Bumming along Stoney Creek

We stayed in Seward for a week and a half.  During that time we enjoyed our camp at Stoney Creek Campground, took exploratory drives around the area and just chillin'.  The pups enjoyed the long walks around the park and I enjoyed the cloudy days.

We liked this campground as the sites were wide with trees and grass and it was quiet.

We got up early to go fishing on Sunday (early, early!).  When we arrived at the charter office at 6:30 we were informed the sea were too rough to go out for halibut, so we would stay in the cove for Salmon.  I know my friends think I'm cheap, (I prefer frugal thank you), but $756.00 for 12 salmon means that each fish is $63.00.  Unless you get 6 pounds of filet per fish, it just didn't make sense.  We said no thanks, a refund was preferred, and went back home and back to bed.  Inside, I was relieved since I really didn't want to kill anything.  

We had to buy two new tires for the toad as the rear passenger tire wore way beyond the others.  I'm not sure when it started so I don't know what the cause was.  We were going to wait until we got to the lower 48, but an internet search revealed the same cost up here, so rather than chance it, we got new tires.  While we were getting those installed we killed some time at the Sea Life Center.

The Sea Life Center has two orphaned otters that are being raised and sold to aquariums in the lower 48.  There are two Stellar Sea Lions and two Seals.  It's a Noah's Ark of pinnepeds!  The first part of the center is devoted to the Alaska Fishing Industry.  There were presentations by the Forest Service about the glaciers and how they are receding.   Lots of sea birds and petting pools for the kids.  Overall an OK place to spend some time.  

A seal hoping to be released

A baby Stingray.  Don't they look like cartoon characters?

A baby Sea Otter

Puffin!

After a half day of walking around, we had lunch at the Seward Brewery again.  It was yummy!  Then off to drive around the outskirts to see what was out there.  Too small to capture with the I-phone camera, we saw a small pod of Dahl Dolphin hunting close to the shore.  

Tutstumena Ferry that has failed all of it's welds Coast Guard Inspections.  Not in a rush to get it in the water, as no one was working on it.

One of the many glaciers in the area

The Maximum Security Prison in Seward.  Little did we know but that morning there was a prisoner riot over not wanting to make their beds.  Really?  Really!

There were two Swans in this lake

More otters in the water!

  After almost two weeks in Seward, we traveled backwards to Kenai, Alaska.  Kenai is on the Cook Inlet and has a population of about 7,000.  The town has a Home Depot, Safeway and a Walmart.  The ride was nice and short, only a couple of hours.  We left Seward just in time as a cruise ship encountered am electrical problem and was stuck in Seward for several days.  The town is just big enough for one ship at a time.  With more folks looking for things to do, I expect it would get pretty crowded.  

 Once we got settled in, we headed out to Soldotna to the Moose is Loose!  Fresh apple fritters for desert are on the menu!  The next day we ventured down to the beach.  The pups got very muddy and had a blast rockhounding with us.  Afterwards, baths were on the agenda as the mud was very sticky.  This is the first we have had a sunset for awhile and it was a good one.  The days are getting shorter at a pretty quick rate.  Each day the sunshine is 6 minutes less than the day before.

View of our coach from the beach

A beautiful sunset from our spot

We have had rain all day long.  It has been very steady and constant.  We are settled in for the day, puttering about.  I finished a little cross stitch sea otter.  Still practicing my knitting, hoping to eventually get better and be able to cast off.  Eric worked on a letter of recommendation for someone.  I did a little internet shopping.  This is the life! 

The cool down is here!

I forgot to mention that on our last day in Cooper Landing we were hiking on the path down to the turquoise Kenai River and I mentioned that it was a perfect spot for moose with all the little plants growing like crazy.  No sooner had I said that and I looked out and saw two little skinny legs in the bush.  Right there was a momma moose and her little baby.  They really paid us no mind and the pups didn't see them.  I liked Cooper Landing with the Kenai Lake and Kenai River.

The weather has cooled down considerably and is very comfy with a little jacket and jeans.  The mosquito's are bad, just not as much.  The other morning Gidget growled a little as she was on her spot on the dash.  Eric looked and there was a moose right in the campground.  

Objects are closer than they appear

We have enjoyed our stay in Kasilof.  They town of Soldotna is nearby, an awesome little sandwich spot to get Philly Cheese steak (the best I have ever had!) is across the highway and a fun bakery called the Moose is Loose!

The Fritters are the best! 

We have been out on the lake in the kayak most days.  

Gidget wondering what the lilypads are

Mowgli before he dove in.  He likes birds....

Mowgli was the first to get wet.  I'm not sure what he was thinking, but off he went into the drink.  Good thing they have vests, he is not the most coordinated dog.  We cut the paddling short since it was a little chilly to be wet.  Afterwards, everyone got a bath.  

The flowers in the lake

A common Loon

Arctic Tern

Leech,  eeww

I was surprised and grossed out to find a leech on the kayak.  yuck.  There were kids playing in the water earlier.  No swimming for me!  

On Friday evening we headed to the Solstice festival in Kenai.  Not sure what we expected, but it was a very quick walk around and then out.  Three different groups handing out bibles, jam booths, renaissance costumes and rolls of linoleum for sale.  Weird combination.  A not so bad band was playing and that was drawing the crowd.  The longest day of the year in Alaska is just not the same as in the lower 48.  Sunrise is at 4:30 every day, Sunset at 11:30, but it does not get dark.  There is no supermoon here today, only sunshine!

 

We have seen baby terns, a duck family with 10 ducklings trailing behind, the loons, eagles and of course the moose.  We liked this place with all the wildlife.  Surprisingly, we have pretty much had the campground to ourselves.  We are told that everything is pretty dead until July, then its crazy.

Speaking of crazy, tomorrow we head to the Homer Spit for two weeks.  The skies are grey and it is a lazy day so far.  Made dog food, made a stew in the slow cooker and we'll venture out on the lake for one last trip around.  Then we'll get everything ready for the very short trip of 60 miles to Homer.  Life is Good!

An Alaskan Heat Wave, Earthquakes and oh those Mosquito's!

The post title sounds like the end of times!  There has been almost two weeks of steady blue skies, sunshine and record temps in a region usually enjoying a little rain and moderate temps.  The newscasters are warning everyone to remember to use sunscreen since they don't see this many days in a row of no clouds.  Add the long days (sunrise at 4:30 am, sunset at 11:31 pm) and you have lots of sunshine.  It has been in the high sixties to low seventies since we got here.  Sunday and Monday the high will be 77.  Don't be too envious all you Vegas friends!  We still have to run the air conditioner!  Overnight the Lupines grew and bloomed!  We can sit and watch the pine trees at our site get new buds.  Its been a wonderful week!

The bad part of all this wonderful weather is the red flag warnings for fires in the area.  Hopefully they will get some rain soon.  The forecast in Cooper Landing calls for rain next weekend, let's hope it comes.  

I felt an earthquake the other morning while still in bed.  Come to find out, they have dozens of earthquakes every day.  All fairly small.  This region is pretty amazing with the volcanos, glaciers and earthquakes.  It is pretty spectacular!

The mosquito's have come out in full force!  Their bites are mean and the welts left behind are large and itchy.  We've only been hit a few times so far.  The pups not at all.  I mixed up some natural repellant for them and it seems to work.  The pests like to buzz around their big ears.  We try to limit our outside time to daytime, but even then they are vicious.  We put up the screen room so we can enjoy happy hour outside.  

It's been kind of a lazy week, the beast got a much needed washing off, we did lots of paddling around Kenai Lake in the Kayak, hikes around the resort and at Russian River (at least until fishing season started, then bam! the fishermen lined the banks) and general goofing off.  

Russian River

Russian River

The pups are ready 

Russian River

Mowgli in his lifevest for Kayaking

Gidget in her lifevest

The Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

Just floating on the lake

Kenai Lake

Kayaking on the Kenai Lake

Miniature sled dogs in training

We will be leaving here on Monday, heading for Kasilof.  We need to replenish some fruits and veggies in Soldotna, then a week of seeing what's around.  After Kasilof it's on to Homer Spit, the end of the road!