Gail and Jerry

HIEDI

HIEDI
HEIDI

Tsunami

Tsunami
Tsunami

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Day 47 Steward


              Another rainy, overcast day in Seward. The helicopter,glacier, dog sled trip was canceled.
                                       Would you want to go into those mountains in a helicopter?

 Instead we changed the air filter on the Tsunami. Also discovered where the coolant has been going. I have been adding water frequently for several days. Today I started it and Gail noticed water and steam coming from the exhaust pipe. Must be the head gasket. NOT GOOD! Made an appointment with Cummins Northwest in Anchorage. 8:00 Wednesday morning.
                                                          Heidi likes rainy, lazy days.
Tomorrow, Lon & Pam off to Whittier and the 26 Glacier Cruise. We are off to Anchorage. First time we have separated in 41 days. They should catch-up with us tomorrow.  Maybe.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Day 46 Seward

                                                                             Rainy, overcast, crappy day in Seward. Had to reschedule the dog sled on the glacier. Went to the Alaska Sealife Center instead.

There are 5 different types of salmon.
They all have different seasons and different limits.
And you better know which is which and when!

Resurrection Bay.

Octapuss on the glass.

And they had some fish.







Lon was really upset......He had to pay for the coffee, and no dounuts.
He showed them his badge, but they wanted to see his gun.
He had to pay.

Then a walk through downtown Seward.





AK Nellie's got our lunch money.
Real good burgers and Turkey/Bacon Melt.
So-so halibit sandwich.

                                                                              and then?

                                            Well we'd already eaten by the time we found this place.  

                                                     They had indoor seating as well.

Jerry, Gail and Heidi went back to the coach and took a nap.  Funny how when you get up at 5 am and nap everyday from 2 pm til 5 pm it screws up your sleep cycle.   Hmm.... Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2.  

Anyway, whilst the Cockerell's were continuing to screw up their sleep cycle the Britton's went  to Exit Glacier.   In the spring of 1968, the first documented mountaineering party succeeded in crossing the Harding Icefield. Ten people were involved in the crossing, which went from Chernof Glacier east to Resurrection Glacier (Later renamed Exit as the newspaper reported that the group would be descending the "Exit Glacier"). Exit Glacier is especially notable for being a drive up glacier (similar to the Mendenhall Glacier of Juneau). 


A spur road of the Seward Highway takes visitors to the only road accessbile portion of the Kenai Fjords National Park and a number of hiking trails that take visitors to the terminus of the glacier or even up to the Harding Icefield itself. 

Although one of the Harding Icefield's smaller glaciers, because of its easy accessibility and abundant hiking trails around and above the glacier, the Exit Glacier is one of the most visited glaciers in Alaska. Exit Glacier is open year-round. Upon the arrival of snow, usually in mid-November, the road is closed to cars but open to a wide-range of winter recreation –from snow machines to dogsleds and cross-country skiers.

                             It was about a mile hike up from the parking lot to the base of the Glacier.

                                                         Pam thought she saw a bear.


Along the way, even on the drive in, were signs with years on them like, 1819, 1889, 1951, etc. that were supposed to be where the glacier base used to be.  Clearly, the glacier has been shrinking and quite possibly someday it'll just be an ice cube that someone is visiting. 

But the Leftist, Commie, Pinko, Liberal, Al Gore, The Sky is Falling, help me Mr. Obama, Global Warming nuts would have you thinking that we're causing them to shrink. C'mon people they been shrinking since 1819, 100 years before the first Model A!!!!  Can you say "climate is cyclical"??

                                    But I digress.  Isn't the blue shade of the glacial ice pretty?  


              Lon said if UofM had such a pretty color blue he might consider becoming a fan......NOT!!

                                                        Beautiful country, and STATE

Tomorrow a helicopter ride to the top of another glacier for a Dog Sled ride.  Weather, dependent.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Day 45 Seward, AK

We arrived in Seward and are staying at Stoney Creek RV Park.
Pam is reading the park rules to Heidi. Hope it doesn't say anything about sitting on the picnic tables.

 
We took a drive into town so Lon and Pam could make their dog sled tour reservation.
These are just a few of the sights that caught our eye.
. They are having  a huge Salmon Derby here this weekend. Fishing people everywhere!

Day 44 Last Day in Ninilchick

Our last day in Ninilchik was bitter sweet. We enjoyed our stay with our new friends Phil and Dee (owners of Beachcomber Motel and RV Park) so much, that none of us really wanted to leave. They treated us to a true Alaska experience that has been the highlight of our trip so far. We were treated like family and they shared so much knowledge about Alaska and her history and beauty. Wonderful memories were made that can never be forgotten.

Lon and Pam walked up to the Russian Orthadox Church in the village behind the RV park. It was quite a hike UP hill. 


Jerry declined the invitation to join them.

Our motorhomes with Mt. Redoubt in front of them. 

                       Pam got this shot from the church on the hill. Now you know why Jerry declined.

And since he reserved his energy, he made us all one of his delicious ruben sandwiches for dinner!
 After dinner we went to Phil and Dee's for our last night cocktails.
Tomorrow...on to Seward for dog sledding on the Glacier! Weather permitting.

 

Friday, August 12, 2011

Day 43 Ninilchik


Beautiful sunny day in Ninilchik.  A great day for digging clams.
                                                     This is your basic clam digging uniform.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, off to claming we go.

Phil and Dee (left), the campground owners, provided the equipment and instruction.

Let the digging begin.


Lon did his part.

Heidi came back to report on the progress.

And they dug.

And dug.

Looks like they are wearing down.

Stop to wash the bounty.

The Hunter-Gatherers return.

 The bounty. The Pacific razor clam (Siliqua patula) is an exceptionally meaty shellfish which ranges from California to Alaska. It is abundant on surf-pounded ocean beaches, but also occurs in sheltered areas along the coast. Razor clams found in Alaska may grow to eleven inches in length and live to be 15 years old, due to colder water temperatures and slower growth rates. You need an Alaska fishing license to harvest clams.

First wash the hunter-gatherers.

Then wash the clams again and a short dip in boiling water.
Then comes the shucking of the shells.

Then the gutting

and cleaning instructions.

When the woman's work was done, they rested and drank beer.

Pam made Clam chowder and Lon made Fried Clams.

And Heidi supervised and wondered why it took so long?

After dinner, Phil and Dee over for the camp fire social gathering.
They explained that this is a "Sun Dog".
Look it up.
They also ask us to stay another day, "on Phil". Pretty nice offer, we will have to consider!