Cooper Landing part two and Seward, Alaska

We spent the week at Cooper Landing just chillin' and enjoying quiet times.  We took many walks on the trails and enjoyed the river.  We met many nice people on those walks that were doing the land portion of their cruise/land packages.  Most were envious of the freedom that we enjoy and I think I sometimes take for granted.

Gidget smells the bear

On Saturday we met some of Eric's old workmates for lunch.  These folks bought some land in Sterling a few years ago and are getting ready to start building.  He loves to fish and is looking forward to having a place of their own up here.  It was a pleasant lunch, and I was thrilled there was no shop talk.  

Sunday we were able to wash the car and clean up the beast for its next little jaunt down the road to Seward.  Seward was not on our original loose plan, but we met a really nice couple who are also new to full timing in a campground that was heading to Seward.  Since we had no plans, we decided to chum along and meet them there.  We are staying at Stoney Creek RV Park just outside of town.  It is green with trees and grass and very quiet.  Our kind of place.  We set up side by side and had lots of room in between.  We were able to set up the screen room and canopy as we are expecting rain (finally!).  

Seward is a nice little town.  The port is a busy place.  There has been one cruise ship in since we have been there.  So far it doesn't seem to overwhelm the town.  We lost a bet so we have to make good on it and so we are going fishing on Sunday.  Everyone is hoping for halibut, lingcod and salmon since it is a combo trip.  I'm just hoping not to get seasick.  I have checked the sea conditions for Seward on Sunday and the seas should only be two feet.  I think I'll be fine with that!  Got my fingers crossed!

Meg and I did a little shopping in town without the men folk lurking.  It was fun to be able to spend lots of time in stores and just look about.  Eric tries to be patient, but when he is done, he is done!  I can tell because it's little subtle hints like "Are you ready?" Haha, subtle.  We spent a lot of time in A Flying Skein, a yarn and needlework shop.  I picked up a couple of counted cross stitch projects which I consider therapy which I can't wait to start.  They had so much fabulous yarn in this shop, we decided to take a knitting class.  Cindy is going to teach us how to make squares and says we can take off from there.  She asked we bring our Kindles or Ipads so she could show us the apps with instructions and free patterns.  I've wanted to learn to knit and I am looking forward to the class.  Next are the Ukelele lessons in Hawaii, haha, don't laugh, I'm kinda serious about that.  I think I'll slowly drive Eric crazy.

We all four did the hike to Exit Glacier.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the hike was good fur us.  It felt really good to be out and about.  

Where the Glacier was the year Eric was born

The Outwash Plain below where the glacier's edge is now

The Glacial flour creates this white silty runoff

After spending a really long time on the glacier and picking at rocks along the outwash, we decided to head back to get some lunch.  Along the way, we were just enjoying the sights and look who decided to come along...

This black bear was not huge, but big enough to create a traffic jam.  He trotted along in front of our car  until another car came to other way, then off into the woods he went.  As we were heading into town looking off into the river, Bob and I spotted a huge brown bear along the rocks.  We tried to turn around so Eric and Meg could see it, but it was gone into the woods by the time we made it around.  He sure was big and really a sight to see!  All we needed was a moose and we would have had the Alaska Trifecta.  

Evenings are quiet, with happy hour in the screen room, then dinner thrown together, a little bit of pleasant conversation, then off to bed.  It seems to get a little darker here, although not until really early morning.  Hard to get to sleep before midnight and up before eight.  We have another week here with lots to see and do.  The week will fly by I'm sure.  I can't believe it is already the First of August.  One more month and we will be heading South.  Today is overcast and a little chilly 62.  Rain is forecast for the next week.  

This has been a weird summer for Alaska.  The latest snow fall, the latest ice break up, the longest consecutive days of 70+ degrees at 15 so far, the most mosquitoes, the least amount of rainfall.  It really is nuts and has the locals shaking their heads.  They are concerned about fires and the glacial melting is causing flooding in certain areas.  I just hope winter waits until we get out of here!