Fri 8/19/22. Alaska River retreat, cooper landing, Kenai peninsula
Surprise ! Raining !! We left our final anchorage and arrived back in Whittier around 12:30. We then got picked up and went to the Anchorage airport to pick up rental cars. We drove about 2 hours to our home for the next 4 nights in Cooper Landing. Jon and I have a sweet cabin right on the Kenai river which is a turquoise color and mesmerizing to watch. Once we all got settled in we headed out to dinner to Gwins and got back in around 9:30 and tucked in for the evening. Everywhere you look is a photo, hard to stop snapping shots !
Last breakfast on board
Barre, Blake, David and Cade - ready to get back on land and on to our next adventure
Low lying clouds and drizzle - but still beautiful !
Arriving back at marina in Whittier
Blake and Gumpa disembarking
Jon, Rena and Me
Our whole group - Barre, Blake, Jon, Rena, Capt. Al, Chef, Susan, Cade and David
En route to Kenai Peninsula
Lots of fishermen on the river banks
Arriving at the Alaskan River Camps -
Pretty strict rules
Our sweet river front cabin
Our backyard
Jon getting organized inside our cabin
Gwins lodge for dinner
Cade at their Cabin
Sat 8/20/22
Surprise, raining ! Barre and family went zip lining and Jon and I met them in Seward for lunch, then we went to the Seward Sealife Center, and Exit Glacier. We walked around Seward and did some touristy shopping. They had a great marina that we also explored. The whole area was socked in with fog and rain so we did not get to see the surrounding mountains. We did hit some brief sun driving in and saw amazing scenery. We got back around 7:00, then ordered pizza in and ate and hung out at Barre’s cabin.
Surprise, raining ! Barre and family went zip lining and Jon and I met them in Seward for lunch, then we went to the Seward Sealife Center, and Exit Glacier. We walked around Seward and did some touristy shopping. They had a great marina that we also explored. The whole area was socked in with fog and rain so we did not get to see the surrounding mountains. We did hit some brief sun driving in and saw amazing scenery. We got back around 7:00, then ordered pizza in and ate and hung out at Barre’s cabin.
Driving to Seward
Jon and Susan
Seward Marina
Colorful buoys
Full cargo ship - a jeep, boat, even an RV !
Cade and Blake
Gram and Blake
Gumpa and Cade
Jon and me
Puffins
Love these jellyfish
Aquarium viewing
Exit Glacier
Exit glacier
Sea Planes
Driving back to Cooper Landing
The following photos of sunset at our cabin, starting at about 10:00 PM...
Sun 8/21/22 Alaska Rivers
Surprise, no rain today, doing the happy dance ! Barre and family went fishing for the day. Jon and I jumped in the car to explore and head to Homer. En route amazing scenery ! We stopped for multiple photo ops, and stopped for a hike at a lake. We unfortunately were third on scene for a horrific accident where a pick up truck was overturned with people trapped inside. There was some guy running around like a crazy man laying in the road, then he would get up and, then lay in the road, then get up again. He started to rip off all his clothes and charge at our car. We could not figure out if he had come from the truck, but he appeared to be pretty strung out on something. We decided not to get out, and after about five minutes lots of cars had stopped so we left. Next stop was Homer which was a funky little area with a large tourist section stretching out on a spit surrounded by water and mountains. We walked around the town, the marina, did some beach combing where we were the only ones on the beach. We had a beer at the Salty Dawg Pub that reminded us of the No Name Pub in the Keys. We ate a late lunch before we left then headed up for a skyline view of Homer, then drove the 2 1/2 hours back to Cooper Landing. We joined the kids for a dinner of the fish they caught, then hung out of the fire pit till bed time. An “A” day for sure !
Surprise, no rain today, doing the happy dance ! Barre and family went fishing for the day. Jon and I jumped in the car to explore and head to Homer. En route amazing scenery ! We stopped for multiple photo ops, and stopped for a hike at a lake. We unfortunately were third on scene for a horrific accident where a pick up truck was overturned with people trapped inside. There was some guy running around like a crazy man laying in the road, then he would get up and, then lay in the road, then get up again. He started to rip off all his clothes and charge at our car. We could not figure out if he had come from the truck, but he appeared to be pretty strung out on something. We decided not to get out, and after about five minutes lots of cars had stopped so we left. Next stop was Homer which was a funky little area with a large tourist section stretching out on a spit surrounded by water and mountains. We walked around the town, the marina, did some beach combing where we were the only ones on the beach. We had a beer at the Salty Dawg Pub that reminded us of the No Name Pub in the Keys. We ate a late lunch before we left then headed up for a skyline view of Homer, then drove the 2 1/2 hours back to Cooper Landing. We joined the kids for a dinner of the fish they caught, then hung out of the fire pit till bed time. An “A” day for sure !
Mon 8/21/22 Cooper Landing
Today mostly clear skies !! David and Blake went white water rafting, and Barre, Cade, Jon and I headed out to explore Hope. Hope was an amazing town full of gold mining history, a museum, and lots of historic cabins from the late 1800’s. We explored all over, and then ate lunch at a little truck in a campground that may be one of top meals since we have been here ! We left Hope and dropped Cade and Barre off to meet up with David. Jon and then monied back to Cooper Landing and enjoyed the late afternoon sitting in our yard river front watching the fishing boats go by. We all met up for dinner and headed to a lodge for our final dinner before we split up tomorrow. The kids are headed to McCarthy where they plan to raft and camp, Jon and I are heading north on the Richardson highway toward Fairbanks. We have really enjoyed quality family time with the kids, and made lots of fun memories. My biggest challenge is that everything is a photo, and then next scene more beautiful than the one before !
Today mostly clear skies !! David and Blake went white water rafting, and Barre, Cade, Jon and I headed out to explore Hope. Hope was an amazing town full of gold mining history, a museum, and lots of historic cabins from the late 1800’s. We explored all over, and then ate lunch at a little truck in a campground that may be one of top meals since we have been here ! We left Hope and dropped Cade and Barre off to meet up with David. Jon and then monied back to Cooper Landing and enjoyed the late afternoon sitting in our yard river front watching the fishing boats go by. We all met up for dinner and headed to a lodge for our final dinner before we split up tomorrow. The kids are headed to McCarthy where they plan to raft and camp, Jon and I are heading north on the Richardson highway toward Fairbanks. We have really enjoyed quality family time with the kids, and made lots of fun memories. My biggest challenge is that everything is a photo, and then next scene more beautiful than the one before !
Tues. 8/22/ 22. River view cabins Galonka AK.
We were on the road at 8:00 and it took us about 8 hours to drive 320 miles to our current location which is another sweet river front cabin. We made multiple photo stops on our way here, and stopped quite awhile to enjoy the mantuska glacier. We arrived late afternoon and had a nice walk riverfront on the property which included a huge garden and 2 green houses which were abundant with veggies of every kind. Our view here is spectacular and we enjoyed cocktails on our porch, then drove a mile up the road to an old an old historic roadhouse for dinner in the bar. We were joined by a bunch of guys staying at the property that all worked on the pipe line, and all were native Alaskans. We really enjoyed our conversations with them. We also have met quite a few young people who work as hiking and boating guides during the summer, and then work as ski instructors in the winter….. oh to be young again !
We were on the road at 8:00 and it took us about 8 hours to drive 320 miles to our current location which is another sweet river front cabin. We made multiple photo stops on our way here, and stopped quite awhile to enjoy the mantuska glacier. We arrived late afternoon and had a nice walk riverfront on the property which included a huge garden and 2 green houses which were abundant with veggies of every kind. Our view here is spectacular and we enjoyed cocktails on our porch, then drove a mile up the road to an old an old historic roadhouse for dinner in the bar. We were joined by a bunch of guys staying at the property that all worked on the pipe line, and all were native Alaskans. We really enjoyed our conversations with them. We also have met quite a few young people who work as hiking and boating guides during the summer, and then work as ski instructors in the winter….. oh to be young again !