Seward AK

On the road to Seward

Tern Lake at the junction of Sterling and Seward Highways

Arctic tern

Red-necked Grebes

Trumpeter swan family at Tern Lake

We had our camping spot all figured out when we got to Seward.  We would stay at a pull-out at the Resurrection River on the road to Exit Glacier, just a few miles north of town.  This is where we stayed for 6 night in 2011, and is a great spot with a grand view of the river.  However, when we arrived there "No Camping" signs were posted all along the pull-out.  These signs were not here in 2011, were they?  Surely they didn't mean us;  we're just parking, not camping, right?  

The site of our 2011 camp on the Resurrection River near Seward

Not sure what to do next, we unhitched the Element from the coach and drove up to Exit Glacier.  We asked a ranger there about the signs and asked if they were serious, i.e. do they enforce no camping there.  It turns out, there was a rowdy party on that beach a few years ago.  It turned into a shootout, and at least one person was killed.  Consequently, the city prohibited camping at the site.  DANG!

DANG!!!

Dorcas at Exit Glacier

Moose poop on the trail to Exit Glacier

Resurrection River below Exit Glacier

We are not alone ....

The ranger at Exit Glacier told us of several potential roadside pull-outs where we could park for a few nights.  We chose one on Nash Road, directly across Resurrection Bay from Seward.

Our camp on Nash Road

The view of Seward from our camp on Nash Road across Resurrection Bay

One day while parked at camp we had a visitor.  He peeked around, saw the coast was clear and crawled over the guard rail.  He was a very curious fellow and checked out the car and the coach thoroughly.  Whenever a car came down the road he bounded back over the rail into the woods.  When the car was gone he stood up, looked around and ventured back over to our rig.  We never made a sound, and I don't think he knew people and a dog were nearby.  After about 5 minutes he apparently got bored and left.

Is the coast clear?

Nobody is coming.  I think I'll look around.

That thing is parked on my pull-out!

I wonder what's in there?

Perhaps there's something to eat around back.

Maybe there is something good over here.

Get out of my pull-off!

I think I smell fish!

Is the coast clear again?

The Seward Brewing Company

Dorcas enjoys a brew

The menu at Seward Brewing Company

I never met an "Inked Out Stout" I didn't like.

I didn't buy another growler; there's no more room in the coach for the jug.

They make great garlic pretzels.  $9 and worth every penny.

A highlight of our trip to Seward was a visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center.  The center has numerous exhibits on Alaska marine life.  It also performs rescue and rehabilitation projects and is a research center.

Dorcas enjoying the art at the Alaska SeaLife Center

Horned puffin

Tufted puffin

This walrus calf was less than 6 weeks old.  SeaLife staff members nurtured him 24 hours a day.

Silver salmon 

Seward small boat harbor

We spent two nights in Seward, and then headed north back up the Seward Highway to Anchorage and Eagle River.