Final Days - September II

After our early morning row across the Lake, we head to Seward to do some shopping and check out the Town in more detail.

Seward is mile zero for the Iditarod

 I think Gary's going to have a little trouble getting to Nome with Tucson as lead dog today.

 Seward Waterfront Park extends from the small boat harbor to the SeaLife Center

 The Founders Monument commerates the Steamer Santa Ana's arrival in Resurrection Bay, making Seward the Ocean Terminus for Alaska Railroad's proposed entry into the Alaskan Interior.

 It is a lovely place just to sit and watch the boats and mountains

 as well as Otters playing off shore

There is even a waterfront Tent and RV Park

A lovely day to walk along the waterfront in Seward!  If that wasn't enough, on the way home we are treated with a Rainbow

Final days - September

Labor Day weekend and we've moved to the 1st site vacated by the other workampers who left.  It is a full house.

We get to enjoy a little sunshine and a campfire

The water is rising. This creek bed has been dry all Summer

The Alaskan Railroad is winding down for the season.   Tucson keeps hoping the conductor will throw a bag of biscuits out the window.  Maybe he'll be lucky this time!

I'm smart Mommy but I still can't read.

Signed by the author!

We stick around for our day off and take one of the Rowboats out on the Lake since it is calm this morning

and we're off

 Tucson's not too sure about this outing

 The Lake is super calm

 We row to the other side in search of a trail we heard goes through very old rain forest

 Gary the great oarsman finds a spot to pull into.  I get out to see if I can find a trail

 No trail I can see other than what looks like a wildlife trail.  The Moss here looks to be over a foot deep - it is like walking on pillows

 We continue on back across the lake and hear the train whistle and catch a view as it crosses through the fog.

As we head back to shore Tucson spots dogs playing in the Lake and wants to join

Last Day Homer

Our last day in Homer so Tucson says goodbye to the Eagles

On our way out we do some boat shopping

and catch a float plane coming in for a landing

We stop at the Pratt Museum

and meet some of the local residents

A beautiful collection of Indian beadwork and artifacts

A small Aquarium - at least this guy looks sad that we are leaving

Some local history

and an eye opening exhibit on the Valdez Oil Spill

This puts the extent of the oil spill into perspective

and if the same amount was spilled over the State of NY

The original Homestead

It wasn't open but we peeked in the window

The Totem Pole was carved by Sam Pratt in 1950.  Totem poles are not produced by Natives of the Kachemak Bay area

We head to a cafe by the boat yard to have lunch before heading out.  Gary spotted this Moose along the way.

The Cafe was recommended by our neighbors back in Alaska. 

It has a great view

and the Halibut Sandwich was delish!  I ordered it without the roll, saying I couldn't eat it anyway - the girl behind the counter asked if I was Gluten intolerant and when I said yes, she offered up a gluten free roll!

Heading back home, we ran across the same bear (we think) at the same location, eating salmon

These lucky rafters got a good view

 Took a video of this Magpie hopping alongside the bear

We  decided to stop at Kelly Lake for one last night before going back to work

 jFree camping and we are the only ones there -  so we take the lakefront site,

It was drizzly but we braved a hike anyway

 Tucson doesn't care that it's raining - he goes for a swim.  The boat belongs to one of the National Forest cabins that can be rented. 

The swans don't seem to mind

and neither do the Loons.

This was our last full week off.  The other couple leave next week and we will work 5 days on 2 days off.

Made them one of my Spirit Ladders