Our trip to the Great 49th State brings us here a bit early - but that is OK. The trees are just beginning to bud out. You have probably noticed on some of the pictures that there are a lot of lime green trees interspersed with the darker evergreens. This is because they are just budding out and their tender leaves haven't found all their chlorophyll!!! That folks, is my scientific analysis!!
OK -- I have to confess here --- we stopped at a game preserve and got this really good closeup of this black bear. He was found on the street of Juneau when he was a cub - weighed about 3 lbs and his mother was no where in site. He was brought here for his own safekeeping since without his mother's instruction he did not learn how to live in the wild!! See - Mothers are important!!
This is a red fox. He reminds me of Rusty, the red fox that I had as a child for a pet. Sadly, I could never tame him to the point that he would be safe to have around. My mother was happy when he left. Have I ever told you about my pet raccoon, Rocky???? Guess, that is another story!
One male moose antler. The male grows two of these big buggers every year and they lose them every year. Isn't it just another amazing thing that God has thought about to make each of His creatures unique in their own way?
A Brown bear at the reserve. We haven't seen any of these in the wild so had to take his picture!!
This a young couple, Marian & Aryan Kroonen, with their two children, Valentine & Sophie. We talked to them at the Reserve. They are from the Netherlands and are in Alaska to attend a wedding AND it is their 20th anniversary today! Very nice young couple.
Two absolutely stunning views along the highway to Whittier.
The entrance to a tunnel that is 13,200 feet long and it is the longest highway tunnel and the only combined highway/railroad tunnel in North America. We had to pay $13 to cross through it and it was a metered entry tunnel - 25 mph maximum speed!
And as you can see - there IS light at the end of the tunnel!!
This building is called Whittier Manor. The population of Whittier is 253 and the majority of those folks live in this building. The Alaska State Ferry and many cruise ships dock here in Whittier. A very quaint little town.
Heading south onto the Kenai Peninsula!! I took the picture as an after thought -- it turned out pretty good!!!
The almost ghost town of Hope, Alaska. One would wonder what the dreams and aspirations of the people that built this little town were. And why did it go backwards to get into the state that it is in now. We met a couple from Michigan there, Ron & Jean. Never did get their last name and I didn't get a picture of them --- but he is a retired military (tour of duty in Viet Nam) man so of course there was quite a conversation going. And like a lot of this type of town in this part of the country, it gets really busy in the summer when the tourists all come to town. I am sure that the shop keepers literally come out of the woodwork at that time!
On to Seward. We had planned on going to Homer first but took a wrong turn and ended up in Seward. Another great, beautiful, full of fresh air part of Alaska. Seward is named for Wm H. Seward, the secretary of State under President Andrew Johnson. He was instrumental in the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
It is really easy to spot a native Alaskan!!! It was 55 degrees today!!!
Barefoot on the beach with the wind blowing??? Or sitting in the park in shorts and a tank top???? Brrrrr.....
Howard get very close to Resurrection Bay. This is a year round ice free harbor that has made Seward an important cargo and fishing port as well as a strategic military post during World War II. Resurrection Bay was named by a Russian fur trader that found refuge from a storm in this bay. This happened on the Russian Sunday of Resurrection (Easter).
Homer, Alaska --- we got here about 8 PM ---- too late to suit me but remember the wrong turn???? O well......
We drove down onto the Homer Spit which runs quite a ways out into the Kachemak Bay. There are row after row of fishing boats - some nice and
some really old.......
The end of the 4.5 mile Homer Spit. The Spit is the site of a major dock facility for boat loading , unloading, servicing and refrigeration. The deep waters make it very accomodating for cruise ships and cargo ships.
We filled up with gas in Homer - $3.019. The most we have paid for gas since coming into Alaska.
We drove all over this town of 5000 (winter) looking for a place to eat and really found nothing --- 1 Mexican and a few bars!!! Mc Donald's -- here we come!! We had a fish sandwich - after all, we are in the halibut capital of the world!!!
Stocking Hat #5!!!
And now it is time for bed -- the sun actually did that about 10:30 tonight - we are further south than last night!!!!
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