Eagles In Deep Creek and Dip Netting On The Kenai

This morning we woke to strong winds. Really strong winds. Walking on the sandbars and flats we saw so many eagles, mostly adolescents. There are 6 in the above shot. They will not acquire the white head and tail for a few more years. Mother Nature is something, the eagles just blend in so well with the sand and on the cliffs. Here comes Mama and baby, You would hardly know they were on this cliff. But here is Mama on the right side of the above pic and baby on the left. Here is a shot of where we stayed last night from up on a bluff.

The Russian Orthodox church here in Ninilihick was built in 1901, received a new foundation in 1997, and has a congregation of only 20. The Deacon gave a little history about the church and showed me these crowns that are used in wedding ceremonies. Such a simple little church. Looks like a story book church to me with the white picket fence. On the way out from the church a Mommy moose and her 2 babies came out to say hi.

We arrived to the town of Kenai later in the afternoon and had to run straight to the mouth of the Kenai River to see the notorious Dip Netting for Salmon. I thought it would be easy dipping up salmon from the river versus catching them with a rod. Oh let me tell ya, no it is not! The Alaskans really work hard for those fish. Only residents of Alaska may dip net and you must prove that you have lived here for a minimum of 12 months. After 12 months you may travel outside Alaska for 90 days, if you are gone 91, you are no longer a permanent resident. The fisherman hold the dip net on their side and slide them into the river. These dip nets are huge and may be 4 to 6 feet in diameter. This river is more like a bay and has plenty of waves. The fisherman stand from hip to almost chest high in the cold water, waves beating them since they stand where the breakers are, the current is extremely swift, and the winds are enough to blow you away. All to get a fish. It almost looks like a tent city on the beach. Some families set up and stay until they get their fill of fish. I don’t know how the tents did not blow away. Some people came so equipped they even have fish cleaning tables set up right on the beach. There was some catching going on. This guy was completely exhausted. This was something to see and we will be back tomorrow for more excitement.

I had to take pictures of these little kids. Almost everyone on the beach had coats and chest waders on and these children were having so much fun in the surf. These kids are true Alaskans! How in the world are they in that water is beyond me. Even if the water was warm, the wind was enough to make you shiver. They grow ‘em tough in Alaska.