Soon we even turn the page to the last month of our journey.  Yesterday we headed to the post office to mail some post cards, we realized we went in the wrong direction. We try to mail post cards from unique locations this one is going to be Clam Gulch, Alaska.  What’s a person to do but continue down to Homer, because we realized it was the wrong post office at Anchor Point which is only 14 miles from Homer.

On the way to Homer Roy went 4×4 on the beach, Whiskey Gulch.  I experienced my first 18% grade crazy but I think I can handle it on the way to Bella Coola BC.  Speaking of crazy, the occupants on the beach had one to many whiskeys.  This was a place to just visit I would not have camped or stayed too long.  Even Roy caught the vibe.

On to Homer drove by the Visitor’s Center and the Marine Refuge Visitor’s Center.  Saw a picture of a truck stuck and sinking due to the quick tide coming in.  The times we drove on the beach in the back of my mind this picture was going through it. (We don’t have flood insurance LOL)

Roy and I were able to have some red salmon on rice for dinner at Fat Olive in Homer.  On the way home we stopped by Deep Creek one last time to get Roy some coal and me some more eagle pictures.  We caught an eagle bathing then got a closeup of a bald eagle’s head.  I am glad Roy is helping me with focus and choosing pictures.  I’ve taken 1,700 pictures with the canon and a few hundred with the nikon, Roy has seen all of them and has helped me with the keepers.

I will post some of those pictures tomorrow, and explain the coal connection.

Last night we were ‘Wallydocking’ and discovered we have a dud battery after 5 days 4 nights boondocking in Hidden Lake campground we discovered our sealed AGM battery will not keep a charge.  It did good while there but we were charging it a little every day so did not notice it.  So no boondocking, until after Anchorage.  

I am glad the second run of king salmon is late makes campgrounds easier to get into.  Called last night and was able to get a spot for a week.  We get to our full hook-up campground to find the electric is off all over the Kenai.   Well power is back on so all is good, heat, keurig, water without the pump running, and charging battery.  

I was supposed to go bear viewing tomorrow, but the weather is not playing nice, so the 24th we are shooting for.  This has been a much rainer trip then last year, but at least this year we aren’t in a tiny trailer.  If Roy gets on my nerves I can send him to the bathroom and close the door.

So I know one day we are going to check out Deep Creek for eagles, maybe do Clam Gulch, I have bear viewing one day, not sure what else to do.

a lazy day, that’s what today has turned into.  Roy and I are taking antibiotics to break up this creepy crude, I just couldn’t drag myself  out of bed to go looking for animals this am.  I think I am going to grab my coffee andheaddown to the lake to see my beaver.

Saturday morning I walked down to the lake and saw a quite comical beaver. THEY KNOW when you are watching them.  I was watching him swim along so my thought record it. Just after I start recording he dives under the water, turn off the recording like magic resurface.  Like I said THEY KNOW, I did get a few pictures though.  

We got moving today right before lunch, almost gave up the hunt so to speak.  I saw two little cubs in a different clearing and then saw mama bringing up the rear limping.  Turns out there were three cubs younger then the three we saw the other day.  These guys needed to put on some weight.  I have some pictures of all three plus mom.  It is amazing how many bears around this year according to the locals.

After lunch we played two games of cribbage and headed back out into the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. We wasted enough time doing that we came upon a Wildlife Officer looking through binoculars.  I tell him that is just a rock and has NOT moved for three days.  He said that’s the largest 80 inch rock he ever saw.  Roy and I had just been talking about the lack of moose.  Ask and you shall see.  The officer said it was the largest bull moose he had ever seen.  YES, I did get pictures.

This has been quite the animalpoloosa this year.

Ok maybe not through our campsite, but walking down the road. Yes, I did get pictures.  It is funny each bear you come across has a personality.  This huge guy kept looking over his shoulder thinking are you still following me.  Well after he crossed in front of us he took one last look over his shoulder to say follow me now as he disappeared into the woods.

Well, this is day two of boondocking  and it’s going good.  Today is also day 45 (June 15th) which means we are halfway home going by way too quickly.  Yesterday we drove to Seward got a picture of the water wheel in Moose Pass (missed it last year).  We also visited a weir (fish ladder) no bears but, did see some salmon jump.  Second attempt at seeing Exit Glacier last year too many mosquitos this year to rainy and cloudy.  Speaking of rain we’ve had more then last year at least we haven’t been stuck in the trailer.  It occurs when we are driving somewhere.

Today we got up early to find some moose and bear no moose but 3 black bear.  The one in the camp, a small guy right outside the enterance to our campground, then one guy who crossed in front of the car. We decided to take a drive towards Sterling to see if there was anything worth stopping at without the trailer.  We didn’t see anything got gas and headed back.  Highway up the rough Skilak Lake road back, no animals this time.

Roy’s taking a nap, I gathered some kindling for steaks on the barbie tonight.  This has been amazing the amount of food we are eating in.  We also have used the campground grills more.  My thought bigger kitchen and just all around easier. I am glad we had the aliner last year because it was a get your feet wet kind of camper, rather then jumping into the deep end.  

I did get my bear viewing boat trip in on the 19th so we are leaving on the 17th to head to Wally World in Kenai then down the Kenai to Ninilchik.  

We headed down from Hope and got to our campsite on Hidden Lake on Skilak loop road.  As we are pulling in the ranger pulled in behind we started chatting.  I found out that there is a Lynx hanging around because the hare population is strong.  Supposedly there is a black bear running around our lake loop. It’s amazing how many water front campsites we’ve been very lucky. 

Skilak road delivered a momma bear and 3 baby black bears.  Mom looked like she wanted to be brushed, I didn’t offer  though.  We spent an easy five minutes sitting and watching the mama eat along side the three cubs.  At one point she was eight feet away from the car.  Once she crossed in front of the car two of the cubs darted to catch up to her.  There always has to be one though number three just kinda lolly gagged across the road.  I got some good pictures this was probably Roy and mine best bear sighting together.