the barge. The wreckage sat on our property for decades, but just a few winters ago, was all but destroyed by ice. This year, I happened upon a small piece of it, just sitting there on the beach as I ran. It was like seeing an old friend.

Usually, I was the only runner on the beach, so I’d see my own footsteps on the way back home again.

Though most days are gloomy, there are occasional bursts of blue skies, and I must admit that, when they come, they are not entirely unwelcome. Here is the point on a nice day.

The pebbles along the beach become a lot more beautiful when the sun shines down upon them.

I don’t mind when the sun comes out when the sun is the exception to the rule.

It’s a beautiful place, and I miss it already.