Day 69: Tuesday, July 23, 2013. Alaskan Angler RV Park to Deep Creek Beach State Park, Ninilchik, Alaska. About 3 miles traveled.
We broke camp and moved to Deep Creek Beach State Park on the beach in Ninilchik. From our campsite we can see volcanoes, the ocean, and hear the waves crashing on the beach at high tide. I think I’m in heaven!
Our campsite at Deep Creek State ParkView of Mount Redoubt from our campsiteCamping at Deer Creek Beach, Ninilchik, AlaskaMount Redoubt erupted in 2009
The campground is located a short walk down the beach from the boat launch area in one direction and Deep Creek in the other direction. We spotted an eagle in a tree on the bluff across from Deep Creek so I headed down there to get a few pictures. He did a great job of posing for me.
Bald Eagle on Ninilchik BeachThis eagle was perched in a tree on the side of the bluff overlooking Deep CreekSame eagleAnother pose
After I got my fill of watching the eagle we noticed the fishing boats were starting to come in so we walked down to the launch area for a few photos and videos.
We watched them bringing in the boatsSkidders were bringing in the boats non stop
Here is a video of the skidder taking a boat out of the water.
Right after we got back to the campsite I got a call from Ruth Ann that Ted was going out on an afternoon charter so I walked back down to the launch area to see him off.
Ted waiting to board for his Halibut fishing tripTed boarding for his fishing trip. He caught his limit of 2 HalibutHeading out to the fishing grounds
After our exciting day of fishing we decided to take it easy and go for a walk on the beach where our boat was launched. We went at low tide in hopes of seeing some eagles feasting on the fish carcasses the fishermen throw into the water. There were plenty of gulls but the only eagles were soaring overhead.
Each of the skidders has a different Alaskan animal on the frontBeautiful day for a walk on the beachBlondie goes for a walk on Ninilchik BeachBlondie swimming in Ninilchik, Alaska
Vehicles can drive on the beach here so we took off down the beach in our truck. Not a good idea. The sand was very soft and with our heavy truck and over inflated tires our truck had trouble engaging the four wheel drive. It started making strange noises so we got out of there quick. Henry took the truck to a mechanic later where we found out the four wheel drive is toast with a blown transfer case. We will stay in Ninilchik until the work is done on Friday.
Our Alaskan Journey continued in Seward, Alaska where we spent three nights in the Seward Waterfront Park.
Day 63: Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Palmer to Seward, Alaska. Seward Waterfront Park, Resurrection Campground Site R5. 132 miles traveled.
Our drive took us through downtown Anchorage and then south along the Seward Highway. There were spectacular views of Turnagain Arm and mountains most of the way.
Turnagain Arm at low tideTurnagain Arm south of AnchorageHenry and Blondie enjoying the viewGorgeous scenery every where we wentResurrection Campground City of Seward Waterfront ParkSmall boat harbor in Seward, Alaska
We arrived in Seward and searched the city campgrounds for a waterfront site but had no luck so we picked a site in the fourth row from the water and then took a walk to the small boat harbor to check things out.
Day 64: Thursday, July 18, 2013.
A van picked us up at 9:45 and drove us to the harbor for our 7 1/2 hour sightseeing cruise on the Spirit of Adventure with Major Marine Tours. Our trip took us through parts of Kenai Fjords National Park and there was a park ranger on board to tell us information about the wildlife and glaciers we were seeing. We had comfortable seats inside a cabin where we stored our gear and then went outside to see the sights. As we traveled through Resurrection Bay we could see our RV when we cruised by the campground. There were sea otters in the water and we stopped to watch a mother and calf humpback whale.
Our campground from the water – we’re in the middle on the back rowThe buildings on the top of this rock are bunkers from WWIIWe saw sea otters all daySea otters enjoying the daySo relaxedHumpback WhaleThere were Puffins in the water
The cruise continued thorough Ailiak Bay to the Holgate Glacier for a close view of the half mile wide Holgate Glacier and Surprise Glacier. Captain Nicole turned off the engines so we could listen for the sound of ice breaking loose from the glacier before falling into the sea. When the ice breaks loose and falls it is called calving. We heard and watched about four or five calvings before moving on to the next glacier.
Henry and Beth at Holgate GlacierHolgate GlacierSurprise GlacierIce fallen from the glacier floated all around us
Our next stop was at the mile wide Ailiak Glacier where we witnessed more spectacular calvings. There was complete silence on the boat as we waited for the roar of ice. We were fortunate to see several more chunks of ice fall into the water including what our captain said was one of the biggest ones she has ever seen. Take a look at the next sequence of pictures to get an idea of what the ice falling looks like.
Calving on Aialik Glacier oneCalving on Aialik Glacier twoCalving on Aialik Glacier threeCalving on Aialik Glacier fourCalving on Aialik Glacier fiveSeeing ice calving on Aialik Glacier on the Kenai Fjords trip from Seward
Hearing and seeing the ice fall was simply amazing. I could have sat there all day but the cruise continued as we traveled through the Chiswell Islands and saw more humpback whales, puffins, and other wildlife. Captain Nicole got us back to the dock right on time at 5:30. What a great day.
It was our anniversary so we drove about four miles out of town to the Salmon Bake restaurant for a Salmon dinner to celebrate. I just can’t get enough of this salmon!
Day 65: Friday, July 19, 2013
After a day at sea, some of it being in very rough waters, we were both sore and exhausted. I think 2 months of travel and sightseeing tours finally caught up with us. We both slept late and took it easy all day. We took a last drive around Seward in the afternoon.
View across Resurrection Bay from SewardThe Iditarod Trail starts in SewardThe tiles on the Seward library are designed to look like the Northern Lights
Day 37: Friday, June 21, 2013. Aboard the Fjordland from Haines, Alaska to Juneau, Alaska
There have been many WOW moments on this trip but our trip to Juneau has them all beat by far.
At 8:30 am we gathered at the dock with our friends Ted and Ruth Ann to board the Fjordland for an all day cruise to Juneau. The boat has comfortable seats inside the cabin and a nice viewing platform in the rear for wildlife viewing and photography. Our captain was very knowledgeable about the area and he and his daughter kept an eye out for wildlife. He would slow down or stop when there was something interesting to watch.
We took the Fjordland to Juneau from HainesAboard the Fjordland to Juneau
Our first wildlife came when we saw hundreds of steller sea lions at a rookery along the rocks.
Steller Sea Lion Rookery in AlaskaSteller Sea LionsSteller Sea LionStellar Sea Lions on day trip to JuneauHe was off by himself on the rock
There were so many whales we lost count. Some were too far off to see very much detail but we were fortunate to see some up close.
Thar She Blows!We saw lots of whales close to shoreHumpback WhaleWhale dorsal finWhale Pectoral Fin on day trip to JuneauSuch an amazing sight to see their tailAnother diveOne last whale tail
We passed by glaciers and waterfalls and even a lighthouse on the way to Juneau.
We went by this waterfallA whale went by as we got closer to the lighthouse
The boat docked a little outside of town so we boarded a bus to take us downtown. We enjoyed lunch at the Red Dog Saloon before doing a little shopping and sightseeing in the capital of Alaska. Next was a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier to see a glacier up close.
Miner’s Monument in JuneauLunch at the Red Dog SaloonRed Dog Saloon in JuneauMural in downtown JuneauCapital Building in Juneau, AlaskaMendenhall GlacierWaterfalls at the glacierMendenhall Glacier with the water falls on the right
After touring the Mendenhall Glacier we boarded the bus for our ride back to the dock. We enjoyed a delicious bowl of seafood chowder with smoked salmon while we rested up from our hard day of sightseeing. Whale sightings continued and our captain took us close by the Eldred Rock Lighthouse we had passed on the way to Juneau. Want to buy it? It’s for sale!
The seals came up close to the boatFor Sale – Eldred Rock LighthouseWe passed close to the Eldred Rock LighthouseAnother view of the lighthouseOystercatcher at the lighthouseHarbor Seals lounging on the rocks by the lighthouseHarbor Seals by the lighthouse
Our trip on the Fjordland was the Fjord Express to Juneau cruise offered by the Alaska Fjordlines. I highly recommend it. It sails from either Haines or Skagway to Juneau.
One of the things on my list of things to do in Alaska was to eat some fresh crabs right from the dock. Thanks to Joyce, the great owner of the Oceanside RV Park where we are staying, I crossed that off my list on Thursday night.
I went for an early morning walk around the harbor and then hoping to see some more Bald Eagles, we drove a few miles down the road to Chilcoot Lake in Chilcoot State Park and along Mud Bay Road to the seafood cannery.
I walked around Haines Harbor in the early morningHaines Totem by the harborChilcoot LakeBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKMama Bald Eagle on nest in Chilcoot State Park, Haines, AKBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Then we went down to the dock to help clean today’s catch of 38 Dungeness Crabs.
Deadliest Catch!The guys are hard at workJoyce and crew cleaning crabs on the dock
A trip to the Hammer Museum sounded like a fun way to spend the afternoon before dinner.
Henry and Blondie at the Hammer MuseumHammer Museum in Haines, AlaskaThis one is for our friend Chuck, president of a small bank in GeorgiaThis is for Henry and all his buddies at BellSouthA display of seafood hammers. Our mallet came in handy when we had a dinner of Dungeness Crab
Finally, it was time to eat!
Owner Joyce and the camp host getting ready to cook38 Dungeness CrabsTime to eat
Joyce, the owner of Oceanside RV Park, often puts on a crab boil or salmon bake for her guests. Joyce organizes everything, teaches everyone how to clean them, and then cooks them. Everyone brought a covered dish and paid for however many crabs they wanted. After we ate our fill of our six crabs we picked the rest and froze it for later in the trip.
Joyce is one of the hardest working RV park owners we have ever seen and goes out of her way to make you feel at home. If you are going to Haines, Oceanside RV Park is the only place to stay. This is NOT a paid advertisement! She doesn’t even know I’m posting this.
Wandering Dawgs 