There's No Place Like Home

 Shortly after leaving Seward this morning Judy began to read about an artificial waterfall that we would soon be nearing.

 This important weir monitors migrating salmon on their way back home to spawn at the place of their initial release on Bear Creek. This is a great place to watch modern salmon management techniques and to see returning adult fish leap the artificial falls.

More than four million young coho and sock-eye salmon were released here in 2006 as part of a project to increase salmon runs in Resurrection Bay.

While there we were able watch a sow brown bear teaching her cub how to fish.

Later in the day we saw our first "combat fishing"on the Russian River. I wasn't very impressed and felt that I wasn't missing anything.

                                     The scenery was once again beautiful.

This well-equipped young fisherman was handing out some free advice to an older angler who was leaving after being "skunked" on the river.

We are in Captain Cook State Recreation Area tonight on Cook Inlet, named for the captain who was the first European to sail here in 1778, and marvel at the dense foliage and flowers all around.

The growing season is short this far North but the days are long with frequent rain and almost no darkness so plants grow very quickly. It stays light enough to stay outside and read almost all night long.

                                                                Wild Geranium

                                                                     Bluebells

                                                               Chocolate Lily

                                                               Beach Cinquefoil

                                                              Dwarf Dogwood

Clearly visible within the Chigmit Mountains across Cook Inlet are the volcanoes that form the easternmost part of the Aleutian chain. Known as the "Ring of Fire", some of these have erupted as recently as 1992.