After a delay of over an hour, we left Detroit Metro Sunday night on Northworst, arriving in Anchorage after 11 pm Alaska time, or 3 am Detroit time. By the time we got our rental car, checked into our motel and got into bed, it was after 5 am by Michigan standards.
Up early this morning, driving south along the beautiful Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet of the Gulf of Alaska. We followed Turnagain for about forty miles, impressed with the wild tidal flows and soaring costal mountains shrouded in morning mist and drizzle, and draped in the high saddles between the peaks with blue-white glaciers and patches of snow. We stopped near Girdwood and Alyeska (al-ee’-es-ka) Mountain to tour the wildlife refuge center, and viewed caribou, elk, deer, bison and bear in their natural settings.
Leaving the end of the Turnagain Arm, we continued south through the Kenai Penninsula, a mountainous, broad area separating Prince William Sound from the main body of the Cook Inlet. This day it was overcast with intermittent drizzle. At times we could see for miles and miles underneath the clouds, and then the mist and drizzle would come down right into the trees. We passed many striking waterfalls working their way down the mountains from the glacier fields high above.
The lone road took us through wide, green mountain valleys with many fast water rivers and creeks paralleling or crossing the road. The mountains were very green, moist and lush with trees and brush in and just above the valleys, giving way to pine forest then alpine meadows up the mountain side, and finally barren tops.
There is just an early hint of autumn in the Alaskan air. Here and there is a tinge of yellow on the leaves, but most are still brilliant green. The stag horn sumac and purple fireweed are in bloom along the roadsides, with a sprinkling of Queen Anne’s lace.
We checked into our home for the evening, the Kenai Princess Lodge, in Cooper Landing, on the banks of the huge, blue-green glacier fed Kenai River. Ours is a charming and luxurious cottage nestled in the lodge complex, just above a major set of river rapids. We spent the balance of the afternoon driving to Homer, on the very southwest tip of the peninsula, where we visited the gift shops, art galleries and enjoyed the sights including more mountains, costal glaciers and Kemachak Bay.
Tonight it’s early to bed (at least in Alaska time) in preparation for an early morning departure and long drive north to Denali National Park.
Up early this morning, driving south along the beautiful Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet of the Gulf of Alaska. We followed Turnagain for about forty miles, impressed with the wild tidal flows and soaring costal mountains shrouded in morning mist and drizzle, and draped in the high saddles between the peaks with blue-white glaciers and patches of snow. We stopped near Girdwood and Alyeska (al-ee’-es-ka) Mountain to tour the wildlife refuge center, and viewed caribou, elk, deer, bison and bear in their natural settings.
Leaving the end of the Turnagain Arm, we continued south through the Kenai Penninsula, a mountainous, broad area separating Prince William Sound from the main body of the Cook Inlet. This day it was overcast with intermittent drizzle. At times we could see for miles and miles underneath the clouds, and then the mist and drizzle would come down right into the trees. We passed many striking waterfalls working their way down the mountains from the glacier fields high above.
The lone road took us through wide, green mountain valleys with many fast water rivers and creeks paralleling or crossing the road. The mountains were very green, moist and lush with trees and brush in and just above the valleys, giving way to pine forest then alpine meadows up the mountain side, and finally barren tops.
There is just an early hint of autumn in the Alaskan air. Here and there is a tinge of yellow on the leaves, but most are still brilliant green. The stag horn sumac and purple fireweed are in bloom along the roadsides, with a sprinkling of Queen Anne’s lace.
We checked into our home for the evening, the Kenai Princess Lodge, in Cooper Landing, on the banks of the huge, blue-green glacier fed Kenai River. Ours is a charming and luxurious cottage nestled in the lodge complex, just above a major set of river rapids. We spent the balance of the afternoon driving to Homer, on the very southwest tip of the peninsula, where we visited the gift shops, art galleries and enjoyed the sights including more mountains, costal glaciers and Kemachak Bay.
Tonight it’s early to bed (at least in Alaska time) in preparation for an early morning departure and long drive north to Denali National Park.
2 comments:
Very cool, world travelers! It has been rainy and humid here at home. Not much to see, other than a few mud puddles. Enjoy!!
Hi guys,
Mom shared the url with me - looks like a beautiful place. I have a colleague in Juno (she is originally from Michigan) who has lived there 30 years and loves it. She has learned to cope with the drastics in daylight availability. I would get moody, I think.
Have fun!
Love,
Patty
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