Tufted puffin.

Humpback whale.

Holgate glacier.

An iceberg calves from the Holgate glacier (left).

 

A cruise ship is dwarfed by the immense Holgate glacier (right).

Sea lions.

 

This evening we eat at Ray's Waterfront Dining in Seward, where we have expensive but excellent meals, the highlights being the Creole bread pudding and the opportunity to have 'seconds' for dessert.

 

Orcas.

The good weather we have experienced over the last eight days continues as we enjoy a sled dog ride that commences near the Exit Glacier. The visit to Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team's kennels begins with us meeting the puppies from two recently born litters, with visitors being encouraged to handle the lovely, docile, nine week old pups. We then take a two-mile sled ride through the forest, pulled by twelve of the powerful and enthusiastic huskies.

The load for the dogs to pull consists of seven passengers plus the musher, who explains training and racing techniques to us. A path has been specially created for the customised wheeled sleds, and provides a bumpy but exciting ride.

Back in Seward, at the National Park Visitor Center, we watch a slide show and a video before having a lunch of coffee and muffins at the Harbor Street Creamery. We then drive from Seward to Homer on a road through a tree dominated landscape.

 

A drive of some 170-miles gets us to Homer and the Best Western Bidarka Inn. On the way we stop to admire the distant views of snow-covered volcanoes that fill the skyline on the other side of Cook Inlet.

 

After calling at the office of Bald Mountain Air Services to verify the details of tomorrow's flight to Geographic Harbor, we purchase sandwiches etc for our lunch on that trip, then go in search of a restaurant for this evening's meal. Eventually, we decide to eat at Captain Patties Fish House where we all have salads; halibut; and cheesecake.