Freedom Part two

Bucky and I stood on the bank with the clear turquoise water racing by, searching the Kenai River for fish. The lack of fisherman lining the banks was an immediate indication that we had missed the first run of Sockeye Salmon and were ahead of the second run.

A few fisherman traveled the shoreline on foot, but more slid silently by in drift boats and rafts. Seagulls and a lone eagle squawked while circling the remains of a previous catch. With no fishing activity, we were in no danger of seeing bears. Bucky made a futile attempt at the one Sockeye he saw. I watched a small trout make its way along the cut bank. The term fishing is used loosely when trying for migrating salmon. It's actually a snagging technique which when done successfully, places the hook in the salmon's mouth. While the hook floats downstream the fish swimming upstream bumps into it. A jerk of the rod sets the hook.....hopefully in the fish's mouth. If not hooked in the mouth, the fish has to be returned to the river. We had no worry over hook placement today.

We found this scene when we passed the river on our way down the peninsula to Homer. We should have stopped as the fishing ended during the few days we spent south.

Activity away from the water.

Homer is a destination for most Alaskan visitors. Every few years, Bucky and I join the throngs of tourists traveling to this unique town. This trip, we stopped at the fishing lagoon to see what was being caught. Here, the fish enter a man made pond/lagoon on the high tide and are held until they are either caught or can escape on the next tide.

Bucky watched for awhile and then grabbed his book and crawled onto the bed at the back of the RV. I grabbed my camera and walked a ways down the Homer Spit.

                                                       Beluga Lake, Homer's seaplane base.

Driving down the hill into Homer. The spit can be seen in the distance heading out into Katchemak Bay

Driving on the spit and looking across the bay at the Harding Ice Fields. Soon we would be on the opposite side of these glaciers in Seward. There is just no way to cross by car.

It's not all about tourists

                                                                      Oriental Blue Poppy

                                                                        Homer small boat harbor

The famous circle hook used by most anglers. It would seem impossible for a fish to get off, but all too often they do.

We found the campgrounds full on the spit and felt like we needed to leave. Some Bbq at Jaxx's as we left the spit provided us with strength to forge on. That evening we settled in at Halibut Campground, one of the several campgrounds in Anchor Point State Recreation Area. We have stayed here before and its awesome. We nestled between the spruces with lupines and fireweed providing a purple pallet streaked with pink roses.  Anchor Point is very similar to Deep Creek. Skidders are used to place boats in and out of the water. The beach is perfect for exploring and eagles are everywhere. Bucky, Fisher and I stretched our legs and enjoyed the sights.

                                                                   Mt. Augustine

                                                         Something we haven't seen before!

Heading home we swung into Ninilchik. Old Ninilchik is a fishing village which lies on the beach and is known for its much photographed Russian Orthodox Church. There is still a large Russian community on the Kenai and this church has an active congregation.

Mt Redoubt

I climbed the hill to the church and looked down at our motorhome as Bucky pulled out of Ninilchik

Our final stop was in Seward, another popular spot for tourists. On a sunny day, Seward's beauty is beyond description. On a rainy day, it is easily forgettable. It was partially sunny when we arrived. The fourth of July Mountain Marathon festivities were long past and town was somewhat quiet.

Mt Marathon, notice the trail runners take to the top....a grueling race both up and down

downtown looking toward Resurrection Bay

A few miles outside of Seward, we stopped at the Bear Creek Weir to finally see salmon. The creek was full of fish and they anxiously waited to leap the falls making their way upstream to spawn. The weir enables entrapment and fish counting. No fishing is allowed near the weir.

Our final night was spent near Turnagain Pass at Granite Creek Campground. One advantage of our age is that we stay in federal campgrounds for $7! Bucky and I were amazed at the variety of birds calling this home and we spent hours focused on a few. After numerous failed attempts, we were happy with this capture of a male Wilson's Warbler.

I titled this post Freedom because of July 4, but also because I feel travel is a luxury that Bucky and I have while many others do not. For a variety of reasons, others can not go, see or do what we are able to. Neither of us takes this for granted. We know we are lucky. My hope is that my posts are enjoyable to look at, sometimes funny to read and not seen as bragging, but rather as my sharing with you.

Freedom

"Let's get out of here". These were my exact words to Bucky, my husband, on July 4th weekend. It had been over a month since we parked our motorhome in front of the cabin. Each morning as I stepped onto the front porch to hook up the dog, the RV appeared like a forsaken lawn ornament rather than a pleasurable traveling machine. Fueled by over 20 hours of daylight, grass had shot up along the back bumper. On several hot sunny evenings, I had removed our bag chairs and plastic folding table from the rear storage and placed them under the awning. Sitting there, sheltered from the sun, I could almost sense enthusiasm and appreciation seeping from the RV's fiberglass walls.
Now, with awning in, refrigerator stocked and a turn of the key in the ignition, we were on our way.
Talkeetna is 114 miles north of Anchorage. We would head to Anchorage and south along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet to the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai is often thought of as the "playground" of south central Alaska. The 52 mile stretch of the Seward Highway between Anchorage and the start of the 150 mile long Kenai Peninsula is one of astounding beauty. Once out of  Anchorage, I turned to my left, scanning the water of Potter Marsh hoping to see swans,

Anchorage's exclusive hillside living overlooking Potter Marsh and Turnagain Arm.

I looked back to my right as we passed Beluga Point hoping maybe, just maybe, we would see Beluga Whales as we had several years before. I then craned my neck to the left, to look under the motorhome's protruding roof, hoping to see the Dall Sheep that often feed on the ledges above the highway. At the last moment, I caught a glimpse of two standing further back than normal and not in a place to allow Bucky to pull over.

The two lane Seward highway is made dangerous for a number of reasons, the shoulders are narrow and pull-offs are limited, the scenery is incredible which promotes gawking, there is heavy summer traffic and few passing lanes. Locals become frustrated with folks like us and take any opportunity to pass, even with on coming traffic. Accidents are frequent and can keep the highway closed for hours. Fortunately, this wasn't the case today. Glaciers spilled from the Chugach Mountains and Kenai Mountains, terminating in waterfalls and rivers which dropped to the sea. Fog and clouds clung like children's fingers to the mountain peaks, occasionally releasing their tight hold, unveiling mountain summits.

A parking area at the top of Turnagain Pass was home for the night. I took our dog, Fisher, for a much needed walk into the surrounding Turnagain Pass Recreation Area. Lured along by the songs of birds and wild flowers in bloom, our walk was extended as I tried to capture it in photographs.

sparrow, but what kind?

incessant songster

I call these chocolate lilies and they were everywhere

I'm always intrigued by willow roses and why they appear on some willows and not others

We spoke to a German gentleman who inhabited the RV seen above in the parking lot. We see many RVs of this style during our time in Alaska. Europeans love Alaska and spend extended time in the state. They have their motorhomes shipped over. This couple had also traveled throughout South America in this rig. I intend to look up the website displayed on their windshield. Check out the nifty windshield protector. We've replaced our windshield twice!

I wasn't able to capture a small white van in my parking lot picture, but I was able to capture its inhabitant. He emerged in the morning and unwrapped what I first thought was a surf board. He surprised us with his true intention.

The bowls still held snow and he obviously hadn't transitioned to summer. Alaska is a place to recreate!














The mountains towered over us. A family and their dogs walked up onto a near by hill. For some reason, lyrics from "The Sound of Music" ran through my head.....the hills are alive.......

July 4th found us well onto the 150 mile long Kenai Peninsula. There is really just one road to travel, arriving at the end in Homer, that's the Sterling Highway. We celebrated both America's freedom and our own, perched on the sand at Deep Creek State Recreation Area. We laughed at the thought that this made our 3rd time staying there on the 4th of July, none of which were planned. Deep Creek, is a fresh water source flowing into Cook Inlet. Anglers fish the tide as it moves in and out of the creek, along with Bald Eagles. Born scavengers, the eagles enjoy the fish remains that are thrown into the ocean by successful Halibut fisherman. Because of low tides and sandy shore, fishing boats are placed in and pulled out of the water by skidders. It's a frantic place in the early morning and evening when boats are both heading out and coming in with their catch.

mature and immature Bald Eagles

evening stroll

low tide pool

often just sitting watching

Mt Redoubt, in clear weather, volcanoes are visible across Cook Inlet

lots of Ravens competing with eagles

to be continued....