Day 18

We left Tok early as we have a big driving day today to get to Whitehorse in the early afternoon...

What a fantastic day it turned out to be...We saw a black bear in the wild!!!!!!yeeha..He was nibbling on the green shoots that are starting to sprout after the snow has melted.We watched him for about 10 minutes as he walked along beside the road and seemed quite oblivious that we were there..Needless to say,no one was getting out of the car !!

Also got a close view of a moose.
Just loving this country...
This is the closest we got to a glacier.An awesome sight.

There's a funny story to be told when we get home as to why we only have a photo of the rear end of the porcupine!!

Day 17

We reached Tok today after a long drive from Wasilla..Saw  a number of moose and a huge hedgehog but only managed to get a rear view of him as he got frightened and waddled off into the forest.
A very light dusting of snow when we stopped for hot chocolate and coffees at a diner..These places are so funny as the walls are covered in notices with messages.Some nice some not so nice but interesting..
They love their guns here!!!!!!
We're in a motel here tonight and it's attached to a restaurant so we had luch after we checked in..Silly me should have known better and asked for the child's size nachos.An absolute mountain was served and quite beyond me being able to get even halfway through it.Am looking forward to some nice home cooked vegies and simple meals...Even Terry is getting a tummy..
The guys have gone to the bar for a nightcap and it's time for a shower and bed as tomorrow is our biggest driving day of the whole trip as we head for Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory..We have to cross the border and go through Canadian customs which is  just near a small town called Beaver Creek.
None of the photos I posted before this of houses was the beautiful one on Lake Lucille in case you were worried!!!!Will send more after I download them...

Day 16

On the road today..Tonight's stop is at Wasilla which took about 3and a half hours from Seward.
Wasilla didn't look too promising but when we drove down the road to our hotel we were really nicely surprised.It was situated beside Lake Lucille and was a beautiful sprawling timber building curved around the lakeside..Inside the walls were covered in fabulous prints of wolves and other wild animals as well as the usual moose/elk/ bear and assorted animal heads mounted on the walls(ugh!)
Our rooms were lovely and had a balcony looking out over the lake..The photos here are not of our hotel!!

All of a sudden we spotted something swimming towards the bank..It was a beaver!!!!!He had a branch in his mouth so was probably building his lodge under the bank..We saw a couple more after that..Didn't expect to see beaver!!!

I've added a couple of photos of Seward as well,Some of the houses were unbelievable and that people lived in them.Remember this is avalanche and earthquake country.The big one in 1964 devasted most of the eastern side of Alaska and there are signs of this everywhere.The lovliest of all the houses are the log cabins.All sizes and shapes.

Day 15

Well,this is the day we've been waiting for and it certainly didn't disappoint..A 5 hour cruise on the North Star Princess into Resurrection Bay.
The day started off a bit misty and freezing cold..We had layers of clothes on so we were ready for anything Mother Nature threw at us...
We had a Park Ranger on board who kept us informed of any wildlife either on land or sea and also had a Junior Rangers club going for the little kids on board..
No sightings for the first hour and then great excitement as a school of Orcas passed by
A huge group of sea lions lounging on the rocks.
Mountain goats high up on the mountain on rocky ledges.
Bald eagles in the trees.A couple on nests.
Humpback whales swimming right by the boat!!
A variety of sea birds like puffins/cormorants and kittiwakes.

On our way back to Seward after having an all you can eat lunch,the ranger excitedly yelled out that their were sea otters just near us.....They are the cutest creatures who float along on their backs with their little heads and flippers sticking up...

Such a wonderful day and especially so to see all that wildlife on the first trip out for the season..

Day 14 Seward

This is a great little sea port town..Just what we were hoping for...Lots of history and old buildings. We all had hamburgers for lunch..Huge!!! Also had a cup of seafood chowder which was delicious..The coffee is pretty awful but they do make a good hot chocolate!!(Note the sign.."Cheap beer & lousy food")Decided not to test it....
We wanted to drive then walk up to Exit Glacier but the road was still being worked on so was closed for a few more days..Not to worry as our cruise tomorrow promises to have lots of wildlife including orcas,seals and bird life...We're booke in to the Best Western which is situated on the waterfront..There are many signs around town & in the hotel with instructions for evacuation in case of an earthquake and tsunami!!Makes for a bit of the old nerves getting a workout...Don't like getting in the lift!!Also opposite the harbour are 4 active volcanoes..No sign of life there at the moment thank goodness!!!!!!!

Day 13 Kenai

Travelled down the Seward again but our destination was Kenai on the Peninsula..This area is supposed to be a real eye opener with scenery and it was on the highway down but the town itself was a bit disappointing..Maybe when the snow covering melts and uncovers all the ugly bits is the reason why it looks old and uninviting..The "beach" has grey sand and no waves.After a quick sight see around we were all starving so found "Paradiso" for lunch..The waitress was a big buxom lady who took a bit of a liking to me and called me Li"l Darlin', much to the others amusement...It was a Greek/Mexican/Alaskan menu and we were all very full at the end!
Checked into the Aspen Suites for the night..Huge room with 2 queen beds/lounge/kitchen/full sized fridge/tv/huge bathroom..Very nice..Leanne has done a load of washing in the hotel laundry but we've been washing and drying our undies each night which suits us ok..Weather got down to 1 degree celcius on the way down but apart from the chill in the wind if you stand out in it for long,the temperature isn't too bad..
Tomorrow we will be in Seward and are booked on a Glacier Tour in Resurrection Bay where we are hoping to see some sea life,hopefully whales.

Just a few more pics from yesterday.

Not much to do here in Kenai ,so it looks like an early night!

Photos

Photos from a great day down the Seward Highway