Onward to Lovely Seward & Kenai

We were happy to leave Anchorage and the flu bug that got me down there. UGH! Too bad we can't leave behind the yucky stuff when we're on "vacation." I did feel sorry for myself that I was so far away from home and sick. I guess I was "homesick."

The highway to Seward began along Turnagain Arm and was an estuary for all kinds of interesting birds. Then the scenery changed to rugged snow-capped mountains. Another WOW! Seward is the only town along the eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula. We dry camped in a city lot along the water, facing Resurrection Bay and surrounded by mountains. The view again was breathtaking. The bay was named by an explorer who arrived in its protected and calm waters on Easter Sunday, dubbing it Resurrection Bay. Unfortunately I passed along the flu bug to Terry who took his turn in bed.

We took a cruise of the Kenai Fjord National Park and lucked out with seeing marine animals - humpback whales, orca whales, harbor seals, stellar sea lions, bald eagles, puffins and Dall porpoises. The highlight for us was the Holgate Glacier, the one behind us in the photo. The color is actually blue. The naturalist explained that all colors of light rays go through the ice with the exception of the shortest blue color captured inside the ice. Alas the color blue. This glacier is at least 100 feet deep and very impressive. This was one of the attractions offered in the Alaska coupon book, which has many two for one price offers. It was well worth the $100 cost.

We visited the Alaska Marine Center where we learned that Spot Shrimp, the most commercially valuable shrimp here, spends its first 3 years as a male and last 3 as a female. What a learning curve they have!
We had lots of rain during our time here so decided to just get out and do what we wanted. We hiked the Exit Glacier, a beautiful view but not much of a hike. So we decided to try the Hastings Icefield Trail where we could view the glacier and ice fields from above. Yikes! This was the most rigorous hike to date with lots of steep, rocky terrain and mountain creeks and lots of icy snow. We made it back alive and won't forget that one.

Now on to the west side of the Kenai Peninsula. This time we opted for full hookups at a park on a cliff overlooking Cook Inlet and the mouth of the Kenai River, and sitting across from 3 volcanoes. The Redoubt Volcano in the photo rises over 10,000 feet. Another gorgeous view. And there is a path that leads down to a large dark-sand beach which goes on for miles. Harley can go off-leash and she loves that. There are operational oil rigs along the beach. Word has it that the Cook Inlet tides here are second in force and size only to the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick.

Today is the fourth of July so I went to a parade and met Terry there after his unfruitful fishing trip. It was weird going alone but I met a woman standing beside me and engaged in one of the best discussions I have had since leaving friends and family in Michigan! She works with the native tribe here in several capacities and has many inspiring missions in life. Thank you Lou!

The photo shows the architectural remains of the Russian presence in this "burrough," the Russian Orthodox Church in Old Town Kenai which we toured.

It is said that there are many salmon in the rivers here. However, they have done well in eluding us to date. I have even taken up the rod and reel. Terry and friend Bill went out on a charter boat on the Kenai fishing for king salmon this morning at 5:30 AM in the pouring rain. They arrived back at noon empty handed. Depending on who you talk to here, the second "run" of reds and kings either has or has not begun. In my estimation either they have not arrived or we are all very challenged fisher people. There is still hope with one more day here and a week in Homer. There the guys will go out on a halibut fishing charter, a more sure bet than salmon. If no luck we will be forced to purchase the fish that we thought would be such easy catch!

So we will keep you posted on our luck (or lack of it.)

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