Day with the Bears 7/2

Well this wasn't on the original plan,  but heard a lot of people say how unbelievable it was. So we signed up with Scenic Bear Viewing for a Monday flight before we left Homer. It didn't disappoint. 

Martin, former Air Force, flew us over to Lake Clark National Park (can only get there by boat our plane) and landed on the beach. 

As soon as we landed on the beach at Silver Salmon Creek at Lake Clark National Park, we saw bears. 

The bears head for the shoreline linking for clams. 

We joined a group of photographers who were observing the bears 

Kissing?

It was fun walking out into the low tide shore area. Wasn't always easy getting your foot up out of it.

Then we went of the beach and into the grassy area. 

This cub seemed to go off on his own a little,  but if he heard his mom or he saw his sibling and mom move,  he was looking to see what he was missing!

There are 8 bears visible in this one picture. One sow had two 2 year old cubs,  one sow with 1 year old cubs,  and two other ones. 

Lunch spot, a log with a clear view. 

If all that didn't do it, Martin added some Mountain/Glacier/Volcano views on the way back.

That isn't fog,  it's steam from some of the volcano vents.

And as we were landing,  one more view of the Homer Spit.

Welcome to Homer sign at air terminal.

Sunshine and pushing 80 was a great wave for us. 

Then it was goodbye Homer and heading out of the Kenai Peninsula. So the original plan was just driving for a few hundred miles today,  we landed after 5pm and then got on the road. 

So the water and mountains of Homer were in our rear mirrors.

Airstream painted like a bee. Didn't get a good pic of its face coming into town the other day. 

Highway to/from Homer. 

We had more hours (guess days) of sunlight but we were spent after that great day.  So Soldotna was as far as we went. 

So our original was getting to the Aleyska Ski resort in Girdwood and "boondock" in their parking lot.  They allow RVs to stay running off their generators as needed. RVs are seen in Alaska on side of the road pulloffs, Walmart parking lots,  or wherever they can pull off. But we opted for...

... Fred Meyer...

...  and we weren't alone. 

So from start to finish,  this was a day of new experiences.