This & That From Homer, Alaska

Stan . . .

We arrived in Homer on July 23rd and ended up staying through July 30th.  The weather during most of our stay was overcast, raining quite often, but we did end up with three days of decent weather to get out and about to explore the area.  The highway leading into Homer runs along the top of the mountain range right up until you get ready to drop down into Homer and sea level.  I was lucky enough to get Connie to pose for the above picture at the overlook at the top of the highway just before we descended down into Homer.  Homer is also known as "A funny little drinking town with a fishing problem".

The above picture was taken from up on the bluffs above Homer looking out at what is called the Homer Spit (a sliver of land that extends 4.5 miles out into the Kachemak Bay).  The Homer airport runway can be seen across the center of the picture.  The Spit is comprised of the Alaska Ferry Terminal, the Small & Large Boat Harbors, several campgrounds, the Lands End Condominiums and numerous kiosks for charter fishing boats.  The actual town of Homer is along the mainland to the right of the above picture.

While still up on the bluffs above Homer I zoomed in on the far end of the spit for this picture.  In the center of the picture on the top edge of the water are the Lands End Condos and we camped in the Homer Spit Campground immediately to the right of the condos.  We had a view of the ocean out the back window of our trailer and were able to watch the tides come in and out as well as the fishing boats coming and going along with eagles flying overhead and the occasional raft of sea otters playing in the bay.

While still up on the bluffs above Homer I turned slightly to the left and zoomed in on the Grewingk Glacier across Kachemak Bay to the east of Homer--quite an impressive sight.

Homer is located at the southwest end of the Kenai Peninsula along the Cook Inlet.  This picture was taken several days earlier while we were in route to Homer from Soldotna looking west across the Inlet at one of the many dormant volcanoes that dot the landscape throughout Alaska.

Just a short walking distance from our campsite was the Salty Dawg Saloon.  It is a well known landmark in this area and for those of you that follow "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel one of the fishing crews featured on the show is based out of Homer and are known to heartily celebrate their safe return to port at the Salty Dawg.  The Salty Dawg is a small log cabin type structure that is covered completely inside (walls, ceiling, everywhere) with dollar bills pinned to every inch of available space over the years by the patrons of the saloon.  The beer was ice cold and we definitely enjoyed our visit.

Moose At Sunset

Connie ...

It was our last night at Klondike RV Park in Soldotna.  We had enjoyed dinner with our friends Robert and Leslie as usual.  I decided to finish laundry before we headed out the next morning, as I only had two loads left.

A while later I stepped out of the trailer and headed up to take the clothes out of the dryer.  I had only taken about 20 steps, when I heard a faint noise to my left.  I turned my head and right there was a moose!  Hurriedly, but quietly as not to startle her, I went back for my camera.  Stan grabbed his also and we knocked on our neighbors' door to share the sighting. 

When we got back to where she was, we were able to get some great photos.  She was very calm and did not mind our snapping picture after picture.  She moved around quite a bit and we did so also very slowly.  It is now getting close to midnight and the sun is just starting to set.  It was about an hour later when she finally moved back in the trees and out of sight.  What a treat.  Doing laundry late at night can be beneficial in more ways than one.

Surprise Glacier - Whittier

Connie ....

While we were sightseeing in Whittier we made reservations on a glacier cruise for the next day.  This marine tour cruised through the calm protected waters of Prince William Sound.  also on board was a Chugach National Forest Ranger who narrated the entire trip.  She helped us learn so much about marine life, wildlife and the ever changing glaciers.  We enjoyed her very much.

The first photo is as we were leaving port.  It was not a pretty day weather wise, in fact it rained the entire time.  We used our plastic camera protective bags and made the best of it.  It is very cold near the glaciers and the water temp is around 35 degrees.

This is Surprise Glacier.  As you can see, as the glacier moves it leaves ice behind that eventually will melt and form beautiful waterfalls.

With a little patience and cameras ready we were able to see some awesome calving of the glacier.  This was our third marine cruise and these were by far the best shots of this kind so far.  It's hard to explain just how dramatic it is; tons of ice breaking into the water!  It doesn't always happen, so when it does it's quite exciting.

The black striations in the ice are called medial moraines.  These occur as the ice is moving and collecting rock and sediment.  These form on top of existing glaciers.  All different types of rock and sediment are mixed together.

Looking to the other direction of the glacier is totally different.  Here you see vegetation on the cliff sides with many waterfalls from the snow melt of the mountain snow.  There are so many waterfalls here in Alaska from the very small to those cascading down the mountains.

Whittier/Wildlife Conservation Center

 Connie ...

During our stay at Williwaw Campground, we made several day trips around the area.  One of the sights we enjoyed was the little town of Whittier.  Whittier is located on Prince William Sound and is accessed by way of water, train, or motor vehicle by traveling through the 2.5 mile long Whittier tunnel.  Since the train also uses the tunnel, there is a strict schedule for motor vehicles.                          

The harbor in Whittier can accommodate small boats as well as cruise ships.  The ferry which is part of the Alaska Marine Highway also transports passengers, vehicles as well as large RVs.  With it's backdrop of mountains and glaciers it is a great view.

As we were walking through town doing our tourist thing, we noticed a woman walking a reindeer.  Not only was she walking it, but also having a conversation with the animal.  Now we're not sure how much the reindeer understood, but we do know that they were going to stop at the post office on their way to work...details later.  Not something you see everyday!

Now we know where the reindeer was going.  He hangs out (yes, he) in his Alaska chalet and his name is Jolie.  We tried referring to him as a she and were corrected.  His owner runs the gift shop next door which is the first photo in this post.  So mystery solved; Jolie also loves to eat reindeer food from a cup which can be purchased from the vending machine on the porch.

Whittier is an ice free port and yet is surrounded by three magnificent glaciers; they are Portage Glacier, Whittier Glacier and Surprise Glacier.  Standing in the middle of town there are these beautiful sights all around you.

After we left Whittier we decided to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  It is an outdoor center that includes many wildlife that have been brought to the center through rescue operations.  AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and provides spacious enclosures.  Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home with quality care.  This is a non-profit organization.  The caribou pictured above make their home at the AWCC.

This musk ox is an animal we had never seen up close before.

This bear is very sad to watch.  He paces back and forth  and when he gets to the end of the path he bows his head and shakes then proceeds to pace again.  Obviously he is feeling very stressed.  Wish we knew his story.

We loved looking at the moose.  There were quite a few of them and they were more than happy to have their picture taken.  Such interesting animals.

The buffalo looked very much at home with the mountains in the background.  Reminds me of an old western movie.

Williwaw Campground - Chugach National Forest

Stan . . .

Today we traveled from Palmer (approx. 45 miles NE of Anchorage) to the Williwaw Campground in the Chugach National Forest (2nd largest national forest in USA & approx. 50 miles SE of Anchorage) to spend 3 days dry camping without water, electric or sewer hookups.  The campsite area is absolutely beautiful, heavily wooded and in the valley leading to Whittier, AK about 6 miles away.  Above is a picture of our campsite.

The above picture was taken sitting at our campsite picnic table.  Note the "blue ice" glacier in the upper right corner of the picture.  The below picture was taken zoomed in on the glacier in the first picture.  Both pictures were taken around 5:00 pm in the evening as we were enjoying a campfire at our campsite.

The next two pictures are exactly the same two views taken from our campsite, but were taken at approximately 11:15 pm.  The sun shining high upon the mountain completely changes the perspective and the beauty of the scene.  We truly enjoyed our dry camping experience at Williwaw.

Kenai Fjords - Exit Glacier

Connie ...

While Stan and I were in Seward, one of the sights we took in was Exit Glacier.  Unlike the glaciers we had seen previously, this one you could hike up to and actually touch.  The trail was a pleasant walk and we did enjoy the view.                    

When we arrived at the glacier Stan was nice enough to give me a photo op.  If he looks cold, he is!  The weather in Seward was wet and sloppy most days, although this day it was just overcast and chilly. 

As you can see, the glacier has receded substantially from what is was in years past.  As it moves down the rock, there is always evidence of scraping and marring of the ice.  Glaciers are always moving.

The grey river water and silt are the result of the melting ice, taking with it the rocks and dirt as it makes it's way down.       

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

Connie ...

It is our fourth day in Seward.  We woke up to wonderful sunshine.  It doesn't take much of that to make us happy.  Our campground was tucked back in a remote area.  This scene was just a short walk from our trailer.

 Stan is enjoying the view of the harbor at Resurrection Bay, waiting to board the Star of the Northwest for our wildlife cruise.  It was a beautiful Monday morning.

 

                                                                                                                                                                         As we left the harbor it didn't take long to notice the view of the mountains surrounding the bay.  The coast was full of wildlife of which we were hoping to get a glimpse.

  

Shortly into the trip we came upon Godwin Glacier.  It was located way up in a valley, so no way to get close, but truly massive. 

                                                     

Making our way out to more open water, there was a bit more wave action.  Some people on the boat had a problem, but we were fine.  (it's called Dramamine)

 This area is all part of Kenai Fjords National Park, where the tidewater glaciers have formed the land and created the beautiful waters for marine life.

As in our previous cruise, we were able to get close enough and view the haul out of stellar sea lions.  also notice all the sea birds within the rocks.

  

   

It was getting close to the end of our trip, when the captain advised us that a humpback whale had been spotted by some nearby fishermen.  So of course we wanted to hang around for a possible picture.  First one is the blowing, second is the rolling back into the water and third is some tail action.  Glad we stayed around.

   

The second glacier we saw was Bear Glacier.  This particular one was such that the ice melt created a fresh water lake of it's own.  Behind the tree line in the picture is the lake, although not visible.  The icebergs you see are actually floating in the lake.  What an incredible sight!

It was a great way to finish the cruise.                       

                                                    

Alaska Sea Life Center

                                                                            Connie ...

During our stay in Seward, the weather was less than desireable most days, so we found things to do indoors.  (not that we usually let it stop us, but it was really cold down by the bay)  One of the attractions in town is the Sea Life Center.  This is Alaska's only public aquarium.  It is a great way to connect with some of Alaska's marine wildlife.  We have become particularly fond of the puffins.  They are incredibly cute and we also learned that they really prefer to be under water  rather than above.  A puffin can swim as far as 200 feet deep to look for food.  The little guy pictured above is the "tufted puffin".The Sea Life Center had many areas for viewing birds and mammals as well as other sea life.  There were typically two levels for viewing;  the upper level where the birds were found, also had a lower level where you could view the puffins diving and swimming under water.  Those little guys can go pretty fast!

 The second species pictured above is the "horned puffin"  They like to dive and swim under water as well.  It was nice to have the opportunity to see them up close.
                                                             

                                                                                                                         
            
                                                                                                                

                    

                   There were many varieties of ducks, like this beautiful specimen below.

   

Look close..... it is a fish!

 There were so many sea life varieties, that it was very hard to focus in on all of them.

 

What a creature - Looked exactly like a feather.

                                                              
The Stellar Sea Lion is most interesting.  The bulls weigh up to 2400 pounds. The one we viewed was happy to swim from top to bottom gracefully and give us a look as we stood on the lower level of the aquarium.  The Stellar sea lion has attracted considerable attention due to an unexplained decline in numbers in recent decades; particularly along the Aleutian Islands.  It is estimated their numbers have fallen between 70-80%.  They have been listed as an endangered species.                                                     

Alaska Sea Life Center

Below is the view of Reserrection Bay from the observation platform at the Sea Life Center. The water looked like glass that day.