May 13 Seward....at the bottom of the Kenai Penninsula

This is the view we woke up to this morning. That's the American Legion Post in in Kenai. We even saw some of the blue sky when we looked out....but that was not to last long. Was definitely nicer weather than when we went to bed. I went in to get some coffee and walk Tommy, but true to his nature, Chris began breakfast. Here's the pics of that reindeer sausage. Yummy in the tummy.

This was my goal today. The Russian Orthodox Church. They are doing massive restoration. That section that you can see being worked on is where the timber walls are bowing out. Lots of work being done. The icons and artifacts from inside are in the visitor center. Those are in the visitor center.

This tapestry, or whatever they call it is used during Holy Week. It is layed on the altar Good Friday & Saturday.

This is an icon of the "Dormition of the Blessed Virgin". I take that to mean her death or falling asleep in the Lord.

This is the ornate cloth they put over the challice. I think we call it the "pall". Same thing that we used decades ago, but much more elaborate. Their name was different, though. All of their icons and holy artifacts were set up in the visitor center just as if they were in church. This church was so small that 2 of them would fit inside our small church in Waterloo. There are lots of Russians in the Kenai Penninsula; and you know the reason for that.

This was the most un (evique thrift store that I have ever been in. Having not packed enough long sleeve shirts, I looked for some in Fred Myer and WalMart, but they have all summer stuff now, even though there is still snow and ice around. So, I thought a thrift store might be the answer. There were at least a dozen different rooms in here for: kitchen utensils, dishes, electronics, tools, nic nacks, clothes, blankets, etc, etc, etc. Needless to say, I found what I went for. What a place.

Continuing on to look at some more buildings in "old town" Kenai. Many of the buildings are being restored and threfore are not going to be open to the public. This picture does not show the "list" of this building; probably some kind of small barn or shed, sunk into the ground at one corner.

Another of the original buildings.

A view of the mountains across the Kenai River from the town of Kenai. Shortly to the right this river dumps into the Cook Inlet. One of these mountains may be Mt. Redoubt, which is an active volcano; but I don't know which one is it. Remember, it blew its top a year or so ago.

Another view across the Kenai River.

Here is where we are camping outside the Seward American Legion Post 5. We are always among friends when we stop at an American Legion post....anywhere. Chris even met a fellow who had been on the Mackinaw ice breaker, like Chris was.

Tomorrow we are going on a whale watching boat ride, weather permitting. Then back to the Legion for a steak fry.

So, until we connect again....