The Seward Stay

Iditarod Campground, Seward, Alaska – July 31 through Aug 4, 2014

Since we were already camped at the edge of the Exit Glacier road, may as well start the day with a hike to the glacier. We get an early start hoping to beat the hoards brought in by the tour busses. We arrive at 9AM and there is already about 20 cars in the parking lot plus a couple of adventure tour vans.

We chose the hike to the glaciers edge which is about a 2.5 mile hike. We enjoy a pleasant walk to the end of the trail, which is well maintained and well defined.

But here we find out you can’t really get to the edge of the glacier, because it’s ‘too’ dangerous. Really? We might get run over by a glacier?'

Pretty rocks and ice!

 

The sign below shows that the glacier has been retreating over the years. One ranger said it shrank 140 feet last year.  That’s not why they call it Exit Glacier though. It was so named because those exploring the Harding Icefields often used this route for their exit.

It was a very enjoyable hike and we were early enough that the crowds hadn’t gummed up the trail. However, as we got back to the parking area, the first tour bus had arrived and kids were every where. Time to escape.

We drive back into town to see if a spot had opened up in the Iditarod campground. As we pulled in, we found an empty water front site and immediately parked the Element in it. We weren’t going to make the same mistake and let it get away. As EJ was supplying information and credit cards to the electronic ranger, I set up a chair and a sign with our license plate number on it as per instructions.

We raced back to Big Guy and got him ready for the short trip to his new temporary home. It’s a great spot within walking distance to town and at the opposite end from the cruise ships.

It’s time to check out the Seward Brewing Company and get a bite to eat. The brewery is located downtown.

To start off, we order a ‘Flight” of beers.

Afterwards we take a walk to burn off some of the calories we just consumed and find this neat mural.

Back at Big Guy, we admire the view out of the front window.

Speaking of which, maybe I better clean that window!

Later we go visit with friends Steve and Nancy O’Bosky who are camped close to the cruise ship terminal.

After dinner and several rousing games of cards, we retire for the the evening.

The Alaska Sealife Center opened at 8AM and we actually made it…..by 9AM. Again, the early arrival was an attempt to beat the crowds, and once again we were relatively successful.

The Sealife Center has an nice, diverse collection of fish, fowls and mammals. But the Puffins were our favorites.

Later we got together with Steve and Nancy again and went exploring. There are two roads extending from town, one going along each side of the bay. We explored them both.

One side was more industrial. I really like the reuse of shipping containers to make a warehouse. This picture of the drydock tent is for some folks in Kissimmee, FL.

And if you look really, really close, that’s Big Guy on the other side of the bay.

The other side of bay held more residences, guide related businesses and some more campgrounds. But first we had to go see Mt. Marathon. A race held on the 4th of July every year runs straight up and back down the mountain. There are no switchbacks and the mountain is made up loose shale, very slick to run on. The race is a total of 3.1 miles long and takes the winners about 43 minutes to run. Racers often cross the finish line injured, bleeding and covered in mud. Hikers are discouraged from using the trails on this mountain.

Next we passed a waterfall.

We finally reached the end of the road and found out there is a hiking trail that goes along the shoreline to the state park, where the ruins of a fort remain, but the trail is not useable at high tide. So we turn around to go back and find these guys sitting in the trees.

Later that afternoon, we all go downtown to catch the Friday Artwalk. This means free wine and appetizers while we gawk at what the artists have on display. EJ and I get cornered by one Alaskan couple who tell us story after story, that are interesting, and we sorta get side tracked.

We catch up with Steve and Nancy and decide to go get some real food. A stranger on the street recommends the Thorn’s Showcase Lounge for the best Halibut in town, and so we go try it out. The first thing we encounter is that the tables all have love seats for chairs. Have you ever tried to get comfortable at a table while sitting in a love seat? You’re pushing while your partner is pulling and first thing you know, your seats all cattywompus. Can’t nobody get pulled up to the table just right. But  it is good for a few giggles while you’re trying it. Oh yeah,  and the food was pretty good too.

The next day, we’re on our own and head out to do some walking. The exterior decoration on some of the homes is very creative.

Along our walk we come across a small stream filled with salmon looking for a place to lay some eggs.

We explore the boat harbor and find out from one of the shop owners that today, Saturday, no cruise ship comes in, and that’s why it’s so calm and serene.

Another mural showing a scene that’s both above and under water.

On our last day here, we just had to take a picture of this piling. It is probably the most photographed object in Seward. This is the view out our front window and I’ll bet we’ve seen 50 tourists come by and set up their cameras and take a picture of it. It’s not particularly pretty, so the only thing we can think of is that it’s a remnant from before the Good Friday Earthquake in 1964. There is a very good movie they show at the Library about the event.

These little guys also frequented our area and were very obliging to passing photographers.

Having amused ourselves over this we decide to go back downtown and test some more beer at the Seward Brewing Company and split a burger.

Then we amused ourselves some more with the prices at other restaurants around town.

And Seward is the starting point of the annual Iditarod Sled Dog race that ends in Nome Alaska.

Your just never know what you will encounter along the way. And with our exploration complete, it’s time to bid adieu to Seward.

Next, we’ll head towards Anchorage to restock for the rest of our Alaska journey.