Escape Pod Rambles: Kenai Peninsula

Aug 9 - 18 Kenai Peninsula, Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina Land

While we often get to boondock in beautiful, solitary spaces, we also do our fair share of lot-docking, this time at the Cabelas in Anchorage

The drive around Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet to the Kenai Peninsula was amazing

Beluga whales a can be spotted in Turnagain Arm, although we didn't see any. The Cook Inlet belugas are a distinct population segment that is declining

The Turnagain Arm tidal bore can reach 6 -10 feet and speeds 10 -15 miles per hour. The surfers love it although, unlike on the ocean, if they miss this one they have to wait 12 hours until the next wave

Camping at turnout on Tern Lake

Our bedtime views

Moose Pass has a humorous way to get folks to slow down - complete with flashing lights - that only becomes obvious when you get close

Grateful for my hometown library hours

This lake is actually this aqua color

Rain and fog ahead

Kenai Fjords National Park and Exit Glacier

These lines are scratches in the bedrock made by the receding glacier

Where Exit Glacier was in 2005

Spent the night boondocking on the glacial moraine

Went back to Bird Point on Turnagain Arm to see the biggest bore tide of the month.

Forgot to take another shot but this rock was covered by the incoming tide in less than a minute.

Further down the Arm as the wave widened and flattened

Hmm, not a very effective spare

Local legend says that the first blossom of fireweed, which blooms from the bottom up, is the first sign of summer, and when the last blossom goes, so goes summer

Soap berries

Cowslip parsnip, once the white blossoms have gone. Touching any part of this enormous plant can cause a painful contact dermatitis

Next three are from the Homer Visitor Center

So far this has been the wettest August on record for Anchorage and the surrounding area. This jacket, at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge museum, may have been effective, but I'll stick with my modern rendition

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Sandhill cranes

Some kind of sea kelp stalk - note the dollar coin on it for size

Beluga Lake wetlands overlook

The beautiful but poisonous Red Elderberry

Homer Spit

Practical window

Turn on sound - the cacophony was amazing

Overnight view

Eating my breakfast and getting a dose of vitamin sea

Afternoon fishing

Howl's moving castle

Visited with the 94 y.o. former high school beau of my friend Claudine

View from the long term care facility

Went for a hike at Eveline State Recreation Site

Came across an old fisherman and his wife picking blueberries, so we had to join in for a bit. Bonus was all the dad jokes the fisherman shared.

For fans of the Discover Channel's Alaska: The Last Frontier, this is the road to their compound - a mile from the elementary school, 2 from the nearest gas and convenience store, and 10 miles down a nicely paved and maintained 2 lane "highway' that goes past numerous neighborhoods before arriving in downtown Homer.

Lot docked at the Fred Meyer in Soldotna again.

Ninilchik Russian Orthodox Church - there is a large number of Russian Old Believers communities on this area of the peninsula -the women are beautiful in their long dresses and head coverings.

Rock concretions at the Kenai Visitor Center

Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church (1894), a log building cladded over, in Old Town, Kenai

Chapel of St Nicholas

Out building

This original homestead was 3 rooms and 2 enclosed entries, but was added onto by subsequent generations

The rectory

Went to Captain Cook State Park to search for rock concretions - overshot our goal by several miles along a dirt road and never did find the beach access, but we did see this ptarmigan family