If the wind had been just a tad stronger today, I could have used my RV as a kite and not bothered with the engine.
Oh wait … I forgot. The wind was going the wrong direction. Drats!
Yep. The day before Memorial Day, and I’m once again on the road.
Windy conditions did make for an interesting drive around Turnagain Arm. It had to be close to low tide, although I truthfully couldn’t say whether the tide was coming in or going out.
The wind was blowing strongly enough from the direction of Prince William Sound and out towards Cook Inlet that on the surface, at least, the waves appeared to be moving sea-ward. However, on a windy day, this can easily be misleading, with the strong currents below moving in rhythm with the changing tides.
The waters of Turnagain Arm were roiling and angry today, more so than I’ve seen this past year or so.
Waves crashed against offshore rocks, dashing a dirty, light-brown foam high in the air. No gleaming white-capped waves, sparkling water or glistening Beluga whales this day – the turbulent water boiled a menacing, dull chocolate hue, the abundant glacial silt of the sea floor stirred to a slurry.
On a day like this, it can be hard to say where the mud flats ended and the water began – until you get to the very end of the inlet, which was currently all mud flats. The tide was most definitely out.
Although this may look like water, it’s actually almost entirely gleaming, wet glacial silt – what we call “the mud flats” – with narrow channels of deceptively deep water running like rivers through and even under the mud.
The exciting aspect of this picture is nearly invisible, darn it (I really need to upgrade to a cell phone with a better camera). I might have missed it entirely if I hadn’t chosen that rest area for Rhonda’s potty break.
If you zoom in on the mud flats, especially towards the left side of the picture and well out away from the shore, you can pick out dozens and dozens of tiny black dots. Sigh. Sorry. It was really impressive in person, and could’ve been spectacular with a good camera and decent zoom lens. Use your imagination!
There were dozens and dozens of bald eagles out on the mud! 🦅🦅🦅 A pair of majestic eagles flying overhead, heading towards the feast, was what drew my attention.
It must have been perfect pickings of some sort to have so many congregating in one spot. Awesome spectacle, even if I can’t properly share it with you.
The wind continued to dish up a challenging head wind as I drove on towards Portage, then turned into a dandy tail wind as I made my way away from the water and up Turnagain Pass.
Surprisingly, I find my RV to be relatively stable and free of white-knuckle steering in a head-wind. It’s harder on gas mileage, but much easier to control than when the wind gusts in from the side.
Well, another beautiful travel day is behind me now. Miss Rhonda and I are settled for the night, with Memorial Day weekend campfires beginning to bloom up and down the shoreline.
It’s probably not going to be a particularly quiet evening, but the revelers will mostly head for home tomorrow … and I get to stay until Thursday. 😉 For tonight, I have my Bose headphones and a good Audible book.
Where am I?
De & the Dachsies - Our Rambles 