When not running along the beach in Alaska, I like to walk there with Robbi and August.

And Kato.

And Alden (who sometimes prefers to ride).

And Iggy (who took great heat for her fashionable sweater).

It’s a nice way to relax after a long day of fishing.

A soft place to tumble as one learns the ropes with training wheels.

A wide space for swinging around and around and around.

A good place to practice grizzly bear attack drills (note: the kids are not demonstrating proper protocol, which would be to stand one’s ground, raise one’s hand, and say “go away bear.” I suppose I’m just too terrifying.

Here is the base of our driveway. Last year, there was a road that led up from the beach to the bluff, but it was swept away by surges and ice over the winter.

I am fond of our welcoming barrel.

This is the view from the top of our driveway looking down toward the Bay at low tide.

It’s a steep trudge back up the hill. I seldom made the climb without a kid (or two) in my arms.

And here is the view from the top of our driveway looking toward the rest of our compound.

And here is Robbi standing triumphantly atop the fuel storage container that sits a few hundred yards from our house.

On the tundra in summer, the skies are usually gray, but we don’t let it deter us from having a good time.