Day 69: Hiking in Seward

June 22, 2014

It rained during the night but by 8:00 am the weather had moved out of our area and we simply had cloudy skies. Today was planned as a hiking day so after breakfast and listening to one of our pastor's previous sermons at Lester Memorial UMC, we packed the packs and headed back into Seward to Lowell Point State Recreation Site and the trail head for Caines Head/Tonsina Point Trail. You have to plan this hike for low tide as a portion is only accessible during low tide. We did not plan to to the entire hike although it certainly looked to be a very nice and interesting hike, but to do that we would have to wait for the next low tide 12 hours later to return. Even with almost 24 hours of daylight we just didn't want to do that much. We hiked about out past Tonsina Point (5.4 miles round trip) and did a little geocaching along the way. It was really a fun hike with more eagles, a sea otter, and rain forest photos. Scout got to go too and he seemed to have a lot of fun but is very tired tonight.

We are continuously amazed at the lush rain forest in Alaska. It is not what we expected.

 

A beautiful field of wild irises we hiked by

Godwin Glacier across Resurrection Bay

Donna got some great eagle pictures today.

 

This sea otter kept trying to see what we were doing.

After finishing that hike we went to a local “burger bus” Donna had found on TripAdviser – Red's Burgers. They have regular burgers as well as caribou, elk, venison, and buffalo with regular fries or garlic fries. They are big burgers and really good. You can eat outside or in an old school bus.

Not sure why they needed a sign asking people not to stand or dance on the tables

After our late lunch we then did the Two Lakes Trail – about a mile – for a total for 6.4 miles today. Scout met a Labradoodle puppy on that trail and they played and played. Too cute.

The puppy accidentally found out it could swim.

We have been seeing a plant here that is about 3 feet talk and still growing and had not idea what it was. It looks a little like a cabbage but it obviously not cabbage. While on this hike we met a local who told us the plant is known as skunk cabbage. Interesting.

Skunk cabbage leaves can grow to over 6 feet long.

It was a day enjoyed by all and we continue to be amazed by all we are seeing. God has truly blessed us with a beautiful country.