Kenai Peninsula
The drive from Anchorage follows the north shore of Turnagain Arm through Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest permitting a view of the Kenai Mountains on the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai Peninsula is 150 miles long and 70 miles wide and is called Alaska's Playground. The peninsula is bounded on the east by the Gulf of Alaska and to the west by Cook Inlet.
A brief stop at Turnagain Pass, elevation 988 ft., shows the wide valley. This area is a favorite winter recreation area for snow machines and cross country skiers. Snow depths here frequently exceed 12 feet with patches of snow still visible in June.
We stopped and watched this moose cow and calf along side the road. Every time a vehicle would drive by the baby ran into the woods. The mother is still shedding her long winter coat. Signs indicate that 252 moose have been killed on the roads on the peninsula since January. Motto: Give moose a brake!
Our 4th of July weekend would be spent in Soldotna, population 3983, on the west side of the penisnula. This carving commemorates Soldotna resident Les Anderson who, in 1985, caught the world-record King salmon, weighing 97 lbs.4oz. in the Kenai River. The fish in on display in the Visitor's Center. Soldotna is a fishing "hotspot" on the Kenai River.
A short drive to the town of Kenai, population 6975, found us at the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church. On a personal tour we found that the Father had begun his service with the church in Crossingville, PA, just a few miles north of our hometown of Meadville!
We attended the 4th of July Parade in Kenai. It was a long parade for such a small town! The Alaskans are very patriotic, more so that us from the "Outside", their word for the lower 48. This float was to honor our wounded veterans.
There is a boardwalk along the Kenai River behind our campsite where we could sit and enjoy the view and the sunshine. Nice day to read a book.
After 5 days with no hookups, we opted for a night at Deep Creek Campground in Ninilchik, and a good shower! The campground also catered to fishing charters. This charter was returning as we got there. By the time I took this picture they had most of the fish cleaned as all the hooks were full when we got there.
That evening we played cribbage overlooking the Cook Inlet and later enjoyed this beautiful sunset around 11:30 pm.
On down the Sterling Highway to Homer at the bottom of the peninsula we took a drive on "Skyline Drive" and I got this great picture of the Homer Spit. The Spit is a 5 mile long, 1/4 mile wide strip of land jutting 2/3rd of the way out into Kachemak Bay. We are camped in the middle of the Spit.
We could watch the eagles from our dinette window as well as the sea otters playing in the water. There was a fish cleaning station not far from us and occasionally the someone would throw out a carcass. The gulls would immediately lay claim to it until an eagle swooped down and helped himself. The gulls scattered!
There are many little shops and restaurants on the Spit, a large harbor and this Seafarer's Memorial to those lost at sea. We bought fresh halibut and smoked salmon from the dock area.
On July 9, my birthday, we took a cruise to Seldovia, about 16 miles across the Kachemak Bay, accessible only by boat or plane. Seldovia is famous for its wood carving festival, as seen here in the harbor area. There are carvings all around the little town and Main Street carries about as many pedestrians and 4-wheelers as cars.
We had lunch at the Mad Fish Restaurant where we could overlook the harbor. Our boat is on the right. I had Salmon and Bill had Halibut. Fresh fish is so good! I had a birthday I'll never forget.
Next - on to Seward on the other side of the peninsula.
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