FAIRBANKS TO SEWARD

 Flying from Fairbanks to Anchorage we flew over the spectacular Alaska Range, Mt. McKinley (USA's tallest mountain.  3 times higher than Mt. Kosciusko)  and numerous glaciers.  It looked so inhospitable and I can't imagine the drive of the early explorers who ventured into the wilderness seeking their fortunes in gold, coal and oil.

 John and Linda, and Doug and Diane picked us up from the airport in an 11 seater van and we headed off down the Kenai Peninsula.  The road followed Turnagain Arm named by Capt. Cook.
Capt. Cook was exploring these waterways looking for the Northwest Passage.

 It was fun traveling altogether sharing stories and information.  A big box of lollies and chocolates kept being passed up and down the van.
The scenery was amazing.

We stopped for morning tea at Girdwood.  The shop assistant in the Cafe was from Melbourne and had just arrived to work for the summer season.

Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016.^[2]
It was named after William H. Seward, United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. In 1867, he fought for the U.S. purchase of Alaska which he finally negotiated to acquire from Russia.

These are Halibut fish.  They were caught by a young couple on a charter boat. The Captain hung them for their photograph to be taken with their prize catch.  Then we asked them if they'd mind if we had our photos taken with their catch also.

This was the house Linda grew up in.  It is now Mission to Seaman

This was Diane's house where she spent some years.  Her Dad was with the Forestry Service.

We attempted to go to see Exit Glacier just on the outskirts of Seward, but the road was still closed from the wintertime.

A typical house in Seward.  The front door is in an elevated position because of the winter snow.  The entry is glassed in so boots and coast can be removed before entering the house.  To the left front of the house is a cut out wooden moose, probably left over from their Christmas decorations.  The plants in the garden have all been covered in snow, but now spring had arrived and the sun was warming the beds, plants were beginning to show signs of life amidst the dry sticks. Spring is a very exciting time when the garden comes back to life.

A very very old house in Seward, but by it's new staircase is still occupied.

William H. Seward flanked by Julie and Linda.

Main Street Seward looking down towards Resurrection Bay.

The Apollo Restaurant where we ate a delicious dinner.

Linda, Janice, Diane, Jeff, Doug, Daryl, Julie and John at Apollo.

The gorgeous old Van Gilder Hotel where we stayed.  Next door is the Theatre, threatening to close due to having to go digital.  Time just does not catch up to some places.

Nellie's Roadhouse, actually a cafe in town. Now Nellie was some wild lady in Alaskan history.  She was born in 1873 and came to Alaska at 42 years old.  She established a roadhouse to cater to the needs of the men building the Alaska Railroad.  She was a hunter and collector of heaps of stuff, some of which is now in the museum.  She was even known to keep a bear cub on a leash as a pet.  The road house has had many owners but they all have kept the memory of "Alaska Nellie" alive.

Linda took me into this shop mainly to smell the timber floor.  It evoked memories of her childhood.  The display of clothing and wares was very old world.  A bit of a time warp.  Linda is chatting to the owner in the background.

Seward did have some really lovely grand houses up high out of reach of the tsunamis!!!