mid-Kenai Peninsula

along the road

Much of this drive via the Seward & Sterling Highways was less scenic than the area around Whittier & Seward, & made even less so by wildfires. Early in the drive, a family of 7 trumpeter swans were close to a lake shore; the cygnets were still grayish but getting close to full grown (no pics). The occasional roadside oddity added some interest. Being a weekend, many boats were being towed here & there, & several float planes flew overhead. 

 

                         mouth of Kenai River, Cook Inlet & Lake Clark National Park beyond 

     Cook Inlet with Lake Clark National Park beyond

Alaska Horn & Antler (store)

I did a TON of research for this trip. The downside is that some very impressive sites don't wow me, because I know exactly what to expect. The upside is that little interesting spots like this get on my radar. It was stuffed full of fascinating pieces.  

                                                                                          and an incoming whale bone

local history 

Most of the local history museums in the Yukon & Alaska are excellent, & this one was no exception. 

The local cannery brought in squares of aluminum to make into cans for their salmon; the roof & some of the sides of this house were shingled using these aluminum squares. 

Didn't expect to learn the history of Oneida dinnerware here - very cool. 

A major improvement of the local airstrip was the addition of this building for waiting passengers & cargo. 

miscellaneous

Gave my rig a wash today, & stopped at the Kenai Cultural Center. 

The Kenai Peninsula was settled by Russians before the US bought Alaska. There isn't much evidence of their presence as most of them were young men here working; it takes families to build a society. There are a few Russian churches. 

*   *   *   *   *

Wildlife sightings (not counting those in the conservation preserve or the aquarium)

--> --> today: trumpeter swans - 7        

--> --> trip total so far: 

    black bears - 4          deer - 2                grizzlies - 1            moose - 6

    stone sheep - 8        elk - 1                   caribou - 15            bison - 42    

    Dall sheep - 11        porcupines -1         mountain goats - 1

    trumpeter swans - 14+        many bald eagles    black oyster catcher - 1 (rare)

    sea otters - 5             harbor seals - many     

    many sea stars & jelly fish        Dall's porpoise - ~12

    North Pacific Humpback whales - 2 pods of ~ 12 each

    Stellar's sea lions - 100+ including 60 pups (counted by scientists)

    puffins, horned & tufted - many