Cruising The Kenai

We spent a couple of days in Anchorage sending Hannah off, having RV repairs done and doing laundry.  If you are ever planning a trip to Alaska, I wouldn't waste any time in Anchorage.  We headed out south down to the Kenai Peninsula.  Our first stop was Quartz Creek State Campground.  We just wandered in there, got lucky and took a site where a couple had cancelled and left right before we got there.  The campground was having a grizzly problem.  That morning she had chased a family off their breakfast.  She is injured so she cannot hunt the way she needs to.  We moved from there to Ninilchik State Campground further down the Kenai.  We had been told about this location when we were having some RV repairs done in Anchorage.  It was up on the bluff but had stairs down to the beach that was very deserted so we really could let Lilly run wild when we walked it.  Our weather there was pretty overcast with a little rain.  I scheduled a river trip with a guide to salmon fish.  He was great but we only caught fish that we were not able to keep.  I caught a king salmon and Chris caught 4 rainbow trout.  Our guide was really fun and knowledgeable.  From there we moved an hour south to Homer.  We are currently here and I am loving this place.  We are on the spit and the front of the RV looks right out on to Cooks Inlet.  The pictures really tell all.

Lilly usually lays in the dirt, but I thought she looked so cute curled up under a pine tree.

 This is the view from Quartz Creek Campground in Cooper Landing.  We could walk a very short trail to Lake Kenai.

 Lake Kenai

 Kayaking on Lake Kenai

 I'm determined to get in a glacial fed lake, they are like walking into an ice bath...this is as far as I made it on this attempt.

 We saw the grizzly that is frequently the campground while out driving.  Sadly she is injured and will have be put down when they find her.  She wasn't bothering anyone when we saw her, so I "accidentally" forgot to report the sighting.  She was not very close to the campground.

 Looking very professional headed out to fish on the Kasiloff River.

 View of the volcano across the bay from our site in Ninilchik.

 The flowers are gigantic here because of the extended sunlight.

 View out the front of the RV in Homer.

 This was taken at 11:00 pm.  Still plenty of light to be out and about.

 After not catching a salmon I could keep on our Kasiloff trip, I was determined to try and fish again.  People were fishing on the beach when we pulled into the campground.  We had our Florida pole restrung and out I went.  Everyone else was in waders and boots, which of course I don't have.  I was really making a statement wading into the water in my capri workout pants.  It was actually pretty cold but I was able to snag a silver salmon, reel it in and do the necessary end of life activities.  Our neighbor cleaned it and we had it for dinner.  Yum Yum!  I'll be out fishing again today.