Return to Seward

Day 41

7/31/26 Friday

Time has a way of slipping away. Even though the daylight is long in Alaska it seems that time flies here. Maybe it’s because it’s all new to me and there’s so much to see and explore but even on the quiet days with nothing planned it melts away quickly. Is that the experience of aging? 

Our week here in Kenai has been both action packed and gentle and easy. This home where we have been guests is so comfortable and they have made us feel right at home. This week has gone so fast. 

Leaving Kenai. We’re heading out of the Swain’s paradise retreat today and have decided to point the van back to Seward (about 3 hour drive). Last time we were there it was pouring rain so were stymied from exploring much… or as Jim says, I was unwilling to put myself out there in that kind of weather! (that’s true). We’re going to take an excursion boat trip to the glaciers and sea kayak. The weather looks perfect tomorrow so we’ve signed ourselves up for another long experience day.

Russian River falls. We rode our mountains bikes up a pretty wide trail with dozens of people hiking it to see the salmon jumping up the falls. There were hundreds of fish pooling below the falls but we did see a few starting to work their way up. It’s just such an unimaginably story how salmon swim from the sea all the way back upstream returning to spawn where they were born.

I honestly can’t believe they allow bicycles on this 3 mile trail. It’s very busy with pedestrians so it’s kind of a pain in the ass for both bicycles and hikers. Too much… “on your left, on your left”. That said.. it was a quick easy bike ride😊

After the bike ride we stopped at Cooper Landing brewery.

After Coopers Landing we were up and over Moose Pass and downhill to Seward. We camped at the same turnout on the glacial washout as the last time we were here. Once again, it was a busy camping pullout. Worked perfect for us tonight.

Tomorrow we are up early and ready to meet our kayaking group at 7am. Early breakfast.