There is hardly anyplace in Alaska that isn't a photo-op. Even when we were just driving from one place to another, we usually had to stop every few yards to take a picture. These are a few of those quick stops as we drove between Valdez (where we'd stayed for over a week) and our next (several-night) stop in Mt St Elias National Park.
We got out to stretch our legs along the Gilahena River.
An elegant pair of Trumpeter Swans. We saw them just after we left Valdez.
More scenery as we walked along the lovely Gilahena River.
LINKING TO: SCENIC WEEKENDS, SKYWATCH FRIDAY, SATURDAY CRITTERS, I'D RATHER B'BIRDING and MOSAIC MONDAY.
Thank you to the hosts for making these sharing opportunities possible. Each of them has a beautiful blog of their own in addition to managing these memes.
THANK YOU to Gemma for SW; to Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy for SWF; to Eileen for SC; to Ani of the Bird D'Pot; and to Judith for MM.
Your generosity is appreciated!
Beautiful, beautiful swans!
Blessings, Aimee
Posted by: Aimee | November 07, 2014 at 10:50 PM
lovely photos, the trumpeter swans are very handsome!
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | November 04, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Such a beautiful wilderness still exists.
Posted by: Donna@Gardens Eye View | November 04, 2014 at 06:05 AM
I think swans are the most elegant birds. These were lovely!
Posted by: Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti | November 03, 2014 at 07:43 PM
I would love to visit one day. Your pictures are amazing. Sorry you weren't able leave a comment on my blog. Last time Blogger was behaving that way, I had to switch to Google Chrome. Something about no longer supporting older browsers. I wonder if something like that is happening again.
Posted by: Jen | November 03, 2014 at 06:18 PM
Beautiful photos, Sallie. The swans are so graceful looking on the water. Were there many mosquitoes and black flies on your trip?
Posted by: Lorrie | November 03, 2014 at 03:43 PM
ally..my new blog is at myramblingwoods.com
Posted by: RamblingWoods | November 03, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Gorgeous scenery and the Trumpeters are stunning!
Posted by: Snap | November 03, 2014 at 06:01 AM
Good Morning Sallie. I can imagine all those photo stops at every turn in the road. I'm not sure I'd have ever got to the intended destination and would definitely have filled a few cards along the way (and on the way back).
Posted by: Phil | November 03, 2014 at 05:03 AM
Where can we send you batteries for your camera so we can continuously travel with you?
These are gorgeous photos.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | November 02, 2014 at 06:39 PM
Such beauty...really love your mosaics.
Posted by: bj | November 02, 2014 at 06:07 PM
I agree. Alaska is a state for fabulous photos and I wish we had seen more of it when we were on a cruise. The swans create an atmosphere of peacefulness.
Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.
Posted by: Judith @ Lavender Cottage | November 02, 2014 at 06:05 PM
wow, how gorgeous to see the swans in that surrounding. So very suitable. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep Travel | November 02, 2014 at 02:57 PM
A stunning landscape and beautiful Trumpeter Swans.
Posted by: Christian | November 02, 2014 at 02:40 PM
Just amazing. Thank you so much for visiting me, in my silly local adventures. Yours are amazing. Hubby want to go to England before he dies. It will take a bit of prep. Wel'll see how it goes!
Posted by: Jenn Jilks | November 02, 2014 at 02:32 PM
Sallie, you can just keep posting Alaska and i'll be a happy bloggish camper.
I love all of these, but, most especially the trumpeter swans.
Posted by: Penny | November 02, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Stunning, extraordinary scenery!!! And of course, the swans...such a regal, majestic bird in our world. You showed them beautifully.
Thanks again for sharing your link at I'd Rather B Birdin'. It's always appreciated!!
Posted by: Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin' | November 02, 2014 at 02:52 AM
Swans a such great birds - I often forget just how big they are!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Posted by: Stewart M | November 02, 2014 at 02:08 AM
Those are some lucky swans...
Posted by: Ramblingwoods | November 01, 2014 at 07:27 PM
I am really enjoying your Alaska photos! Such beautiful scenery. I never would have thought there were swans in Alaska!
Posted by: Karen, Pixel Posts | November 01, 2014 at 06:27 PM
Such amazingly beautiful scenes! Love seeing these. great photos!
Posted by: Marie-AZ | November 01, 2014 at 05:23 PM
How true! There's so much to see and photograph! I visited in the '90s when we still had film to process. I would love to go back with a digital camera. LOVE your photos! Hugs, Diane
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | November 01, 2014 at 04:39 PM
Those swans are beautiful...and even prettier with those backgrounds!
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | November 01, 2014 at 02:12 PM
Beautiful shots of the swans!
Posted by: Pat | November 01, 2014 at 01:56 PM
Lovely Swans.
Posted by: Adam Jones | November 01, 2014 at 01:30 PM
So beautiful! I love the swans.
Posted by: Gunilla | November 01, 2014 at 12:28 PM
so lovely and a great reminder of why i want so much to go!!!!
Posted by: Debbie | November 01, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Yes, photo-ops galore! I'd probably burn up my camera there. Love your photos, Sallie!
Posted by: Gail Dixon | November 01, 2014 at 10:47 AM
Pristine and peaceful. The mountains are much bigger than ours in VA.
Posted by: Colleen | November 01, 2014 at 07:41 AM
Such beauty ! Love the trumpeter swans and of course all of the beauty in Alaska, which is everywhere
Posted by: jeanne stone | November 01, 2014 at 06:57 AM
So, so very beautiful!!
Posted by: Mary Howell Cromer | November 01, 2014 at 04:42 AM
Fabulous scenic views. I would love to see Trumpeters in the wild.
Posted by: Frank (UK) | November 01, 2014 at 03:59 AM
I loved these photos Sallie. I know if I ever get up to Alaska we will be stopping all the time. Those swans are wonderful and the scenery is gorgeous.
Posted by: DeniseinVA | November 01, 2014 at 03:48 AM
Hello Sallie, I am stopping back to say thank you for linking up your pretty swans and post to my critter party. Enjoy your weekend!
Posted by: Eileen | November 01, 2014 at 01:25 AM
Beautiful and scenic place. Swans are having a great time.
Posted by: Rajesh | November 01, 2014 at 12:21 AM
The Trumpeter Swans in the Gilahena River are indeed such an elegant and beautiful pair♡♡♡ The greenery around the river is amazing, isn't it(^_^)ｖ
Happy for your wonderful time during stretch your legs, Sallie;
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: orchid | November 01, 2014 at 12:03 AM
What stunning scenery!
Posted by: Lady Fi | October 31, 2014 at 11:54 PM
Spectacular scenery and lovely Swans
Posted by: Margaret Birding For Pleasure | October 31, 2014 at 11:48 PM
Gorgeous river rivers. I so love the colours of the countryside. The greens are amazingly green for such a cold country.
Posted by: Gemma Wiseman | October 31, 2014 at 08:33 PM
Marvelous to see the swans there!!
Posted by: Sondra-SC | October 31, 2014 at 05:32 PM
Very scenic indeed - your photos are increasing my resolve to visit Alaska.
Posted by: Al | October 31, 2014 at 05:12 PM
It is amazing scenery. so beautiful. I would probably take a bazillion images too.
Posted by: Felicia | October 31, 2014 at 04:57 PM
Wonderful collection. Tom The Backroads Traveller
Posted by: Tom The Backroads Traveller | October 31, 2014 at 04:17 PM
A very beautiful landscape,
and so noble swans ..
Best regards, Karin
Posted by: Karin M. | October 31, 2014 at 12:38 PM
I love the wildness! (And, no, that's not a misprint. I do mean wildness, not wilderness, although I like wilderness too.)
Posted by: magicalmysticalteacher | October 31, 2014 at 09:20 AM
Those are some fantastic landscapes. I really want to do an Alaskan cruise on of these days.
Thank you for your compliment on my blog. Sometimes I think making photos b&w automatically ups the "artistic" factor. ;) In any case, I love your whimsical badgers, they definitely got a smile from me!
Posted by: Halcyon | October 31, 2014 at 09:18 AM
An elegant pair of swans are watching another elegant pair of voyagers.
They are watching each other.
Posted by: Rainfield | October 31, 2014 at 07:37 AM
Must be lovely to stretch the legs along a river. What a beautiful world!
Posted by: Hazel | October 31, 2014 at 06:31 AM
I think I would drive like a snail with all these beautiful views !
Posted by: Gattina | October 31, 2014 at 01:50 AM
There is always something to see with a camera, and you always find the best!
Posted by: Hazel | October 31, 2014 at 01:34 AM
Sallie, beautiful skies and lovely scenic views.. The Trumpeter Swans are gorgeous.. Great post, thanks for sharing.. Have a happy weekend.. PS, I appreciate your visits and comments on my post..
Posted by: Eileene | October 31, 2014 at 01:26 AM
It would be hard to drive around this area... I'd be stopping to take pics too often!
Posted by: Peter B | October 30, 2014 at 08:44 PM
Wonderful shots :)
Posted by: deepa | October 30, 2014 at 07:35 PM
Really beautiful scenery and swans! I love the mosaic you created. :)
Posted by: Lindy | October 30, 2014 at 06:42 PM
Beautiful shots.
Posted by: Yogi | October 30, 2014 at 06:28 PM
beautiful swans! love the mountains in the backdrop of the pond!
(glad you linked in!) :)
Posted by: TexWisGirl | October 30, 2014 at 06:23 PM
I am enjoying your Alaska shots so much. Beautiful scenery and the swans are elegant.
Posted by: Carver | October 30, 2014 at 05:56 PM
Beautiful swans and lovely, peaceful skies!! You did indeed have such a great trip to Alaska!! Thanks, as always, for sharing the beauty and the fun!! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: sylviakirk | October 30, 2014 at 04:56 PM
Gorgeous! I love the swans.
Posted by: Lois | October 30, 2014 at 04:51 PM