Change in plans . .

Due to the weather forecast, we will be bypassing Coldfoot, in the Arctic Circle. Instead, we will be going to Valdez, on the Port  Valdez, an estuary off Valdez Arm in Prince William, Sound.  This will allow us to drive the rest of the Glenn Highway, turning south on the Richardson Highway and follow the Trans-Alaskan pipeline into the town of Valdez.  We had planned on visiting the port earlier, but due to a flat tire in coming out of  McCarthy, we bypassed and went straight to North Pole.  Now that the weather is supposed to be snow showers and overcast, we will not be traveling 200+ miles on the pipeline gravel road, as our main reason for going there was to view the Aurora.  We have already seen the Aurora in Homer and it doesn’t make sense to invest the time when it is supposed to be overcast . .

The Erik Hansen Scout Memorial Park in Old Town Kenai.  This is near the site of two Dena’ina traditional houses, or nichils, dating back to 15oo A.D..  The Dena’ina have resided in this vicinity for 2,000 years.

Cathy, overlooking the original site of the Dena’ina settlements.  That is the Kenai river in the background, winding its way to the sea and snow-capped mountains beyond.  The flatlands visible along the river are home to a herd of Caribou.

This is the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, ca 1895, located in Old Town Kenai.  We attended services in this church, along with 24 parishioners of Russian Orthodox faith. The services were done almost entirely in song, with all of us standing and were beautiful and different.  At one point a young girl passed out in front of us, probably from standing still too long. The church is currently undergoing restoration and repairs.

The Chapel of St. Nicholas, ca 1906 adjacent to the church.

We will be leaving Kenai / Soldotna bright and early in the morning (well, alright . . early anyway), stopping in Anchorage for some last-minute groceries, as it will be weeks before we are near a “big city” again.  Next stop: Palmer.