Anchorage - check

July 13, 2009
Palmer, AK

When we were in this area before (a couple of weeks ago), we didn't have a chance (or the inclination?) to visit Anchorage. Since the trip down and back on the Kenai required us to return via the same path, we decided to spend a day seeing what we'd missed.

We didn't really do a lot of the tourist-trap stops (not our thing, per se), but did catch a few sights. Our first stop was the Aviation Museum along Lake Hood. They had interesting displays focusing on the 1920-1960 timeframe. Considering how early that was in the overall history of the airplane, it's amazing how commercial things got so quickly, with numerous companies being formed to fly people, mail, supplies, and whatever would fit to remote areas. Of course, in the early days, many of the highways we've traveled on this trip didn't exist, so "remote" meant something different.

After lunch by the lake watching the seaplanes take off and "land" (is it really a "landing" if you touch down on water?), we did a drive-by of the "old town" area, which is basically several blocks full of souvenir shops and bars - pass, thank you. We did cross a couple of bridges to find the salmon viewing station (reds were running) and stopped at the Statehood Monument. It's intriguing that Alaska's younger than me statehood-wise, although I was too young to remember. Maybe I'm just getting old...

Click here for pictures.

Driving...

July 12, 2009
Eagle River, AK

Today was an easy day, as we simply drove. We haven't had a day like that in quite a while! We left Homer in moderate fog and low clouds (I suppose that's what fog is, right?), although we climbed above it on and off as we traveled north. We stopped in Soldotna for a break (baked goods from the Moose is Loose, plus I couldn't resist taking a picture of the sign in the parking lot at Fred Meyer), and then pressed on toward Anchorage. Since we wanted to get on the other side of the heavily-populated area to avoid traffic (Anchorage is Alaska's largest city), we pressed on to Eagle River, about 10 miles north. After a fuel stop, we parked for the night at the Fred Meyer store.

On a clear day...

July 11, 2009
Homer, AK

...you can see forever. With haze and a marine layer, not so much. We thought we might get a clear day for photos, but it wasn't to be - this time. At least we haven't had any rain for a while. Oops, probably shouldn't have said that!

Today was our last day in Homer so, what else, we took a drive somewhere else. In this case, that somewhere else was only 15 miles back up the Sterling Highway to a wide spot in the road called Anchor Point. An explorer centuries ago lost an anchor here, and it's been called Anchor Point ever since. In modern times, the local claim to fame is that it's the farthest western point in North America that you can reach solely by road. Sure, there are a lot of roads in areas west of here; there's still a lot of Alaska out there - but - you have to take a ferry to get there. So, we've captured both east and west, as two summers ago we got to the most eastern point on our trip to Nova Scotia. Not bad for two old farts roaming around in a "camper".

We started out with a stop at the local Farmer's Market (like many, light on "farm" but plenty of "market" - trinkets and crafts). On the way back, we stopped at the Norman Lowell Gallery and saw many nice (and spendy) paintings from over 50 years of work by the artist. Since we couldn't afford the art, we got a few free pictures in the garden before heading back to Homer. We wrapped up with a few shots of the local boat (and more) graveyard, basically a junkyard by the sea.

Click here for pictures...

After dropping the pups back at the coach, we headed out for a late lunch: a dozen oysters on the half shell. They're local, fresh and reasonably priced - who knows when we'll see that again? From there, it was picture processing time, grilling steaks, posting backlogged blog entries, and packing up for tomorrow's departure.

We'll head back up the Sterling Highway past Soldotna (possibly with another stop at the Moose Is Loose Bakery), then north to the Anchorage/Palmer area. We'll see the sights in Anchorage on Monday, and then have Geri's follow-up MRI (from the kidney operation in April) done in Wasilla on Tuesday morning. From this point, we're pretty much "headed home", as we're on the downhill side of the trip. We still have quite a bit to see in Alaska, though, and our next stop after Palmer/Wasilla will be Denali National Park and Mount McKinley. From there, we'll head to Fairbanks with a possible side trip to the Arctic Circle. Then it'll be back on the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction, headed for The Yukon, BC, and the "lower 48".

A routine day - except for the mead

July 10, 2009
Homer, AK

Today was a quiet day with a little shopping thrown in. We went to the Safeway, we went to a local bakery (Two Sisters), we went to the wine shop, and we went to the meadery. Meadery? Yep, there's an artisan shop (Ring of Fire Meadery) here that makes mead. Honey, water, yeast, and time - you've got mead. Add some juice from any kind of fruit and you've got melomel. Add juice and other parts of the plant (skins, stems, seeds, roots) and you've got meddyglyn. Oh, and you thought I wasn't paying attention?

We tasted a whole range of products, basically everything they make except the cysers (like cider except made with apples and - you guessed it - honey), and bought a couple of bottles to try over time. Since honey is the key ingredient, they source it from all over, especially Hawaii. In fact, there seemed to be a strong link between the 49th and 50th states throughout the shop. Maybe they're different kinds of snowbirds: Alaska in the summer and Maui in the winter. I can think of worse things to happen. In any event, Geri bought me a small jar of Macadamia Nut Honey from Hawaii, which I've never had (or even heard of) before.

On the way home, we stopped for a couple of pictures - hanging flowers and, well, you get to guess what kind of shop the other one is.




OK, it's a feed and animal store.

Great spot for a few days

July 9, 2009
Homer Spit, Homer, AK

We moved to the Spit this morning, and parked in one of the city-run "camgrounds". We use that term loosely because it's pretty rustic and the concept of "campground site" is open to a degree of interpretation. The section we're in is called "beachfront"; there aren't numbered, assigned spaces. You just pack in as close (or as far apart!) as you can. We've got a great spot looking out at Kachemak Bay, parked right near the water. Well, at least we're near the water at high tide. Low tide? not so much., as we're in an area where the mud flats extend out several hundred feet. No matter for us; we're just enjoying the view. We decided to stay here for three nights.

After getting settled in from the long drive (Elks to Spit: 6 miles), we headed out for a little tourist action. Well, we really headed out in search of lunch. Truth be told, Geri and I were on a mission to find local oysters, which we'd read about on the way down the Kenai. Bob thought we might be able to get lunch at the Salty Dog Saloon, but it turned out to be just a dive bar. The inside was dark and smoky, and the walls and ceilings were covered with tourists' dollar bills. Apparently, it's "the thing to do" to ruin a perfectly good dollar with a witty or raunchy (or, if you're clever, both) saying using a magic marker and then staple it to the building. I asked Bob if he brought any Monopoly Money; no way were we leaving legal tender. I was ready to have a beer but everyone else wanted food (apparently, hops and barley don't count), so we kept moving. We ended up at "Captain Patties" for lunch, starting with the oysters on the half shell. I had a halibut taco (good) and Geri had the rockfish special (battered and deep-fried - excellent), while Marlene had the seafood sampler (also very good). With a Moose Drool beer (good but not "authentic local" since it's imported from Montana).

Once fed, we decided to do some touring. Bob took us up into town and out East End Road along/above the Bay. With one moose sighting and a stop at the local winery, it was a great way to spend an afternoon. Click here for pictures.

We ended the day with a beautiful sunset around 11:00 PM. It's amazing how the days are already getting shorter, although still a little weird to be saying that close to midnight.

Easy drive to Homer

July 8, 2009
Homer Elks, Homer, AK

"Are Bart and Lisa there"? Nope, but we're in Homer, halibut fishing capitol of the world. You don't have to take my word for it. They have it on a sign at the scenic turnout on the bluff just before town.

Homer is like two towns in one. The main portion of the burg is located on the side of a hill, overlooking the water (Cook Inlet to the west and Kachemak Bay to the east). The rest of the town is on "The Spit", a narrow strip of land that extends 4+ miles out into the Bay. The town is part "artsy-fartsy" and part "hippie escape" (both nouveau and old school). The Spit is all about fishing.

We found a spot for the night at the Elks Lodge (thanks again, Bob and Rod!) and settled in. We'll explore the town and the Spit starting tomorrow. We'll probably be here for a couple of days.

Homer Visitor

July 8, 2009
Homer, AK

We arrived in Homer today (no, Bart and Lisa aren't here), and got a spot at the Elks Lodge for the night (thanks, Bob and Rod!). I know I have some updates to catch up on, but just wanted to post this quickly. Geri heard a noise outside this evening and looked out the window. This is what she saw...