July 10-12 Seward

July 10 - Today we left Homer and drove to Seward.  As usual the scenery is fabulous.  We arrived in Seward to camp at the city's campground on the waterfront.  They have 400 campsites, some of which are for tents. We're really pleased with our location overlooking Resurrection Bay.  When we arrived there was a cruise ship in the harbor that left early evening.

The structure in front of the ship is for loading coal onto
container ships. The coal is mined near Healy.

The campground was full but we got an end spot and since the ground is tiered we don't even see the camper behind us. (We're on the upper tier.)



Mount Marathon

Every year on the 4th of July Seward goes from 3500 inhabitants to 35,000 inhabitants. Most are there to watch runners compete in a near vertical race up and down the mountain for the fastest time.  Look carefully and you can see the trail up the mountain.  The current fastest time is somewhere around 48 minutes.

Just across the Bay - stunning!


A closer look.

The end of the day -- must have been a hard one!

Gracie

Lexie

Gary - in case you couldn't guess.

July 11 - Today was for getting out and looking around the town.  It's really kind of quaint place.  They have quite a few murals.

Main Street Seward

One of my favorites

Exit Glacier -- so called because when the first person traversed the Harding Ice Field (700 sq miles within the Kenai National Park) this is where they exited.



Resurrection Bay. This path went for
a long way along the Bay and was on the edge of our campground.

July 12 - Today was a really fun day. We took a 7.5 hour tour of the Kenai Fjiords.  When we woke up it was sprinkling but it soon became partly sunny and was a beautiful day. We left at 10:00 am and got back at 5:30. There were about 150 people on the boat. 

We were just taking off when I realized the camera memory card was still in my computer - in the camper.  Panic!!!!  The Ranger who was onboard announced that we desperately needed a memory card.  Three people immediately came forward and offered a card.  We purchased one from one guy.  The day was saved!!



Our Captain Nicole

 


Leaving the Harbor





 

 We hadn't been gone very long when we ran into a pod of Orcas - killer whales. It was so difficult to get a picture because by the time you snapped the camera they were under water again. They were accompanied by Dall porpoises which look very much like the Orcas in color.

They swarmed the boat. Really cute but impossible to get a picture of them.  Then we saw a humpback whale a little way off. Wonderful!

When rounding this beautiful point the water was a little choppy. A few people got pretty green.

Holger Glacier has a face of 400-600 feet.  When it calved the roar was like thunder.

Compare this large tour boat with one of the indentations at water level.



Following our view of the glacier we stayed in calm water and were served a very delicious all-you-can-eat salmon/prime rib lunch with rice pilaf, salad and a soft drink.

Ice like this (well maybe smaller pieces) made for delicious glaciericious margueritas.

Bear Glacier

Pilot Rock has a weather station and web cam on top.  They suggested
we check out the weather here in February.

Throughout WWII barracks, gun placements and searchlight stations like this one and the following one were built atop headlands and on remote rocky islands in Resurrection Bay.

Before too long we could see the water spouts of several humpback whales.  Several times they leaped partially out of the water but it was almost impossible to be quick enough with the camera.  However, I did get shots of a couple good splashes.  They said it was quite rare for so many be to at the entry to the Bay.

See the fin?





Sea Lions



Dall Sheep

Puffin - They are much smaller than I imagined.
They basically propel through the water with their wings
and steer with their feet.

 

The Park Ranger who gave us lots of information and was great at pointing out all of the creatures.

As we began our return to  the harbor the crew announced all-you-can-eat dessert
-- cheese cake, carrot cake, brownies, jello, fruit.

What a great day to see all the wildlife, glaciers and beautiful scenery.

Thanks to Jane and Roger for minding our girls so we could enjoy this special day!