Valdez Alaska

After I left Anchorage, I motored 300+ miles to Valdez, a town of about 4000 people that is known for the terminal of the and FISHING.  My friends from Soldotha, Dwight and Linda came in the next day.  There are 4 other couples due in here on Monday.  We will be staying thru Labor Day fishing for Silver Salmon.
The drive into Valdez is beautiful.  Multiple glaziers and waterfalls. 

Worthington Glazier at Thompson Pass on the Richardson Highway

Bridal Veil Falls  in Keystone Canyon  just outside Valdez

I'll be here about 3 weeks so, stay tuned...

Back in the Anchor City

I left Soldotna and the Kenai Peninsula yesterday, beginning my slow journey back to St Petersburg.  I' m currently in Anchorage, headed to Valdez in search for Silver Salmon and Halibut.  There hould be plenty of both.
It's 7:00 am here and for the first time in several days, I can see the sun.  I believe this has been the coldest summer I have spent here...usually in the mid 40s in the am, then warming up to the mid to high 50s.  Eat your heart out.  I'm at Ship Creek parking lot, for those of you familiar with Anchorage, just next to the train station.  The creek has Pink and Silver Salmon running in it and it seems a little weird  to be fishing in the  downtown area.  Wish me luck and stay tuned...

Sockeye Salmon on the loose

The run of Sockeye Salmon started  about two weeks ago up the Kenai river.  To date the limit has been 3 per day, but with the number of fish coming up the river, that will change.  The conservation people don't want too many fish coming into the river as it will create too many fish in future.  Here are a couple of photos.

You gotta love these fish.  Still have about a third of the freezer to fill. so, Stay tuned...

Back in Soldotna

I spent 2 days getting back here from St Petersburg.  No pictures, no fish, no rain and no refrigerator.  Some good news...There will be pictures soon, the fish are coming, and so is the rain (it always rains), and my refrig will be fixed this week.  So as usual...stay tuned.

Ft Myers Beach Week

Well, It’s been a week of this as pictured and I will be flying back to Alaska on Monday.  A full week in Ft Myers on Estero Island and I’m ready to get back.  I took a perfect week off as there was no run of Sockeye salmon as yet.  My friend Don Causseaux once told me several years ago, “You’re the only person I know who takes a vacation from his vacation”.  Hey Don…I’m still doing it.  It was fun to see my girls and their girls as well as many friends I have met over the 31 years I’ve been going to this timeshare.  Sally, Scott and Ally had a good time…Kelly and her two dingdongs caught up on missed sleep…Frank Bryant didn’t bring his golf clubs for the third year in a row.  Julie Gingras brought her three kids while Jason is in India(Hurry back Jayson, and come to see me in Alaska)…Laura Gagne was here while Gerry stayed home to work (see ya next year Gerry).  Laura’s brother Perry was here for one day with his 4 boys, and Grandpa Ferrell watched the Casey trial all week.  Joe Pruitt bought a 2002 Corvette.  Matt Bryant, we miss you (hope to see you soon).

Gotta get some more beach time, so…stay tuned.

Daytime Beach Shot

Sunset Beach Shot

Rainy day in Alaska

Still waiting for the first run of Sockeye salmon up the Kenai River.  No one is currently catching any fish, so we sit around the fire in the evening telling fish stories.  If they get any better, we’ll all be thinking we are really catching, 

Today is a stay inside day…light rain and 48 degrees at 10:00 am.  It usually warms up to around 60 in the afternoon.  We’re getting about 20 – 24 hours of daylight each day.  You can’t wait till dark to do anything, otherwise, it won’t get done.

Here's a picture I took yesterday...

Camp Howard

And here's one that Sally got from someone.  I wish I could find it here in Soldotna.

The Blue Goose got a well deserved  bath yesterday.  It had collected over 5k miles of dirt and dust.  The Goose'll also be getting a new refrigerator soon.  The current one is not working but is serving as an ice box until the new one arrives.

I'm going to give fishing one shot today even if it is in the rain, so ... stay tuned.

Soldotna, AK - 0n the Kenai River

I arrived here a few days ago and after a couple of rainy days, began setting up my campsite.  Bad luck…my refrigerator in the RV went out and I have to replace it.  It will take about 10 days to get one in from Washington, so in the meantime, I’m using the lower part of the refrig as a cooler by freezing gallons of water in my large fish freezer and placing the ice in the vegetable bins to keep the compartment cold.

Saw a couple of Moose a two nights ago walking thru the campground as if they were looking for a campsite.  Yesterday, this young eagle was out in front of my campsite.  That’s the view I have out of the RV.  Those eagles sure are ugly when they are young.

The temperature starts out in the mid-40s and gets up to the low 60s. The Kenai River is low and continues to rise as the days warm up and the ice melts.  It should crest at about3- 4 feet higher.

No red Salmon as yet, but it won’t be too long maybe today… If I’m not fishing, I’m not catching so I’m headed back to the river to try again…stay tuned.