We spent several days in this area of Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula. An entire vacation could be had in a place like this with plenty to do. This is a diverse area of mountains, lakes, rivers and streams but it also is surrounded by seawater with the Cook Inlet, Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Alaska. From sea level elevations to snow covered peaks with several glaciers, ice fields and fjord's.We have been blessed with special sunny weather as people tell us the summer and fall have been plagued with clouds and rain. We drove out to Captain Cook State Recreation area. Larry and I spent some time walking the beach collecting agates which were everywhere among the beach pebbles. The tide was out when we began our hike and started returning. By the time our walk was over and we were picnicking, the tide was almost completely in. Low tide had exposed hundreds of yards of mud flats and large boulders and now was back lapping at the beach pebbled shoreline. Much of this peninsula is part of Kenai Wildlife Refuge management areas and Kenai Fjord National Park. The fisherman are every where with the salmon already beginning to become bear food. Many people from Anchorage weekend here. Lots of motor cyclers, campers and recreation vehicles. We made our way to Seward and it is not only a nice drive but has grand mountains and even the Kenai Fjord National Park with the walking access to Exit Glacier. Seward is an important ice free harbor & port with cruise ships, fishing & pleasure craft, railroad, good roads and airport. Today was an early start to take a cruise tour of the glaciers, wild life and shore line. We had a warm sunny day on the last week of the tour season. Many businesses are shutting down for the upcoming winter. The sea was calm and everything was perfect for seeing puffins, sea lions, otters and even black bear. The glaciers were unimaginable with loud sounds and large waves as huge chunks of the glaciers fell into the sea.
This was a nice end to a special trip segment with Larry. We are off back to Anchorage since Larry is flying out to get back with his wife Nicki and their pack of dogs. This was special for both of us since the trip was not only great but how often do you get to relive your childhood with someone else who was there and a part of it. We have known each other since we were 4 years old where we grew up in the same neighborhood almost next door to one another. We even went to the same college in Bloomington for a time together. Our life paths were apart for the next 40 years with annual contact on news year day with a call. Our paths crossed some four or five additional times. Larry is retired and I am soon to be also.
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