Ninilchik Camping Trip

The third week of July I found myself and Spirit heading to the Kenai Peninsula with my Willow Creek camp hosts, Sarah and Pat. Their friend Melissa, from Florida, also joined us. We caravanned down the Sterling Highway to  Ninilchik where would camp at the State Park at Deep Creek. This is Pat and Sarah's favorite place to camp and fish. The fish come right out of the Cook Inlet into Deep Creek to spawn and die. This is the week they always go to catch Silver Salmon; also known as Coho salmon. Imagine our surprise when the silver run was not yet there. We were bummed, but had a wonderful 5 days there anyway.

What's not to like?? The scenery is magnificent! Looking across Cook Inlet you see Mt Redoubt, Mt Iliamna and farther to the south Mt Augustine. These are active, though quiet at the moment, volcanoes! They are also part of the Aleutian Islands and the Pacific Ocean Ring of Fire. Pretty exciting and oh so beautiful.

We camped four nights. We hiked, did some sight seeing, threw our lines in (Pat caught a small flounder) and drove to the Homer Spit for lunch. Of course, I took a lot of photographs.

There were a lot of eagles at Deep Creek. Many were juveniles. We marveled at their flight and diving after other birds. It was quite the show. One morning we awoke to a juvenile sitting atop someone's RV. He didn't seemed bothered by us walking around taking his photo.

Spirit was the perfect camping buddy. Content to lie outside by the beach or go on one of the many walks we took. He had his first time in salt water and couldn't understand why he couldn't drink it like he could the creek water. It was rather cute. At night, he'd lay on the table turned bed in my Scamp and sleep without stirring by my side.

Below are just some of the photos I took all week. I'm hoping to get back down there again before the season is over. But as I write this, we've had quite a few days of rain and looks like more to come. No wonder Alaskans treasure each sunny day. You never know when the weather will turn and that's the end of the perfect days...for now!

The campground at Deep Creek. Can you spot my Scamp?

The first night we camped on the swamp side of the camp. It was full of eagles!

Spirit loved the Inlet. He keep looking at the little waves.

Spirit in the golden hour light.

Juvenile eagle

Eagle, bluff, fake lighthouse

Pat walking Maggie--the sheepdog!

The gulls were everywhere.

Rays of light

Mt Redoubt from the campground

Perfect camping spot-My blazer and Scamp, Pat and Sarah's RV--oh and a couple volcanoes to gaze at.

Mt Iliamna and Mt Redoubt

bird, boat, volcano

The air was warm and the water cold, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

reflecting

What a view!

Lupine

Never did find out what was burning near Ninilchik.

Spirit was a happy boy walking the beach.

Pat with Maggie, Melissa, Sarah with Lucky.

I never got tired of the view.

This juvenile eagle let me walk around him taking photos.

Iliamna in background.

Getting closer

OK---

...that was close enough!

How they launch and retrieve the boats.

Spirit was happy to nap in the shade after his walk.

Pat stares at Deep Creek at low tide, wondering where the fish could be.

The Russian Church in Ninilchik

Lots of flowers through the cemetery.

Old town Ninilchik. They had the most wonderful shop with all hand made items. Too pricey for me, but not bad for museum quality pieces.

The church sits on a bluff with this view.

Old town Ninilchik.

Straight out of Northern Exposure in Ninilchik!

Back at Deep Creek. At one point I counted 7 eagles sitting in this one dead tree.

Iliamna sparkles!

Redoubt sunset

The ladies in the sunset glow.

Kachemak Bay 

Looking back toward Ninilchik

Donna and Spirit acting like tourists!

The gulls at the end of the Spit.

Fishing at Land's End. I'm told you can catch halibut from the shore.

Melissa and Spirit, Pat and Maggie, Sarah and Zoey

The resort. We had a fabulous lunch on the deck overlooking the bay.

Halibut! The largest was 143 pounds.

Leaving Homer we spotted an eagle's nest. We stopped and watched the eagle bring food for the babies.

Back at the campground-storms moving in.

Eagle soars

More fingers of light.

Looks like a good place to nest. Really??

Could be laying an egg!

Nah--just seemed to like the roof of this RV.

Looked me over pretty good---and then took off!

Coming in for a landing on the beach.

A tasty snack.

What do you mean I have to share???

If that's the case, I'm leaving!

Sunset--the set netters and processing ships could be seen in the distance.

I'll never tire of this view. Sigh.

Just Another Day at the Office

Anybody can grow petunias--and they smell great!

Summer is one third over! YIKES!!!
After watering all the flowers around outside the house and in the greenhouse, playing with the dogs and cleaning their yard, I head to work.

Maggie and Jack hanging out on the deck.

I work in a great place, part of the Alaska State Parks system...Willow Creek State Recreation Area.
My "office" is the Willow Creek Campground. Most of the time I hang out in my booth collecting fees from the day parkers and campers. On King weekends, life gets really crazy as a couple hundred people arrive to participate in "combat fishing" for Kings.
But on a day like today, it's the calm before the storm. The sun is playing hide and seek with the clouds. A refreshing breeze keeps the mosquitos at bay. The sound of the river is so soothing for frayed nerves.

Mouth of Willow Creek

I watered the newly planted willows and then walked the shoreline to pick up all the thrown out fishing line. (I just can't figure why people think it's Ok to drop nylon line on the ground. Do they
not realize it's not going to disintegrate?? It's an eyesore and a threat to wildlife. Maybe we need to bring back the weeping Native commercial.) I spend the afternoon doing chores along the shoreline, listening to music and watching the show going on around me. The Kings are in!They are quite plentiful in the river now. I haven't seen so many stacked up in years. They spent the afternoon jumping and splashing and zooming around under water. Wow!

Click on this photo to make it larger and see all the water thrown by this fish.

We seem to have an unusual visitor in the form of a sea lion. Not sure why he's up here, But I am sure he is feasting on fish!

Of course, if there are fish, there are also birds.
Lots of sea gulls and quite a few eagles flew over.

"Sometimes I fly like an eagle...."

seagull

And then there are the people on the river enjoying a float down Little Willow or Willow Creek to the campground. I've done this float and it is really peaceful and beautiful.

Ah well, the peace won't last for long. The second King weekend starts tomorrow. I probably will not see the river for the next few days. The campground will be jammed packed. The day lot will fill long before the river is open again for fishing at 6 am saturday morning. And then, it's also 4th of July. 

I wish you all a wonderful holiday! And in case you wonder if I get to catch a King--I went last week with my friends Pat and Sarah. We went with a guide on the Deshka River. I caught my first King!!

Pat--who caught the first fish, Sarah--who caught the biggest, and Me--with my first King-about 18 pounds!

The lights were dancing this morning!

I've seen the Northern Lights Aurora Borealis a few times since I moved to Alaska. Mostly they have been the green ones. One night I saw red and purple and ran inside to get my camera. Just that quickly they were gone. I awoke around 5 am today and looked out the window because I thought it was getting light outside. Even though the days are getting longer, it shouldn't be light at 5 am. And it wasn't. The lights were out. To the naked eye, they looked more white than green. But to the camera, they looked green. I have not touched up any of these photos. This is what was in the sky. I really needed a fish eye lens to get the whole sky. The lights went from horizon to horizon. I stayed out as long as I could considering I only had PJ's and a light jacket on. LOL. Once I went back in, I watched a bit longer from my bedroom and then they were gone. Click on any photo to get a larger version.

From my bedroom window. Notice the little husky statues?

Swirling

Directly overhead

from my front yard looking back to the house

Looking the other direction

Back to the house and back yard

last shot out the bedroom window

Music videos

Most of you know I make mushing movies. One of the signatures of my movies is the music video at the end of each. Of course, my friend  Kyf Brewer wrote the latest song for me and most of the others. He also plays in the band Barleyjuice .

Kyf and the band at the Maryland Renaissance Fair

This latest movie was made for the Willow Jr 100. I sell it on  my website: Husky Productions .

But you don't have to buy the movies to enjoy the music videos. Just go to  YOU TUBE .
You'll find them all there. The featured movie is from the Willow Jr. 100. Enjoy!

Rehoming sled dogs

A very disturbing incident happened in British Columbia last year. 100 sled dogs were killed because the tour company using them wasn't making any money from them after the Olympics were over. I'm not going into details here as the whole thing is still under investigation. But, one newspaper reporter gave a load of nonsense about these dogs not being able to be rehomed. I am here to tell you that is total and utter stupidity. To make such a comment destines these dogs to certain death. Six of my seven dogs right now, are rehomed sled dogs. I've had one other, Sissy, who was a retired Iditarod finisher from Karen Ramstead's North Wapiti Kennel. Sis passed several years ago, and I still miss her.

Of the six I have now, 3 came from Karen and are pure bred Siberians. Two came from mushing kennels here in Alaska and one came from a tour operator at Chena Hot Springs resort outside Fairbanks. Chena was on her way to the pound because she was shy and not a good match for a tourist group. She turned out to be one heck of sled dog though. Spirit is the only one I've had since he was a puppy.

People cannot make gross exaggerations about sled dogs. All these dogs needed was to be given a chance to adapt. I love my dogs and cannot imagine life without them.

You can read more about rehomed sled dogs on Karen Ramstead's blog:Rehomed Sled Dogs

Sissy, my first Iditarod finisher from Karen's kennel. She loved sleeping on the sofa. She was a very sweet Siberian and trained the others to pull a sled. I miss her every day.

The "kids" love to hang out in their big fenced yard. They play and walk around and race around!
A game of husky tag is their biggest joy. They are such athletes and so much fun to watch.

Cart training before the snow comes.

Chena naps in the sun.

A husky tune?

Even in the winter, they like to lay in the sun in the snow.

I call them the "Magnificent Seven"

My recreational team-Maggie and Pearl in lead;
Nahanni and Fritter in wheel.

They love to cram into the car and go to the post office each day.