Seward Highway/Seward 07/19-21/2009
We left Eagle River Campground on morning of July 19th heading for Seward. In Anchorage, we picked up the very scenic Steward Highway. Our first stop on the way was Potter Marsh, a state maintained wild life viewing area. Further on, we stopped near Beluga Point on Turnagain Arm where we saw slews of white beluga whales frolicking in the bay. We skipped going to Girdwood and a visit to their Ski Resort due to the rainy weather. We amy get there on our way back through the area.
We went to Portage Glacier to kayak on the lake and take of boat tour of the Glacier. The weather was raining and misty. We went to the visitor center. We were told that kayaking was restricted to bottom of the lake where there may or may not be any icebergs. The weather was so bad we decided to visit again on our way back from Kenai Peninsula to Denali area. We skipped the paddling and the glacier tour.
When we got to Seward, we checked into the Sterling Creek RV Park with full service accomodations. We did laundry and took showers. Fred shaved the beard that had formed while in state campgrounds. We brought our Alaska trip blog up to date. On our last full day in Seward, we visited Exit Glacier. Due to rain, we did not hike the trail to the Glacier but viewed it from Park Viewing Station (No pictures – left camera behind!). We also splurged on a sea food dinner on their best waterfront restaurant – Ray’s.
We took a 6 hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife and Glacier Tour. We went to Aialik Glacier. We did see a variety of sea creatures including stellar sea lions, otters, dolphins and humpback whales. We passed a number of glaciers on way to Aialik Glacier. Aialik Glacier did release several small slides of ice while we were watching. The area did not have many large icebergs. It was a disappointment after what we saw at Tracey’s Arm trip out of Juneau.
Kenai Kjords Wildlife and Glacier Tour
Today, July 22nd, we leave for Homer. We may stop overnight somewhere on the way tonight. We expect to be in Homer over the weekend. We are attending the Annual Birthday Bash of Sally Dodd Butters who has lived in Homer for the last 40 years. Sally and Milly grew up together in western New Jersey. Sally was a very good friend of Milly’s sister Judy Higby. Fred will be meeting Sally for first time after “interneting” with her for the last 4 months.
We have also contacted Edna Peters who lives in Ruby, a remote villiage on the Yukon River. Ruby has a population of about 200 people! The only way for us to get there is by plane from Fairbanks. Edna was married to her husband Emmitt by Fr. Ron Dunfey in Ruby many years ago. She has offered to have us stay at her place with her Family. We hope to visit Ruby in mid to late August if the plans work out.
Visiting an isolated villiage is recommended to see the real Alaska firsthand!!
Tags: Seward