Bear Viewing with Natron Air

June 2012
We boarded a small plane at Natron Air in Soldotna with pilot/owner Tim and took off into the wild blue yonder across the Cook Inlet to Kamishak Bay.  It was an uncharacteristically clear, warm, sunny day; the scenery was awesome!  Tim pointed out a few brown bear and said we'd land if the bears were close to the beach.  I thought he was kidding...but no, when he sighted enough bears to bother with, he pointed that little plane toward an opening between the mountains...AND WE LANDED ON THE BEACH!!

The tide is coming in fast, and we're on the other side of those trees watching the bears.

Crescent Lake

Mom and the babies!  Apparently, all these bears are females.  They do not let the bruins get near when they have babies...because the brutes will eat them!!  It is hard to imagine a bear waking up in the spring after a delightfully long winter's sleep...only to open her eyes to find three fuzzy babies squealing for something to eat.  What a shock!  It's a wonder she doesn't eat them herself. :-)

Snoozing...

The flight back over the glaciers was spectacular.  We did see some seals and a small caribou herd...but somehow they paled by comparison.

The top of Double Glacier

Diamond M and Natron Air gave us an incredible day! 

Alaska Rivers Company

FLOATING THE  KENAI RIVER:   The nice folks at the Alaska Rivers Company in Cooper Landing treated us to a float trip on the beautiful Kenai River with our fellow Diamond M Workampers Bert and Gwen from Missouri and Dan and Rosa from Michigan.

Notice the bench seats.  Hence, the term float trip.  It was a nice, leisurely ride in a raft on the emerald green river surrounded by snow-capped mountains.  It is the essence of wild and peaceful Alaska!   Thanks Eric and Ben! You did a great job starting with the homeade muffins, followed by a nicely narrated trip down the river!  

The Kenai Peninsula

The Kenai Peninsula is all about King Salmon fishing, tide charts, Silver (Coho) Salmon fishing, clamming, Sockeye (Red) Salmon fishing, Halibut fishing, dip netting (residents), net setting (commercial), charter fishing trips and fish processing.  Tourism figures somewhere into the mix as well--tourists come to fish! 

The kind and thoughtful folks at Diamond M arranged a halibut charter...NIGHTINGALE GOES FISHING!

The limit is 2 DELICIOUS halibut per day!

RAZOR CLAMMING:  Nasty!  That is all anybody really needs to know about clamming.  However, a short description seems necessary... Grandpa Martin agreed to serve as our clamming guide one cold, damp morning.  BIG rubber boots are required as there is much mud involved, into which I, my 3 layers of clothes and camera unceremoniously fell and became stuck.  And that is why there are no photos!   The mud flats can be just like quicksand.  People die stuck in the mud!!  My normal cheery morning attitude quickly deteriorated.

Hundreds of people were searching for the coveted razor clams by digging in the heavy, wet mud.  Razor clams don't just surrender when they are discovered...noooooo, they disappear deeper into the mud almost before you get a split-second glance.  Should you want to actually take the clam home, you must immediately DIVE into the hole, about up to your shoulder, blindly scooping through the mud to grab the illusive shelled-prize. 

Our new friend Dan shows everybody how it's done.

The Tauses returned home, wet, cold, smelly and muddy with TWO clams in our bucket...happy to have had a delightful Alaskan adventure!! :):)

Bald Eagles clamming on the beach.

The Diamond M Ranch

It has been a whirlwind of activity since arriving at the Diamond M Ranch Resort in Kenai.  Three generations of the hardworking, likeable Martin family own and live on the property.  Aside from the RV sites, there are various and assorted cabins and suites--charming, rustic elegance is the way I heard one guest describe it.

It really is a working ranch--cows, horses, llamas and pigs on the farm and nesting eagles, moose and caribou in the back yard--with new babies from all of the above.

Do NOT get between a pig and his dinner!

There are roughly 20 hours of daylight at this time of year.  Great, we love it!  Albeit, a bit bizarre, and it sometimes is hard to remember to go to bed. :)

The Road to Alaska

We crossed the Canadian Border at Sweet Grass, Montana.  Although it wasn't difficult, the Border Patrol did escort us into a large bay where we opened the RV completely, slides and all, for a brief search.  They seemed most interested in tobacco, alcohol and guns.  From Calgary, we made a quick two-day trip to Seattle to visit the doctor. Back in Calgary, we gathered our supplies...and we're finally on our way to Alaska!!

Al visited the Forest Interpretive Centre in Whitecourt, Alberta.  In between small towns, the road was, for the most part, ours.  Fuel stations were far and few between, and we stopped whenever an opportunity presented itself.  The extra fuel stored away for an emergency went untouched. 

After what seemed like a long time, and fists full of fuel receipts, we arrived in Dawson Creek, BC--the start of the Alaska Highway!!

Notice the flags flying straight out in the opposite direction of the way we are traveling--not conducive to high mpg...or miles per liter either.

We did see plenty of wildlife to keep us occupied along the way.  The caribou are just getting started on this year's antlers, but they still carry themselves like they are sporting a full-grown rack.

A nice soak in the awesome Liard Hot Springs--even though it required dry camping for one night.  In the morning we used the battery to run the furnace just long enough to warm our clothes up a bit.  We skipped breakfast in anticipation of the famous cinnamon rolls reported to be just a few miles up the road.  What luck!!  The tiny restaurant had Big Horn Sheep mounts just the right size for the rig.

When we passed through Toad River is was pretty much surrounded by fire, although no one seemed in the least bit concerned.  Maybe spending the night in the next town would be a good idea.

One is fairly sure home is a LONG way away, when the road sign says Yukon Territory!

Some days were snowy, and the bears were snowy too.

The snow kept us in Watson Lake, YT for a couple of days.  It was time to resupply, do the laundry and give the kitties a day of rest.  However, they are now in serious travel mode and are tolerating being in the truck everyday quite well.  We took in a show at the Northern Lights Centre about the Aurora Borealis and re-met folks we'd soaked with in the steamy Liard Hot Springs. 
There are not many people on the road, but most are headed to Alaska.  Many towns and RV Parks are small (very small) and most parks are not open yet or permanently closed.  The choices are few.  Hence, it is common to occasionally cross paths with the same people along the way. 

Watson Lake has an...interesting Sign Post Forest...last count 70,000 give or take a few.  There is at least one sign from almost anywhere you can think of--Auburn, Maine-Mobile, Alabama-Auckland, New Zealand-every European country I could think of was represented.

Whoever said, "The journey is sometimes the best part of the destination," is absolutely correct.

Beaver Creek, YT  has the smallest and most unique Catholic Church we have ever encountered.  There are 3 pews on each side.  Six of us attended Mass this Sunday evening.  The addition with the sloped roof  in the back houses the Priest overnight after he travels the 100 miles to say Mass.  Al met the good Father the next morning using the facilities at the RV Park across the street before making his return trip to Whitehorse.   After Mass we were just in time for an entertaining Alaska Musical Show at the Westmark Lodge.  At 11 p.m. it was still full daylight.  I love it!!!!

Onward we go...

The caribou, moose, even the buffalo were not eager to stick around when we stopped to take a photo.  Except for this guy, who was closing the distance between us at a brisk trot.  I guess we looked like old friends...or the lunch wagon. :)

We've arrived!  Not exactly--several hundred miles to go.  The Border crossing was quicker this time--no search.  We didn't even get out of the truck.  We're done with meters, liters and kilometers...and loonies!

The Matunuska Glacier.

The view from the Seward Highway.

Sometimes I go ahead to make sure the bridge is safe.   Yikes, sometimes I'm not so sure. :)

We are almost to Kenai!  Upon inquiry, Nightingale reports that, since leaving Phoenix shortly after Easter, we have driven +/-7,500 miles through 14 states and 3 provinces. The road has been good to us.  It was an unbelievable trip!! 

      

The MILEPOST served us well.