Jul 23, 2009 - Russian River, Cooper Landing and bear viewing

After two wonderful days at Homer, some fellow campers told us about the bears at the Russian River in Cooper landing. So off we went on a bear Hunt. Checked into Federal Campground, nice place, and started off for a 6mile round trip walk to the Russian river Falls. We got there at dinner time for the bears, about 6pm. They have a nice platform for you to look at the falls and if you get lucky see a bear. While waiting patiently Benton took off to go down to the river and look at the thousands of Silver Salmon trying to go up the falls. I...

Jul 23, 2009 - Cooper Landing

July 20 We began our return trip back up the Kenai Peninsula today. We didn’t go far. Back through Soldotna and up though Sterling to the little community of Cooper Landing, where the beautiful Kenai River flows from Lake Kenai. The river’s water is a blue-green turquoise color, clear and 40 degrees cold. It is glacier fed, but the lake filters out most of the silt, giving the river it’s unusual color. But the thing that brings people to this river in July is the salmon fishing. They call it “combat” fishing whenever you see dozens, even...

Jul 22, 2009 - last day in Cooper Landing

My back went out on me so we didn't get to go river rafting today. We did go to Lorraine's (our neighbor here at the park - really interesting person) Alaska show up at the lodge tonight. I highly recommend it - the dogs are there and she has some great stories and pictures. I'll miss it here. Cooper Landing is beautiful with the aqua-colored Kenai River and the mountains all around.

Jul 22, 2009 - Coopers Landing

Miles Today: 85 Total Miles: 5903 Monday: We left Ninilchik and headed to Cooper Landing with a stop at the grocery in Soldaotna. Some rain, but not much. We are now driving back on the same road we used already, so it is not new territory for us. Our RV park at Cooper Landing is part of a Resort lodge that sits on the Kenai River. This is the river that is full of "Red" Sockeye Salmon. Bonita and I walked down to the river and the salmon was everywhere. We went back and got Bill and the three of us went fishing. Bill and I caught one each...

Jul 22, 2009 - Cooper Landing

We left the rainforest of Portage going halfway across the isthmus to Coopers Landing, established in the Gold Rush days, now the center of fishing on the Kenai & Russian Rivers. We recouped from the 3 days of rain and no hook-ups by doing laundry all day and catching up our Blogs & emails. The weather was sunnier but the clouds came in and it was misting by evening. The morning began barely misting, so we went on a hike along the Russian River with a promise of a viewing platform to see the salmon swimming upstream. It was an easy trail,...

Jul 21, 2009 - Cooper Landing @ Princess RV Park again

We really liked it here and stopped on our way back through (made reservations a few days ago - this place can be tough to get in). There is the one highway down to Homer and so you come back up it again and Cooper Landing is before it meets the Seward Hwy (which we'll take down to Seward and then back north to Anchorage). We were able to get the space we had before and so we have the dogs behind us again. She has the new puppies (6 weeks old). They are so cute and fun! We got here yesterday and were going to spend just 2 nights, but added...

Jul 10, 2009 - Cooper Landing

Hal got his parts and we stocked up on groceries (parked back over at the Walmart). We were off to the Kenai Pennisula - the other place I was anxious to see. There are some great views to be seen as you drive down Seward Highway (I've seen other people's pictures and couldn't wait to see it myself), but none today. We could see some outlines of mountains through all the smoke. The wildfires are still burning and there is a smoke advisory for the Anchorage area. Did I say they're calling this the summer of smoke and heat (record-breaking...

Jul 2, 2009 - Day 21.....Coopers Landing

We awoke, and decided to leave today instead of staying another night. Our ride on 7/3 in to Whittier was going to 5 hours and we had reservations on the ferry, AND, had to be there 2 hours prior to 2:45. We did laundry, and Ron (who is a chiropractor, and Nancy a masseuse, spelling??) came by with their RV. We sat outside of the hotel, they had a picnic area, and while laundry and packing things to be mailed, Ron did Acupunture on Cath and I, and then adusted our necks and back.....pretty cool! We had lunch at Crabbie Patties....No,...

Jul 2, 2009 - Day 21,Cooper Landing, Ak

Everyone slept in today. That never happens. We all had laundry to do, boxes to mail, and back/neck adjustments to take care of. We packed the bikes as much as we could until the laundry was done because we had to check out of the motel. We all hung out in the dirt parking lot for a few hours. Nancy gave me a neck and upper back massage then Ron jabbed me with some acupuncture needles and left me to sit in a camping chair looking like a porcupine, then the adjustment. Don't ever remember one so loud and crunchy before. I immediately jumped...

Jun 29, 2009 - Combat Fishing

We decided we weren't going to give up on catching a Salmon without giving it one more try. We realized on the first attempt that our 7 weight fishing rods were too light for landing them when the end of Dave's rod broke,so we proceeded to a local fly shop and rented two 9 weight fly rods. We were waiting in line at the Ferry a little earlier this morning and were able to cross on the second trip across the river. We hiked down stream, keeping alert for the Grizzly, then claimed a spot without too many close fishermen. At least they weren't...

Jun 27, 2009 - Cooper Landing

Yesterday's fishing float trip started in Kenai Lake and ended in the Kenai River 8 miles downstream. The water is a beautiful turquoise color,very clear, you can see bottom through some very deep water. While fishing was not fast and furious we made up for it with quality fish in the 21" to 22" length, both Rainbow and Dolly Varden. Since the Kenai is all catch and release for Rainbow and Dolly it is hard to get pictures as the fish must be returned to the water quickly. But we did manage to get a few pictures, all in all it was an...

Jun 24, 2009 - Denali to Cooper Landing

We left Denali at 5:30am this morning heading for the Kenai Peninsula driving through Anchorage on the way. A distance of 342 miles. We really hadn't planned on driving quite that far in a day but weather and traffic both were in our favor so we just kept going. The rain finally let up about 100 miles out of Denali so that the remainder of the drive was quite pleasant. Wildlife for the day was two bull Moose standing in the middle of the road. The drive from Anchorage to Cooper Landing had some spectacular scenery as we drove along the...