Seward Highway Alaska on a Ducati 996

Today was sunny and 40 degrees, a bit windy as we rode along the along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. Mark and I rode out to Girdwood via Seward Highway, he rode his Triumph Daytona 955i, and I rode his Ducati 996. The 996, what a fantastic bike that is, the sound of the dry clutch along with the exhaust rumble of Fast by Ferracci, it’s music to my ears.



I fit the 996 pretty well



Taking a break and taking in the sights

The Seward Highway, from Anchorage to Seward, is a National Forest Scenic Byway and one the 27 roads in the United States that has been designated as an "All-American Road", the most scenic of the “National Scenic Byways” because they have features that are unlike any others in the United States.



Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway



A train runs from Anchorage to Seward for the tourists

The Seward Highway has some dramatic views of mountains and the inlet. At certain times of the year there is a chance of viewing beluga whales and an eagle or two. There's also the possibility of seeing the tide come in. Turnagain Arm's bore tide is the second highest in North America, second only to the tide in Canada's Bay of Fundy.



It still looks like winter up here



Seward Highway, the All-American Road





I better not fall in, the water is cold

In Girdwood we sat and warmed up with warm beverages and a snack. It was a bit chilly without heated gear. I am so amazed by how many motorcycles I saw today and yesterday on the roads. 40 degrees in Chicago, you wouldn’t see that many bikes out. We hung out in Girdwood for a while, it’s a popular place for bikes to meet up at.



Looking toward Seward Highway



We were not the only bikes in Girdwood



At the bakery, looking for a warm beverage

We ended our day with dinner at Simon and Sea Fort’s in Anchorage overlooking the Cook Inlet as the sun was setting. Just amazing. Now I see why people rave about Alaska, it’s truly beautiful and I’ve only seen so very little of it. For dinner I had Alaskan halibut, it was awesome and unfortunately I forgot my camera.

Kayaking Resurrection Bay, Alaska

This is my first time in Alaska. I wasn’t even planning on visiting Alaska but then this opportunity came up and I could not pass it up. It’s not every day that I get invited to go sea kayaking and riding a Ducati in Alaska.

Before I get in to today’s activities I just have to mention that I’ve never been sea kayaking before, actually I’ve never been kayaking period, but I’ve always wanted to try it. As you can imagine, sea kayaking is kind of dangerous, especially up here in Alaska where the water is cold, especially in April.



Seward Highway, heading south from Anchorage



Amazing views from the road



We were not supposed to stop here but I needed a picture in front of the sign

I wasn't too worried. I was in good hands. Mark is an expert sea kayaker, born and raised in Alaska. I was definitely in for a treat this weekend, instead of trying to figure what to see and do around here, I was going to have a local show me around.

We arrived in Seward, AK in the early afternoon, it was sort of windy, Mark told me that it was too windy for someone like me to go out kayaking, since I’ve never kayaked before. We decided to check out the area and see if the winds would die down in a few hours.





Checking out some old ships in Seward



Here I am with Mark's pal Comet at the Forth of July Beach



Playing stick with Comet



Really clear water



Can you tell it's windy by the way my hair is flying around?



Same spot different view



Comet and I hanging out



A pretty cool waterfall in Seward



This is a picture of the whole water fall, it's huge



Water from the waterfall flowing in to Resurrection Bay

At 5PM we started Kayaking the Resurrection Bay, it was 44 degrees, and amazingly it was warmer sitting in the kayak then walking around on land. The wind was off and on, we stayed toward the calmer waters. It was a lot of fun but a lot of work. My right got kind of sore, I guess I paddled more to the left then to the right.



After a short kayaking lesson, I'm waiting for Mark to push me in



Paddling with those snow covered mountains in the distance was a truly amazing experience



This one was taken from the shore





Taking a short break



There's Mark, you can tell the wind is still blowing a bit



Calmer waters



I did it, and I'm still dry

So what is it about sea kayaking in Alaska that is just so amazing? Maybe it’s the stunning mountain views, or being all alone in the water, or the marine wildlife at close range. I can’t really explain the feeling but this is probably one of the most amazing things that I’ve experienced. The sea lion kind of freaked me out, I was worried that he’s come too close and tip me over. We took preclusions and stayed pretty close to the shore since the water is so cold this time of the year, a person would only last a few minutes in the water if one went overboard.




The kayaks back on land

After we were done with kayaking, we stopped for dinner in Seward at the Apllo Restaurant. The food was good, and I really loved Alaskan Amber, very good beer. We left for Anchorage at 9PM, the sun was just starting to set. There are so many things to love about Alaska, but the one thing that really stands out for me, is the longer daylight hours in spring and summer. In Chicago the sun sets around 6PM right now, here in Alaska with three more hours of daylight, you can do so many more activities outside.









Alaskan Amber



Dinner at the Apollo in Seward, halibut and mashed potatoes

Apollo Restaurant in Seward

Seward, Alaska