The Kennecott left us off in the town of Whittier. To leave town, we had to drive thru' a shared rail/vehicle one-way 2.5 mile tunnel. (North America's longest shared tunnel.)
(See below - red dot)
It's cold in them thar hills...
Portage Glacier, just beyond the tunnel exit, heading north out of Whittier.
(above & below)
Near Moose Pass, a reflective wonder.
(above & below)
There is still snow on the ground as we park our RV for the next three nights near Seward.
(Above & below) Views from our RV park
Seward is at the end of Resurrection Bay
The view across Resurrection Bay from Seward
A visit to nearby Exit Glacier, coming down out of the clouds
The Exit Glacier visitor center was closed, and the trail to the glacier was still snowed in - so we decided to pass on the walk.
Whittier, far right. - Seward right-center - Homer, lower left - Soldotna, left center
We will visit all four during the next week or so.
(above & below) Our view from the RV park - looking out over Bishop Beach and the Kachemak Bay.
The Grewingk Glacier across the way
Another glacier across from Homer.
The Homer Spit.
The 4.5 mile long remnants of a glacier's terminal moraine. Many fishing & tourist activities are on the Spit.
(There is a bumper sticker for sale that reads: "Spit Happens")
By the way, sunset today (6/3) is 11:15 pm, with rise tomorrow at 4:54 am.
(above & below) The Seafarer's Memorial on the Homer Spit
Several hundred plaques form the base of the memorial - a dangerous business.
The Alaska Marine Highway System's M/V Tustumena at the Homer ferry terminal at the end of the Spit.
The Land's End Restaurant, at the very end of the Homer Spit has the best Tempura Halibut EVER. Absolutely delicious.
A Yurt for sale. The last time we saw one of these was in the Mongolian portion of China, and in Tibet.
Our last view across the Kachemak Bay before leaving for Soldotna.
Our RV park location here in Soldotna is on "Funny River Road"
For those of who live "south" - the red & white staff above the hydrant assist's the firefighters find the hydrant during the heavy snow.
(We don't have to worry about this in Imperial Beach.)
We are right next to the Kenai River - no that's not us fishing for Salmon.
A little bit about Soldatna:
This area was just an uninhabited forest along the bend of the
Kenai River. In August of 1947 the Federal Government
opened up this area to (mostly) 160 acre homesteading, with a
preference to veterans of WW-II. The 1947 pioneers had to come
in by plane or barge to the small town of Kenai,
and hike in the rest of the way. There was a rail line nearby,
but that also required a long walk thru' the mud.
It was many years before a road was built to this town, the
homesteaders had log cabins, outhouses, no medical facilities,
and very few jobs.
The Veterans could "prove up" their homestead and acquire
ownership by building a "habitable dwelling" and living in it
for seven months of the year.
Non-veterans were required to spend three years, as well as
clear and cultivate at least one-tenth of their total acreage.
In 1951 a "road" was put in, but it was 4-wheel drive only
'road.' They needed a winch as well to get them out of the mud
holes.
This town is proud of their pioneer background - and the
toughness it took to make a go of it.
Our first destination will be in Eagle River.