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. :)