Native Cultural Center, Kenai & Walk 4 Life

One more stop in Anchorage.  The Native Cultural Center.  Here we watched native Alaskan children demonstrate games that they play and compete during the winter, how they build their houses some of which are under the ground, how they make yo yo's from animal skins and Alaskan dances.

Totem poles tell a story and are usually

painted with 3 colors only.

These totem poles were placed in their houses.

Some totem poles are outside.

Remains of the skeleton
of a whale.

Here a native is making

a toy yo yo from animal

skin usually a seal.

It was time to leave Anchorage and travel to the Kenai Peninsula where we volunteered at Solid Rock Bible Camp with Roy & Sue Anderson and K & Kurt Kidwell.  On weekends we would sight see and "spore"!  First we went to the Information Center in Soldotna.  Out front were amazing wood carvings of salmon and fishermen.

 Above:  Gail & Sue

To the right:

Wayne & Roy 

Here you can see how the 

state of Alaska compares

to the size of the USA.

Then we traveled to Kenai to see the
Russian Orthodox Church.  These were
some of the earliest settlers in
Alaska.

Eating at a very ornate restaurant with
many stuffed animals from the area.

While we were staying in the area

we chose to participate in the 

Crisis Pregnancy Center's

Walk 4 Life, in the rain of course!

Anchorage Botanical Gardens, Alyeska Tram, Gold Panning, Blue Angels - July 2016

There is much to see while staying in Anchorage.  Here are a few of our ventures before traveling to Soldotna to our last Alaska SOWER project before heading back down to the lower 48.

On the way to the Alyeska Tram.

Flowers in Alaska in the summer

are stunning.  They need no

fertilizer.

After we got to the top of the tram.

What a ride!

Looking back on the resort down below.

A ski lift, not the tram!

At the top!

Alison, Roy Anderson and me!

Close up!

Me and Wayne.

We had just gotten word that

the insurance company totaled 

out our RV.  Now the shopping

begins.

You can see the tram in the
lower right quadrant.

Alison giving gold panning a try.

She did not go home rich!

The Botanical Gardens.

Pics speak for themselves.

While we stayed in a RV park in Anchorage, 

the Blue Angels gave a 3 day show at the

Air Force Base.

What a treat, right over our heads

everyday.

Wayne and Gail's picture under a

bridge, we are truly homeless now!

Combat Fishing in Alaska.
That's how they do it, side by side,
hooking them as they swim by.  They must
be hooked in the mouth or they have
to throw them back!  Salmon of course!

Glacier Cruise - July 23, 2016

Alison, Wayne, the Anderson's and myself went on a Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier, Alaska on July 23.  The 4 hour cruise was preceded by a car ride from Anchorage to Whittier including a 5 mile (one way) tunnel.  The following pictures speak for themselves.

The Klondike Express dwarfed

in front of the cruise ship!

Beginning of our cruise.

Glaciers coming right

down to the water level.

Our group left to right:
Roy & Sue Anderson
Wayne & Gail Fieler
Alison Kernicky

Inside the cruise boat.

We had a light lunch aboard the boat.

Otters at play just off our bow.

Waiting to watch the

glaciers to "calf".

Gail & Alison out watching

the glaciers.  Cold!

It was a gorgeous day, sunny, no rain!
One of the few while in Anchorage.