We altered our trip plans once we left Denali. We originally planned to spend time in Talkeetna but weather, lack of camping spots and too many people caused us to drive through and leave. So, we took two days getting to Anchorage. Anchorage is Alaska’s largest town, yet even their visitor center doesn’t try to market it. We went to the Moose’s Tooth for pizza, resupplied with food, propane, prescriptions and diesel. Other than that, we struck out on doing anything exciting there. We camped south of town and headed to Seward first. We got seven nights on the beach in one of the city campgrounds. Seward got us back on track. Of course, the weather turned ugly with rain, clouds and fog. Our first day we spent wandering along the boat docks. We did get to the Sea Life Center, with interactive displays.
We ate at the Flamingo Lounge
Capt Chris, a longtime MOC member, advised us to go to Thorne's Starlight Lounge, now the Flamingo Lounge. Still great halibut.
We had a lot to do on our trip to Seward. We visited glaciers by foot and boat, went fishing, went to Marine Center and also did a lot of walking. Our visit to the Sea Life Center was interesting.
The North Pole doesn't have penguins, but they do have Puffins.
A Harbor Seal cruising by at Sea Life Center
The next place we visited was Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. We took a ranger lead hike up to the observation sight.
This is the land entrance to Kenai Fjords.
This was the start of our ranger lead hike.
Terrie relaxing on our way back down.
Exit Glacier is part of the Harding Icefield and is the start of the Resurrection River that flows into Resurrection Bay.
A visitor just over from our campsite.
Next up was our 6-hour Kenai Fjord cruise to see wildlife and a glacier. Boy, did this trip deliver.
We didn't see many sea otters, but they are cute.
We got to see two different pods of Orcas. One set was a resident pod and the other was a marine mammal pod. The residents eat fish while the mammals eat things like seals, whales, otters, etc.
Here is the resident pod. It was foggy that day.
This picture requires some explaining. This is a group of 8 or 9 humpback whales. In the early 1900's, because they were hunted to near extinction, these whales ceased what is called "bubble feeding". One of the whales will get under a group of fish and blow a large bubble while the rest of the whales encircle the prey. As the bubble rises, it takes the fish with it and the whales feast when it reaches the surface. This behavior had not been observed for decades, and was first seen again in Resurrection Bay back in 2015. A 60 year old whale, the matriarch of the group, has been teaching these whales how to bubble feed. It only happens a few weeks a year. We were fortunate to see it about 5 or 6 times on our trip.
Some Stellar Sea Lions relaxing.
A Mountain Goat at Holgate Glacier
Terrie and I at Holgate Glacier.
Some Harbor Seals on Ice Flows
(It was foggy the whole day until we got to the Glacier)
Terrie with some Glacial Ice
The fog rolling in behind us.
Ron and I went on a Salmon/Rock Fish Charter
Ron A caught a Silver Salmon
Tomorrow we head over to another part of the Kenai Penninsula - Homer. We hope to spend 5 nights on the Homer Spit before heading up to Cooper's Landing. Lots of fun and adventure ahead. Hope you are enjoying our journey.
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Colleen & Herb