Thursday: Rainy, windy and cold, but this is Alaska in the spring. What we don't have is throngs of people, lines of cars and crowded towns, or just maybe because it is cold, windy and rainy.
Not even the ducks want to fly today. But, I'm not at all complaining, we are in Alaska! But this wind is fierce!
After visiting Whittier we came back towards Girdwood and found a gem!
We pulled into a most beautiful graveled side-road and decided to stay for two nights until better weather. prevailed. This place is breathtaking! The snow covered mountain just behind a blue green pond or lake (pond as in Alaska, lake as in Maryland) surrounded by spruce and pine trees. Blue/green glacier run-off color water. This could be a perfect place to spot some wildlife. Except for us, there is no other signs of human life. We are tucked besides some trees overlooking the pond. And you will never guess what is floating on our pond. A LOON. A favorite of all "ducks" a Loon. Now, if a moose or a bear would just walk out of the woods it would be just perfect. And there are two Loons! Red eyes and all! How blessed are we?
I began this trip asking God to lead us everywhere we would go. He has been so faithful to us. Right from the beginning when an American Airlines employee walked up to us and asked if he could help us when we were at BWI. He took care of our bags and everything. God is in the details and He takes care and delights His children.
This is right across the road. the top of the mountain is covered in clouds.
Oh, by the way, we are making the BEST coffee in the morning. Liz's mom told me about this pour-over method from Melitta and it is outstanding. Perhaps it's because we are camping, but believe me... it's so good.
May 21, Friday
Left our sweet gem of a spot right after a cup of coffee and as fast as we could put some clothes on.
Last night was a bad night to be anywhere in anything besides 4 strong walls and a secure roof. Our "gem"of a spot received rain in sheets and the wind blew like crazy. At least 30 some miles per hour if not more. It was a good thing we tucked our camper up close to the trees to buffer what was to be a very windy night. At midnight we needed to pull in the bump-out and make our beds on the overhang and I slept on the makeshift bed putting down the dinette table. I fought the cushions all night from sliding off. Evan got up at 2am and went out and checked on the "gem". He wanted to check to see if the lovely blue green water of the pond (that we could have stayed a couple of nights just a few hours prior) wasn't coming up and covering our wheels and making the gravel soft. What a night spent in Alaska. We look around in the wee hours of the morning and wondered if we were secretly being filmed for the show "Alone".
Drove a most beautiful drive into Seward, and stayed at a campground called Resurrection Bay right on the Resurrection Bay in the Kenai Fjords. It stopped raining for the most part and we were even treated to some patches of blue sky on our way which served to lighten our spirits greatly. The Kenai Fjord is one of only 5-6 Fjords in the world. Surrounded by 5-6 thousand foot high snow covered mountains that literally begin at the water's edge and go up from there.
Right in front of us is a mountain where every July 4th they hold the world's toughest 5K marathon race up and down the mountain. Not surprising the mountain is called Mt. Marathon. They climb the grueling course that climbs 3,022' up followed by a fast and dangerous descent. It's the oldest footrace in the country that started in 1915. It WOULD NOT be me! Anything with the word "grueling" in it, I tend to look the other way. Are you kidding, way away! I'm just not that kinda girl. In most things my middle name is "easy".
We walked down to the marina and checked out a coffee shop and to look at the boats. A mixture of hard working vessels that make the owner some income and leisurely prissy sailing/motor holes you throw your money through. Hundreds of boats and all have a story to tell. Some have calluses and spew rough language and others have their wine with their pinkies held high.
We check out Exit Glacier today and tomorrow we plan on taking a boat out into and beyond the fjord where we will see ice blue glaciers and hopefully some whales. Our plan for late tomorrow will be to head towards Homer later in the day where I plan on buying a ball cap and eating a nice piece of fresh caught Halibut and Alaskan King Crab!
And this is NOT what I want to happen, but honestly has crossed my mind.
2 comments:
I love the photos of the Marina with the snow covered mountains in the back! Absolutely magical! Stay safe and warm guys. Looks like a wonderful adventure.
Thanks Taylee. It has all the earmarkings for a great adventure.
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