Valdez

Our early morning drive was rewarded by a surreal look at the Wrangell mountains of Wrangell-St Elias National Park. It absolutly looked like we were driving into a painting. This is our largest National Park but there are only two relatively short roads into the park and a whole lot of wilderness. We are skirting by it on our way to Valdez.

Richardson Highway from Glennallen to Valdez, about 115 miles with stops along the way to play.  We hiked up to the face of the Worthington Glacier at Thompson Pass. 

Glacier drainage 
Waterfalls all over Keystone Canyon. We stopped to see Bridal Veil Falls. I wonder how many waterfalls in the world are named Bridal Veil. 
It was Wanda' s birthday today so celebrated with a dinner out at Roma's on the harborfront. Lovely view of boat harbor and coastal mountains. Had to have cake and candles when we got home.  Have a grand birthday, Wanda!

Valdez is the terminus of the Alaskan pipeline and situated in an incredibly beautiful harbor spilling into Prince William Sound. Also famous for the site of horrendous oil spill in 1989 by Exon Valdez. 

More Glen Hiway

Another look at Matanuska  Glacier. I didn't realize Alaska had so many glaciers. We will see more tomorrow on our way to Valdez.

We have met so many interesting people here. This is Sourdough Joe who is talking a blue streak and telling the guys how to fish. . .and more.

The morning and evening song of the Thrush is transporting.

Fireweeds starting to bloom. Alaska's state flower.

Tonight we are camped here right next to a soothing river. Another cloudy day but at least it did not rain.

Glenn Hiway

Today we drove the incredibly scenic Glenn Hiway from Palmer to Glennallen.

Stopped to have a look at Matanuska Glacier from a short overlook trail.
We spent yesterday in Palmer in the Matinuska Valley. This valley is famous for the fertile soil and the huge vegetables that they have produced here.  The campground where we stayed had a huge crop of rhubarb to share with anyone who wanted some. Wanda made a yummy rhubarb crisp. We topped it off with some whipped creme and had the best desert.  I don't think Will and I have had rhubarb since we left Minnesota. I cut some up and put it in my freezer so we can have another desert later. 
More wildlife along the road.

The road ditches abound with wild roses.

Still on Kenai Peninsula

We stopped along the Russian River just to see what all the activity was about. Salmon fishermen lined the shoreline to try their luck at catching Sockeye Salmon. They are running now at this particular spot and fishing season is limited time.  Apparently there are 5 different species of salmon and each has its own spawning season and it also varies by river and location in Alaska.
Bear cub in a tree.
I know there have been news reports about an unusual number of bear maulings  this summer in Alaska.  Doug even heard it on the news in China and called to tell us to be careful. A couple of those incidents have not been far from where we are.  No fear, we do have our bear spray handy when out in the woods.  Actually, we have not done that much hiking as we have been doing stuff, or traveling and seeing stuff.  At first my hip was bothering me but now its just cause we have been doing other things.  Need to get out and hike as there are plenty of trails around.

  And this big brown bear was in a bear enclosure. No way I would be that close to him otherwise.
Eagle River thundering through tonight's campground. Rain again today.

Homer

Left the rigs at Ninilchik and drove the 30 miles to spend the day checking out Homer, Ak. Did a little shopping on the Boardwalk on The Spit which is a narrow piece of well developed land that pokes out into the sea for about 5 miles.
Great fish and chips lunch.
One particular shop had amazing sculptures and skrimshaw by local native Alaskans. This is fossilized whale bone.  Couldn't quite afford this lovely piece but did buy myself a pair of earrings. 
These tiny skrimshaw pieces, maybe 3 inches long were priced at $1100.  

Ninilchik

Ninilchik goes way back to a time when Russian fur hunters were here in Alaska. Some of them took native Alaskan wives and were not allowed to bring their families back to Russia. So they settled here and word is that many descendents still live here. Population about 600. Today appears to be a fishing village and then tourism. Picturesque Russian Orthodox church sits on a hill overlooking the bay, still a working church. Interesting cemetery surrounding old church

We visited a long time with dear lady who ran this unique gift shop. Really nice local products. Her husband carved beautiful items from fossilized whale bone and jewelry. I controlled myself.
In a wetland near the shore we found a whole lot of bald eagles. Dozens of them were circling off a cliff and soaring for a spectacular show.
This is also where we decided to try our hand at Halibut fishing. We booked a charter with a local outfit that sounded fun and headed out in time to catch the low tide which our captain said was important. Well, it was defiantly an experience but not one we would call fun! The seas were extremely rough, and although we changed locations a couple of times the fishing was poor. Three out of the four of us got sea sick.  no fun. And the one we were concerned would get sick, Jack, didn't but was really close. We finally were really glad when the day was over. Cold, wet, and sick. Poor us.
However Will did catch a nice little Halibut. It was one out of three caught by the 7 fisherpeople aboard. Not a good average. Captain kept saying worst day fishing in his last 100 trips --wouldn't you know.  They cleaned the fish for us and is in our RV freezer so when we get our appetites back we are going to have a delicious fish feast!!
it was pretty interesting how they got our big boat in the water.  This big old tractor hooked onto us and pulled us out into the surf. Then unhooked, came around back and pushed us into deep water.

More views of Seward

Seward has a great Sea Life Center where you can get up close to and learn about Alaska's sea creatures. Definitely worth a stop. They are also a rescue and rehabilitation facility and they are nursing back to health an abandoned baby walrus. 
Up close to a Horned Puffin. My personal favorite.


And a Stellers Eider duck which lives in far north all year around. Strange looking bird, distinctive for sure.

Sitting around a campfire enjoying Jack's entertainment.  Obviously cool night as have been most nights. But sun shining again which definitely helps.

Fiord Cruise on Kenai Penninsula

We parked our Rv's on the beach at Seward along with a hundred other people and soaked up the view of coastal mountains across the water. Boarded a tour boat for an all day cruise on Resurrection Bay to Kenai Fjords National Park. Got up close to two active Glaciers and watched and listened as they popped and cracked and chunks fell off into the sea. All kinds of wildlife along the way including a whale that rolled over and "waived" at us, puffins in the water, sea lions and harbor seals on ice flows and even a bear that we spied on shore.

And this sea otter floating on her back with a baby on her tummy.