Along the Seward Highway

Traveling along the Seward highway with a friend, you are able to see many a splendid things. Mountains, trees, water, moose, and as you get closer to ANC, trains!!!!! Alaska Trains!

Mountains and the Inlet. FYI- Capt Cook had either no imagination or too much. Anchor Point, Alaska was called that because Capt Cook lost an anchor at that point. Turnigan Arm got its name because Capt Cook (who was looking for that NW passage) had to turn around again when he ran out of water to sail on.

Near Portage glacier, I almost cried. Where have all the glaciers gone? Receding into the mountains like the hairline on Bruce Willis. Sigh.

This little 'chalet' houses the entrance or exit (depending on which way you travel) into Whittier, Alaska. It is a little over 4 miles long and is a little bit creepy--and totally amazing!

Here are some photos on 'information' about this passage. Or you can visit this link here to learn more about Whittier. Where would we be without Wikipedia????

I particularly liked this trio of trains.

And since I miss cabooses so much, I was very glad to see one. It looked like it was a storage facility, but I'd love to have one in my yard! 

I am always surprised by what one can shoot with a fairly  normal camera!!! The harbor at Whittier. 

 This is just one photo of the old building mentioned in the article about Whittier. It is really rather eerie!

Mom's Kayak

I had a wonderful adventure on the lake at mum's on Thursday. I was able to take the kayak out and glide across the waters I once played on. I think this squirrel was laughing at me during parts of it, but I didn't care!

 As you can see, there was still ice on mum's side of the lake. The rest of it is clear and COLD. I managed to kayak over the ice into the open water and on my way back, I broke it up so I'd have a path--which is sort of a moot point now. It's all clear today!

 I always wanted to have a house on this knoll. Mum's is around the bend and the house across the lake is almost even with this bend. We didn't have neighbor's when we were kids.

 I found a note in a bottle seeking help--mum said it was one of the kids across the lake. I am going to go back and put a note in it from me!

 Mum's house from the lake.

 I was very excited to see lily pads growing. I love spring!

 Here the kayak and I are moving through some broken ice. It made the neatest noise as I glided past the chunks.

 And the chunks were large! You can see how rotten the ice was, even if it was thick.

 The most difficult part of being in a kayak is exiting it. Yup, I stepped out carefully and then filled my rubber boot with ice cold melt water. Definitely not one of my finer moments--but I laughed! I can't wait to go out again.

There be whales!!!

It was really windy on Monday, but oh so lovely outside. I went down to a different beach and the fog was so pretty. The oil rigs looked like they were floating on the water. Which is kinda what they do anyway! I noticed some white shapes out in the water, but was unsure of what they were. Sometimes they were dark and most often they were white. I managed to get one photo and enlarged it...yup, Beluga whales! I was so excited!!!!!!  I drove home to get mum and when we got back it was colder and the whales had gone elsewhere. But, it was fun to walk on the beach anyway. 

Faces in the Rocks

One of the most interesting things about rocks is what you can find in them. Fossils, shiny bits,and faces!

Alaska on Ice

This is Mum's little dog--it is supposed to be a miniature, but I'm not buying that supposition! His name is Obie. After Obiwan Kenobi.

 Egbert Lake is melting on the far side and on the edges a bit, but it is still sturdy enough to  hold mum's dog. She feels that it will be clear in 4 days.

 This is Janet's dog, Joule (or jewel).

 This is Janet's daughter, JaLeen-who is 9 and is collecting rocks.

 I found another heart rock. Small enough to bring home in my pocket! JaLeen found a heart rock and put it inside a heart shape out of sand.

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No mountains today. However, the rocks out at Capt Cook are always interesting. 

Janet was able to stop and let me photograph a moose. She's not calved yet, as you can tell! Below is a young eagle we saw when we were hanging out on the beach. I wasn't sure what it was til I looked it up. Notice the HUGE talons and hooked beak.

Alaska!

This upside down tree makes me laugh each time I see it.

 Reminders of the OSU Beavers are everywhere!

My heart is in Alaska. Yup, it is. 

 

love this signage--typical of Alaska. 

                                  Sailboats on the inlet---reminded me of the book "Watch for a Tall White Sail" by Margaret Bell.

                 I found this chinaman's hat shell...and it had a feather in it!!!!!!!!!!

 This was a fun photo..cept I was worried my toes would get wet. Can you see the sailboat?

 a very very very odd clear earth worm looking thing I did not touch...only took a photo of it...

 MINE MINE MINE MINE~Finding Nemo.

 Eagle over Redoubt.

 Alaska's State Bird!