AK Adventure Day 10–To Seward

Alaska trivia...there are 1 million lakes in AK—10 acres or larger...and 51% of the world’s glaciers are in AK!!

Today’s adventure was the Kenai Fjords Tour. We had a nice drive to Seward and then drove around the town a little before the start of the tour.

We saw...a bald eagle on the drive over, all sorts of sea birds, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, lots of humpback whales!!, Dall’s porpoises, the Holgate Glacier, seals, flotsam and jetsam—a lost kayak, piedmont and tidewater glaciers, Bear Glacier, Godwin Glacier, and a highway moose barrier that is being constructed outside Sterling.

We had a lovely dinner at Ray’s Waterfront with a nice view of the marina.
...as always...remember the photos are NOT in order!!...it’s a daily crapshoot that drives me crazy!!

AK Adventure Day 9–to Soldotna, AK

What a miracle!!...Carl pulled up this morning (Sunday) at 8:15...with the parts (his daughter and son-in-law drove in 5 1/2 hrs yesterday evening with them!!)...then he and his son-in-law had everything replaced and we were on the road an hour and half later!!...unbelievable!!!

Well...what did we see today??

Tenana River, earthquake road damage, frost heaves, pot holes!!, Matanuska Glacier and river, Knik River, Eklutna River, Kenai River, Russian River, Cooper River, Kenai Lake, snow plow guides, Tok, Glennallen, Palmer, Eagle River, Anchorage, Turnagin Arm bay, St Elias/Wrangell mountains, rain, Girdwood, Cooper Landing, Sterling, many more mountains/lakes/streams, and now for a safe night’s sleep in Soldotna.

We rescheduled the Kenai Fjords Tour back for tomorrow...so again...all is well....

AK Adventure Day 8-to Glennallen, AK—oops—to Beaver Creek, YT!!

We gassed up in Whitehorse and headed on north and west.

We saw caribou, Dahl sheep, slim’s river, Kluane Lake, the Thachäl Dhäl Visitor Centre and the St Elias mountain range...along with many other smaller lakes and rivers....

30 miles outside Beaver Creek, the original 2002 belt tensioner on the van gave out and we of course immediately stopped safely on the side of the road...of course...there was no cell phone service!!

Within 10 mins the next passers-by stopped to check on us. We decided to split forces...my peep went with the Alaskan snowbirds on in to Beavers Creek...and I stayed with the van.

Within 2 hours, my peep arrived with the wrecker driver...Carl—the only mechanic (for 47 years) in the 100 person town of Beaver Creek!!

Carl told us the little spindly evergreen trees we had seen along the highway were 200 year old black spruce!!...poor soil, harsh climate and little water ...as a result of the willows and poplars sucking it all up...have caused them to grow very slowly!!...amazing!!

Carl let us park the van in back of his shop...even hooking us up to an electric cord!!...while waiting for the parts to be driven up (by his daughter and son-in-law) from Whitehorse—maybe Monday??!!...if we can’t tolerate it...he’ll take us over to the RV park....

I cancelled all of our remaining RV park reservations...and we were able to reschedule our Kenai Fjords Tour.

We’ve plenty of food...and water...and electricity...and books to read...I just hate that my peep has to spend days of her hard-earned vacation sitting around a mechanic’s shop!!...such is life....

All is well...we’re communing with a bunch of noisy ravens...I’m confident they are delivering good messages....

AK Adventure Day 7-to Whitehorse, YT

Lovely night’s rest at Liard Hot Springs campground.

Sign we saw: gunalchéesh (Tlingit for thanks)—travel safe

We saw 8 black bears, more bison, 1 brown bear (grizzly??) and a limping wolf 😕.

In the past few days we’ve seen several cross-country bike riders, one cross-country hiker pulling a travois behind him!!...tons of RV’s and double oil tanker trucks.

We’ve seen Teslin Lake, Marsh Lake...many rivers and many small lakes. Also, there were many remnants of previous forest fires.

Our tourist stop of the day was at the sign-post forest at Watson Lake. Many signs from TX!!

We crossed the 60th parallel-north. 

60th parallel-north

Beautiful scenery....and made it to Whitehorse, YT. Did some grocery shopping and washed clothes.

Tomorrow we’ll be in Alaska.....