June 19 - to Kenai

It started raining this morning about 1230 am.  Stopped for awhile, but started before we were ready to leave.  David got pretty socked bringing in the water and electrical lines.  We were going to "dump", but it wasn't urgent and that was asking for way to much of a soaking.

Our first stop was at the Kasilof Museum, which had historical building and artifacts.  

This first cabin was built in the early 1920's and lived in by two men for more than 30 years.   They started a fox farm (raising fox for their pelts), and later became commercial fishermen after the market fell out of fox pelts.  The new lumber was used to replicate the entry area.  The original did not survive the move, when it was moved to the museum site.

They were well equipped with a washing machine.

And then there is this super duper folding bathtub.

 

Think you could make a call on a telephone like this?  Look Ma, no dial!

This was an interesting structure.  My first guess was a church or school.  I was wrong.  It was used in the fox farming.  The large operation required a lot of food for the animals which was prepared in this building.  The steeple area is actually an observation post.  Seems fox will eat their young if scared, so they kept an eye on them from a distance.

It was climbing ladders to get up to the 3rd floor observation room.

This carving of a sheep out of a sheep horn was most interesting.

 The drive in was mostly trees.  Trees on both sides of the roadway.  It got a bit "same" after awhile, except for the moose on the side of the road.  Seeing the large animals is fun.

It was easier to get the camera out for this big guy.

Nice quilt.  Nice Visitor Center displays, but not a very knowledgeable staff.  Probably knows as much about bicycle riding areas in Kenai as the clerk in the Homer visitor center did in her city.

Vocabulary everyone needs to know, just in case they need to operate a dogsled in an emergency.

The burger bus advertises they have the best burgers in town.  We don't know, but it was a cute place.

This church is 150 years old and in dire need of preservation.  They are fundraising.  It was originally built for $400, but it will need quite a bit more to preserve it.  It is one of the oldest standing Orthodox churches in Alaska, and church services are still regularly held.

The Chapel of St. Nicholas.

Now a cafe, but this was built in 1918 and remains in the original location.

Erik Hansen Scout Park was donated to the city by his parents.  Nice view point.

The nautical theme of this house caught my eye.  It is a private residence now, but it wore many hats since built in 1902.

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The all American city.  You ever see a Walmart without the traditional blue color scheme?

 This is the beach below where we are staying.

They allow camping right on the beach here.

The campground is up on the bluff, behind the stand of trees.

The path was partially washed out.

A moose calf drowned down here this morning.

 I went out at midnight to get some "night" time pictures.

I was surprised to find this tree all lit up with multiple colors of lights.