Homer Bound: Day one!

And we are off at 9:30 am.  I had a relaxing time in the Word but also had a great breakfast.  We left but forgot it being Memorial Day that our bathroom breaks locations would be closed.  We headed to the big arches and were thankful to run into friends who lent us some great head coverings for our helmets in case it rains.  They were just about to come look for us.  They sent us off with prayer and we headed down the road.

Getting on the Seward Highway, we were blessed with sunny skies and light traffic.

Enjoying the view, we were surprised to have perfect timing to meet our friends Haley and Mark @ Indian for the famous "Bird to Gird" trail.  We enjoyed the quieter ride (minus the road noise) and loved the fellowship with other people.  

Little did we know that was the last of the bikers we would see until we saw a few bikers in the town of Soldotna.  

We enjoyed refueling at the station and ran into another fellow athlete and strategy game player.  

We didn't know, but Strava cut off and so we have two legs for Day one.  

After lunch, we had a terrible headwind.  It was mostly flat and we had a Sea Gull fly right beside us.  This section we also saw a dead River Otter and almost witnessed a wreck as someone was trying to take a left turn on a two-lane highway with posted speeds of 65 mph.  (urgh)  

Saw so many Eagles and Trumpeter Swans

Dipnetting for Holligan fish alongside the highway.

Getting closer and leaving the Seward Highway for a few miles, we were heading to Black Bear Campground.  We had made contact with our friends, and new a hot fire was soon to be our resting place.

The wind subsided a bit, but only a few miles off the highway to camp!

Day One Stats:  50.8 miles in 4 hours 

elevation:  1665 ft