Kenai Peninsula

On shore of Turnagain Arm (Part of Cook Inlet)

Picked up my cousin Margaret in Anchorage and headed south towards the Kenai Peninsula to explore.   Started out on nice sunny day.   Had some good weather days and so not so good days.  The drive going around Turnagain Arm was really stunning.


Turnagain Arm

Found a campsite at the Kenai Princess RV park near Cooper Landing.   It was pretty centrally located so it allowed us access to wandering around the Kenai Penisula and returning to home base.

Denise and her dog, Samson

Went into Soldotna, AK and had the opportunity to visit with Denise, the daughter of good friends Jane and Bill Gorden.  Jane is a teacher at Thompson Intermediate where I retired from.   Went out to lunch and then to the Kenai River Festival.   Such a nice time.

Continued our exploring by heading south to Homer, AK.  


Mount Redoubt near Soldotna (active volcano erupted in 2009)

Mount Illiana

The volcanoes on the other side of Cook Inlet were something to see.   There are three volcanoes that are easily seen..Mount Spur, Mount Redoubt and Mount Illiana.   They are the beginning of the Aluetian chain and still very active.   The locals are always watching the mountains.

Made it all the way down to Homer and went out onto the Spit to shop and eat.  Great seafood here.   Had salmon and halibut which were quite good.   Homer is the halibut fishing capital of not just Alaska, but the WORLD.

Homer Spit seen from Skyline Drive



Up on Skyline Drive in Homer

Dixon Glacier near Homer, AK

After exploring Homer, we headed home for the day.   The next day we went towards Seward because we knew that we wanted to book a whale watching trip.   Not too sure about heading out into the Gulf of Alaska on a boat, but what the heck....  On our way down to Seward we stopped at the Kenai Fiords National Park and actually hiked out to Exit Glacier.   Went down into the glacial till river bed and ended up at the glacier.   Another first for all of us.



Margaret and Me at Exit Glacier (cold and WET that day)

ON Exit Glacier!!

Exit Glacier in Kenai Fiords National Park

Hiking up to this glacier was a dream come true for me.   Never imagined that I would actually get to stand on a GLACIER.  







Tunnel going to Whittier, AK




Went back up north to Whittier, AK one day.  Had to drive through the tunnel to get there.  The tunnel is 2.5 miles long and you have to take turns going in one direction or the other.  Plus you have to wait if a train is going through.



Finally the day for our whale watching trip came.  We drove back down to Seward and boarded our trusty vessel......all I kept hearing was....A three hour tour... singing in my head.   But I took my dramimine and got on board.    OMG what an experience.   We saw Orcas before we even got out of the bay.   Saw Stellar sea lions on the cliffs, several different species of birds, harbor seals out by Aialik Glacier and FINALLY lots and lots of Humpback whales.  


Aialik Glacier

We actually got the once in a lifetime opportunity to see a pod of Humpback whales doing bubbling, where they circle and circle under the water and force fish upward to feed.   It was certainly the highlight of the trip.  

Below are pictures of the wildlife we saw during our time on the Kenai Peninsula.   Please be sure and scroll all the way down to see the amazing pictures.  ENJOY!!


Stellar Jay

Humpback Whale fluke

Immature Eagles near Homer, AK



Eagle along beach

He let me get really close

Momma Moose



Orca

Stellar Sea Lions

Harbor seals on ice in front of glacier

More Humpback whales

Humpback whales feeding (AWESOME SIGHT!!)

Humpbacks got so close to boat you could smell their exhale breath

Now we will  head towards Denali National Park after dropping Margaret off at the airport in Anchorage on Wednesday.   Had such a great time together.   We will continue our adventure and continue to keep you posted.   Love to all Felicia and David (aka Mom and Dad)

Haines to Anchorage

Beautiful mountains seen from ferry to Haines

Departed Juneau on June 1 on the ferry to Haines, AK.   Turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day.  The most sun we've seen in quite a while.   A four hour ferry ride got us to Haines where we were going to stay a couple days.


Lighthouse seen from ferry

Going into Haines from ferry terminal

Stunning moon seen from our campsite in Haines, AK

After our stopover in Haines, we headed north towards Anchorage(David tells me we weren't actually heading north, but that's how I saw it).   Would be driving through a small portion of British Columbia and a larger stretch of the Yukon Territory.   The trip to Anchorage (about 800 miles) would take us three days just taking out time.



Went through an area near the Chilcook River called the Valley of the Eagles.  In October there are more than 3,500 eagles here.   Of course, when we drove through we didn't see a single eagle.  Guess they were otherwise occupied.


Chilcook River Valley

Entering Yukon Territory



Frost heaving under highway

Once we were in the Yukon Territory driving took on a whole new meaning.   We really had to take our time and pay close attention to the road.   Winter really takes a toll on the roads up here.   Frost heaving is a major problem causing the road to undulate.    Lots of road signs saying to slow down and believe me we did.  Sometimes only doing 25-30 mph (40-48 km/h) in stretches.

Stopped in Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory; Tok, AK and then Glennallen, AK before arriving in Anchorage.




Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory

Border crossing back into Alaska from Yukon Territory, Canada

I'm in the Yukon, David is in Alaska

Did some exploring when we got to Glennallen, AK.   Took a short trip down the road towards Valdez, AK (didn't go the entire way).   Beautiful mountains, sparkling lakes, a lovely waterfall and the Alaskan Pipeline.  Pretty impressive.


Mount Sanford, one of the 10 tallest in Alaska

Liberty Falls near Chiltina, AK

Alaskan pipeline headed towards Valdez, AK

After leaving Glennallen, we drove towards Anchorage.   David assured me we were heading west, but all I keep thinking is that it's NORTH to Alaska.   Very rainy day with lots of road construction, so we had to take our time again.   Drove right past the Matanuska Glacier.  The largest glacier in Alaska that you can drive to.   Managed to still get a picture through the rain.


Gotta love road construction

Matanuska Glacier in foreground



Trumpeter Swan

We had a few more close encounters with wildlife on this leg of the trip.


Black bear along side of the road in Yukon



Moose just waiting in middle of the road waiting for me to take a picture

We are now in Anchorage staying at the campground on Elmendorff AFB.   David being retired Department of Defense Army Corps of Engineers gets us onto the bases.   Nice campground and a lot cheaper than we've been paying.   Waiting on my cousin, Margaret, to arrive tonight from Minnesota.  She will travel with us for a couple weeks.   Will be heading down the Kenai Peninsula from here.   More later.   Love to all, Felicia and David (aka Mom and Dad)

Juneau, AK

Forward lounge on Fairweather

After leaving Sitka, we boarded the high-speed ferry for Juneau.   This thing went 35-37 knots cutting through the inside passage.   Saw several whales, but by the time someone said where to look, the ferry was already past them.   Did see some Orcas though.   That was totally cool.  Took a picture, but you can't really tell what it is, so again you will have to take my word for it that we actually saw them.



Wake from engines on high-speed ferry

Coming into Juneau

When we arrived in Juneau it was rainy (again), but that wasn't anything new.   We set up camp at the Mendenhall Campground on the outskirts of town.   Beautiful wooded sites, with lots of space between campsites.   Even on Memorial Day weekend the place wasn't full.  On full bear alert, we waited to spot a bear, but no such luck.   I guess we weren't tempting enough.

Went out to Mendenhall Glacier to explore.   Boy, that was something to see.  Again a geologist's dream come true.  AN ACTUAL GLACIER!!


Mendenhall Glacier in background

Hiked out to the glacier to get as close as we could.  Could have taken a helicopter ride over the glacier and actually landed, but again you know me and flying.  That certainly was NOT going to happen.   I'm just fine with my sightseeing on the ground.   The glacier was pretty impressive up close and Nugget Waterfalls was stunning.  You could walk right up to it and feel the mist on your face.   Rather chilly, but what an experience.  One lady, on the trail, told us to look for mountain goats along the edges of the falls, but didn't see any.



Mendenhall Glacier

Nugget Falls



Mini-Icebergs in lake in front of glacier

The lake in front of the glacier was a light blue and murky from the silt coming off the glacial melt.  Great kayaking lake Jennifer and Susie.  David said that he was going to put on his wetsuit and sit on a chunk of ice, but I think it was too cold to even do that.

After viewing the glacier we went into Juneau (along with the other thousands of people off the cruise ships) to just look around and do a little shopping.  There were 5 cruise ships in at one time. 

Cruise ships in port

All kinds of tour deals to be had

Couldn't resist taking picture with Sarah

Roads in Juneau (way too narrow)

We drove out to a local gold mine thinking that we would be able to go in and take a tour.   The sign said that they were open, but it appeared they were ONLY open for people off the cruise ships.  Rather disappointing.   But the drive there was interesting.

Road out to gold mine



After wandering downtown, we went out to the Shrine of St. Therese.  Beautiful setting on a small island.  Very peaceful.

Did our usual wildlife searching.   Found a porcupine and some arctic terns.   No bears, moose or other large mammals to be seen.   Will continue the search.  Headed out of Juneau on the last leg of our ferry adventure, destination Haines, AK.   This is only a four hour trip.   Will update again when we can.  From Haines we are driving north towards Anchorage, so cell phone service and I know wifi service will be next to none.  

Arctic Tern

Yes, that is a porcupine.  He/She did not cooperate taking pictures

More later, as we continue northward in our ongoing quest for adventure.   Well OK, not really a quest, but you get the idea.   Love to all,  Felicia and David (aka Mom and Dad)