Wasilla and Seward, Alaska Part 1

July 3d: Traveling and sightseeing can grow wearisome, so we decided to take a break for a few days to get our shopping and laundry chores done and simply relax. Lots of construction on Parks Road to Wasilla:


In Wasilla, we stayed on the circle in Big Bear RV Park and Campground. The inside of the circle was a common area with a large pavillion and three propane grills for the use of all patrons.


There was also a large grass area behind us where Bill and Barkley played and played. Because his back legs still aren't quite right, Barkley's body is at an angle to his goal when he runs.






Since it was the 4th of July weekend, we heard lots of fireworks, and a family in the RV park was also setting off fireworks. Broad daylight is not the ideal backdrop for fireworks, but we did see a faint color splash here and there.

July 6th, and we're back on the road to Seward. Sights at a stop along the Seward Highway on Turnagain Arm (a long inlet):








Harebells and clover:




A marsh along the way:


Of course, it was overcast and raining most of the day.




At another rest stop:
















We stayed in Bear Creek RV Park outside of Seward and were once again blessed to be in the same park as Colin and Betty Linton. It was bittersweet, because they would be staying in Seward until the end of July, so we knew we wouldn't meet on the road again. We hope to see them again, and so does Barkley.




Signs along Resurrection Bay:




Two Park Service vehicles being charged:


The road south of Seward along the Bay, where we stopped to take pictures of sea otters:




















A type of wild pea:


At the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Trail, we picked up miniature booklets with color pictures of the invasive plants in the Seward area. The advice is to pull invasive weeds wherever they are found, pack them in plastic, and pack them out to proper trash receptacles.


Bald eagles:




Glacial streams running into Resurrection Bay:

Seward, Alaska Part 4 - Resurrection Bay

After several days where the seas were too high for the touring boats to go out, we finally got our tour of Resurrection Bay on July 12th. The delay turned out to be fortunate, as our boat left the dock at 12 noon, and the usual clouds and rain were gone. The sun was bright for the first couple hourse, but by the time we got back to shore at 5:00 it was overcast and so windy it felt like it was below freezing.


The black and orange boat to the right of center is the Poseidon.


Several Dall's Porpoises swam by and dove under the boat a couple times, but were too fast for the photographer. This sea otter was sympathetic and hung around for a few shots.






We were on the Northwestern, one of the boats used by Major Marine Tours in Seward. Every tour this company provides has a Kenai Fjords National Park Ranger on board to narrate the sights.


Within an hour or so, people in shirtsleeves had gone inside for the duration, and were soon followed by folks without windbreakers.






A Bald Eagle:


It's 2:00, and the clouds are dropping. A hanging glacier (it does not reach water):


A few of the waterfalls along the way:




Alaska's flag flying from the boat's stern:




Gorgeous blue water:






A lone house tucked back in a deep cove:


The water was so deep, the captain took the boat right up to the cliff, where the folks in the bow - with a warning beforehand - got a cooold shower.








During an earthquake, the standing dead trees on this narrow, long island were completely covered with ocean water, which killed and preserved them.


Another waterfall:


Small caves:


Sea lions, a few of their feathered friends, and a bit of park technology:








Mountain Goat:






A popular bird spot (with a few yellow wildflowers):






Horned Puffin:




The Park Ranger informed us that a humpback whale will swim along the surface for a short while, blow (exhaling old air) and quickly inhale fresh air, and submerge three or four times to fill its lungs for a deep dive, where it can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes. We were so glad to be able to see this beautiful creature, even at a distance.

The first picture is blurry, but you can see the spray from the whale's blow coming back down in front of the boat on the left. In the second picture, the spray is still visible to the left of the boat. In the third, the whale is just about to disappear beneath the surface.






Ten seconds later, and the whale is back up. Missed the blow again, but the spray is visible on the left of the picture, making the coast look hazy.








Again, ten seconds after it last disappeared, the whale is back up. It's amazing how far it travels in that short amount of time. We were never sure where it would resurface. (The photographer's excuse for missing every single blow.)






Twelve seconds after the last disappearance (spray to the left):






Twelve seconds later, the final blow (spray) - a big one - and the whale goes for the deep dive.