7/29: The Kenai's West Coast

Thursday July 29, Kenai City or bust: John and I reluctantly agreed that we would have to begin the long drive home on Friday in order to be back in Fort Collins by August 8. So, we all decided that one more beach town destination was in order before our 2 families parted ways. Our friends had another week of fun planned, including a pontoon plane trip to stay at a bear camp in Katmai National Park. We drove back north, up the Sterling Highway along the Kenai’s west coast. It seems that almost all the roads in Alaska are called highways, and most are named after someone. Maybe this makes sense in a state that has only a half dozen or so major thoroughfares. Each one is a big deal – why not name them?

We took a short break at the Russian Orthodox Church on the ocean bluff outside of Ninilchik. The Father was gone fishing, so the door was locked but I chatted with a local guy who was working in the church’s cemetery, repairing his uncle’s grave site. He’d grown up in Ninilchik, but lived in Homer now. Russian surnames are still everywhere in this part of Alaska.

For lunch, we stopped at Clam Gulch and after a quick bite, we (you guessed it) tried some clam digging. The tide was unusually far out and we walked along the water line looking for the air holes of razor clams, shovels in hand. After absolutely no luck at all, Fei spotted some clammers up ahead of us and waded through a creek to get some advice. They had a bucket full of the elusive creatures and told her to dig very fast, then reach down and pinch with your fingers. Razors apparently can move away quickly. Soon thereafter, Fei caught a clam! The rest of us didn’t seem to have the knack. The returning tide and more rain sent us back to our vehicles.

Our final night together was north of Kenai City at a tranquil and beautiful campground right above the beach. As we circled the campground, looking for 2 good spots next to each other, a little quail-like bird crossed the road and stepped into the bushes. I grabbed my bird identification pamphlet. Cool! I’d spotted a Ptarmigan – Alaska’s state bird. We had a great night. After feasting on king crab legs, smoked salmon and steak, the boys built a bonfire on the beach and we all gathered round. A fitting way to celebrate the end of a remarkable 3 weeks.