Our 2013 Alaska RV Adventure

Sunday, July 28, 2013

A day in Soldotna, AK

Yesterday, we departed late morning for another hour-long drive west to Soldotna, AK parking our rigs at the Klondike RV Park. Overcast skies once again turned bright blue as we arrived and planned our next four days here. Joy and Sharon wanted to see the Soldotna Days annual celebration not far from here so Bob and I headed out for the afternoon. There was the usual county fair food and exhibits along with the Alaska State Dutch Oven contest and what was billed as “SawFest 2013”. Here we observed five wood carvers work their magic in a one-hour bear-carving contest. Quite unexpected entertainment we enjoyed immensely. Oh did I mention they were using chainsaws to carve about six foot sections of raw logs?

An old car show entry 41 Ford Pickup

Plenty of hotrods

Foreground is a 71 Corvette Joy noticed had Historical license plates - We were married in 1971
Historical??????

Lady with a chainsaw makes an Alice in Wonderland Totem Pole

Local wood carver works his magic

Alice in Wonderland upright

Amazing to see this bear emerge for a six foot raw log!!

Another Bear entry

Joy's lunch - she never met a food group she wouldn't try

Dutch Oven Cookoff

Reminded us of our friends Jennie and Fred McMachan
and Jeannie's Dutch Oven Cobler

another bear emerges from a log

The finished product - elapsed time: 1 Hour from log to this angry bear
By the way, the artist told us angry bears don't sell to well. People prefer happy, cuddly bears!

Cooper Landing, AK and the Upper Kenai River

7/26/13

Up early (for us elderly folks on vacation) we departed for the Russian Lake Falls trailhead with our packs, bear spray, and cameras in tow. A bit of fog and low clouds gave us a cool time to hike to this incredible vantage point for viewing the currently in progress Sockeye red salmon run. These salmon were born in Kenai Lake anywhere from one to five years ago. They have traveled out into the Gulf of Alaska and return here to fresh water to spawn and die. A true tale of survival of the fittest playing out before our eyes.

Five miles round trip through dense forest

Russian Lake Falls is a natural "fish ladder" for salmon

Here dozens await their turn and rest

Next step up is another pool of salmon headed home

Here you see one in the center of the picture. We began cheering for each fish to make it upstream!

In the afternoon, once suitably attired (see us below) we departed on a three-hour float trip down the Kenai River. The weather was beautiful, the water aqua-blue, and eagles and a bear kept us company down the river (not to mention the hundreds of salmon fishermen we encountered engaged in what the locals call “combat fishing”. We observed a few dozen salmon being hauled to shore as we traveled along this afternoon.

Joy ready for any contingency

Don also prepares for getting wet in 40 degree waters

Off we go launching from Kenai Lake

This river is pristine, aquamarine blue, and dropping 440 feet toward the Cook Inlet some 80 miles away

A beautiful day on the world famous Kenai River

We encounter our first group of salmon fishermen (and ladies)

This is "Combat Fishing"

A Bald Eagle uses another method to fish soaring overhead us

This is drift-boat fishing for trout and silver salmon

Our guide Jeff prepares to haul out our boat at the end of the tour

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Seward to Cooper Landing, AK

7/25/13

With only about a hour’s drive today north to Cooper Landing, AK from Seward we departed late morning up the Seward Highway to the Sterling Highway cut-off turning westbound toward Cooper Landing situated in beautiful mountain scenery on the north bank of the Kenai River. This are is called the Upper Kenai area stretching from Kenai Lake (where millions of salmon are trying to return) to Skilak Lake. We arrived without incident at the Princess Wilderness Lodge RV Park.

After our usual quick setup for both RV’s the four of us headed out to scout the area and make arrangements for Friday. We decided on a five-mile hike to Russian Lake Falls to view the salmon run in the morning that would be followed by a quiet and scenic rafting float of the Kenai River.

Once back at our RV, Bob and Sharon joined us for a dinner Joy had made in our crockpot while on the road of Pot Roast, potatoes, and carrots. Dessert was served later in the evening of home made Rhubarb Crisp and vanilla ice cream. I have haven't mentioned it to date, don't worry that Joy and I are missing many meals as we travel!

At Moose Pass there is a water-wheel turning a millstone that the residents suggest one use to "grind your axe"

Westbound on the Sterling Highway

All tucked in for the night with both our rigs

Joy's Rhubarb Crisp Dessert

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Kenai Fjords National Park

We set out the Tuesday morning to see Seward, AK and arrange a boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park. We departed at 6 PM for a four-hour evening cruise down Resurrection Bay and out into the Gulf of Alaska (briefly). Weather was beautifully clear and temperatures were in the low 70’s. The pictures can speak for themselves.

On Wednesday, we traveled a few miles to the Exit Glacier inside the Park. After a mile-or-so hike we came to the edge of this famous glacier. After a picnic lunch on the seawall in downtown Seward we toured the Marine Sea Live Center. It is a fascinating place where you observe native animals in their marine habitat including birds, seal, sea lions, and types of fish. Starfish are in “petting tanks” where you can touch (gently) living Starfish.

Tomorrow we will travel about 2 hours to Cooper Center on the Kenai River to spend a few days at the Princess Lodge RV Park (the only RV Park Princess Cruises owns in the world). After some pampering we will travel to Soldotna where the salmon run is in full progress.