Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
above most of it for Kathy. Freedom is Kevin's ability to buy that beach so he can give it
to the woman he loves.
Freedom is espresso the next morning at the Tidal Pool Café. Freedom is the Fourth of
July parade with pretty much everyone in town marching or biking or riding in it, but
that's okay, because there are about 1,200 visitors lining the street to watch. Freedom is
the float featuring two infants, Landon Carlough and Gavin Elvsaas, running for the pres-
idential ticket on a platform of "No More Naps!" Freedom is the Gruber Girls (any rela-
tion to Johnny, basketball star of my youth?) singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" as far
away from the microphone as they can get. Freedom is the red, white and blue on every
hat, T-shirt, shoe and bicycle spoke. Freedom is Tim taking a back flip off the side of his
canoe in the canoe jousting contest. Freedom is Marie's thirteen year-old Sean leaning
against my back for a rest stop in the middle of it all.
Freedom is the whole family at the Outside Beach that evening, roasting hot dogs and
hamburgers, and Angel's husband Michael broiling steaks, heating and serving baked
beans in the can. Freedom is Marie's husband Shon and Esther's friend Demetri unloading
$1,000 worth of fireworks. Freedom is Shon saying we're going to have to wait until it's
dark to shoot them off, and my reply, "So basically we're going to be here until Septem-
ber." Freedom is the comforting bulk of Seldovia's police chief, Andy Anderson, pretend-
ing he doesn't see a sky filled with illegal starbursts of every size and color reflected in
the silvery mirror of Kachemak Bay beneath.
Freedom is flying out of Seldovia on Smokey Bay Air on a sunny morning after, next to
Esther with week-old Dylan in her arms, and in Homer seeing her safely onto the Frontier
flight to Anchorage.
Freedom is a stop for wildflowers at Fritz Creek Gardens out East End Road, and su-
perb coffee and a focaccia sandwich and a killer brownie at Two Sisters Bakery, and a fill
up at the Texaco station at the top of the hill on the way out of town, my last look at the
Kachemak on this trip. Freedom is seeing the 65
MPH
sign on the Seward Highway, set-
ting the cruise control at 72, and cranking John Hiatt up to nine on the CD player.
Freedom is stopping at Summit Lake Lodge for a scoop of espresso almond fudge ice
cream. Freedom is the RV up ahead slowing me down to 50
MPH
. Freedom is the always
staggering beauty of Turnagain Pass. Freedom is stopping for coffee and a visit to the
