The second phase of our Alaska vacation involved exploring the glaciers in Southern Alaska on Kenai Peninsula. We spent a day exploring glaciers at Kenai Fjords, and then headed off to paddle at Aialik Bay with Miller's Landing (THREE THUMBS UP!!)
But let's start at the beginning...
The Seward Highway has been touted as the most scenic drive in the United States and I was eager to see whether this gushing praise was justified. I will reserve my judgment and let you decided for yourself after looking at the pictures below.
On second thoughts, I will say that it was absolutely amazing. Snow-capped mountains are a beautiful thing, but when coupled with fragrant wildflowers, cerulean blue water and majestic eagles soaring into the crisp blue skies, it was a truly inspiring 127 mile drive.
En route to Seward, we stopped and watched for wildlife at Tern Lake - a beautiful lake cloistered in the Kenai Mountains. We saw an abundance of Artic Tern. These birds have fascinated me ever since my dad bought me a bird book when I was a wee lad. I managed to sneak up close and take a couple of pictures.
Exploring in Kenai
Dave and I woke up pretty early the next morning and headed off to explore Exit Glacier at Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park. A fine connoisseur of "free stuff," I was pleased to find that entrance to the park was free. This did create a minor dilemma for me about whether to buy a new Nat'l Parks Pass.
After all that exploring and considering I had not eaten any meat since Denali, I was eager to tuck in. Dave and I bought some meat at the local grocery (Salmon in Alaska is more expensive than in California!!). I cooked up some Korean BBQ and Indian style "meat and potatoes" and we filled our bellies prior to the next morning.
We awoke bright and early to head off to Lowell Point - the tip of Kenai - in order to jump aboard a water taxi with some kayaks and our gear. Dave and I were eagerly looking forward to this leg of the trip because we were heading out on open Alaskan seas to explore glaciers and islands off the coast. I've enclosed the pictures of our adventure but they do not do justice to plethora of wildlife that we saw ... as well as the treacherous seas that we experienced.
The tip of Kenai ....
A welcoming black bear....
Our campsite
The Kayaking Adventure Commences
Our explorations took us to remote islands that spring up at low tide, pristine glaciers that are only accessible at high tide, and choppy ocean water that threatened to give us a taste of the chilly Alaskan water. On the plus side, you do come through the experience feeling much more "manly" ;)
Holgate Glacier
Can you spot the seal lion that leaped out of the water with a HUGE hunk of meat in his mouth?
Battling the waves
We caught some fish and had some company...
And then, there was the grand finale ...
Yes... they did break into my car. No, they were not smart enough to take the entire MP3 player and stereo system.
