A Campsite With a View

Happy hour with a view.

After getting a good night's sleep and having a long coffee time, we decided to explore Homer and go somewhere for lunch.  We drove through town then out to the Spit where we had a good lunch at Fresh Catch Cafe.  It was a quiet day, but Steve took some great sunset pictures of the view from the campground about 10:30 tonight.

Our local glacier.  

Views from our campground.

Halibut!

Up at 5 A.M. !  That is just brutal!  We were at the boat,  the Sundy, at 6 A.M. and on the waters of Cook Inlet at 6:30.  The weather was overcast and chilly, but the rain thankfully held off until we were back on shore.  The scenery was spectacular!  It took about 1 1/2 hours for us to reach the first spot to fish for salmon, but none of the 16 of us aboard had any luck.   After trying another couple of spots for salmon, the captain decided that we should fish for halibut, which suited Steve and me just fine since we are not keen on salmon.

As soon as we switched to the halibut poles, things started hopping.  The limit for halibut is 2 per person, and Steve got 2 nice ones right away plus some cod as well.  Then I got my 2 right after that.  Meanwhile, David and Jackie each got their limits bringing in 4 nice halibut.  Everyone on the boat seemed to be pulling in their limits at the same time.  It was very exciting  and lots of fun there for a while!  When the excitement died down, Steve and I went inside to eat and get warm--I was chilled to the bone by that time.



After everyone had caught their limits, most people kept fishing for salmon (but none were to be found) or cod.  Steve and David got several more cod, but soon tired of having to throw the halibut back because of the limits.  Everyone was cold and tired, and we were ready to come in.  On the way back to the pier, the crew filleted the fish, and the 4 of us came home with 48 pounds of halibut and cod!  Not too shabby

We decided that we would all take hot showers to warm up then go out to a restaurant to celebrate.  Unfortunately, I put a load of our fishy clothes into the washer, but Steve had forgotten to take his phone out of his pocket.  The result, a dead phone in spite of being put in a jar of rice provided by Jackie.

We did have a lovely dinner at Captain Pattie's on Homer Spit, then we all hit the sack very early.

Homer

We took our time leaving today because we only had about 36 miles to go from Ninilchik to Homer.  We are staying at the Ocean View RV Park which has some fabulous views of Cook Inlet and the surrounding mountains.

The view out our door.  

After getting set up, we rode down to the Homer Spit to check out where our fishing boat will be tomorrow morning (at 6 A.M.!) and to get fishing licenses for Jackie and me.  The crew of the Sundy said that fishing hasn't been spectacular lately, but that the trip is a "go" for tomorrow.  This boat is 50 feet and looks quite a bit more comfortable than the one David and Steve went on in Ninilchik.

In the small boat harbor we saw a sea otter just cruising by on its back.  We couldn't tell if it had a baby on board or not.


Everyone on the Spit seems to sell fishing licenses and we bought ours at a Chinese market.  We then celebrated by having a drink at the Salty Dawg Saloon--one of the best bloody Mary's ever.  I thought of you Gary!


After a stop at Safeway in Homer we returned home for happy hour with our neighbors from Ellsworth, Maine.   Thought for sure they would know Dee and Dick Gray, but they did not.

Soldotna

We decided to brave the road construction toward Soldotna again in order to visit a Fred Meyer store.  Just outside the town, we came across a young bull moose just grazing along the side of the Sterling Highway.

  In town, we visited a quilt shop, then went to see one of the fish walks that have been built to give people access to the Kenai River.  We watched them fishing for salmon and decided that it was a lot of work!  However, one of the things we like in Alaska is the "Kids Don't Float" program.  Near every public boating, swimming or fishing area there is a place where there are several kid-sized life vests that can be used for free while children are near the water.   Just put one on your child and return it when you leave.  I'm sure it has saved some lives.


After a visit to the Soldotna Fred Meyer store, we headed back home for a quiet evening.

Halibut

The guys were up early and ready for their first Alaskan fishing  adventure.  They were transported to the beach where they climbed aboard (by ladder) their boat which was pulled  up beside 3 others waiting to be put into the water.  Soon a log-skidder came along and pulled the boat down to the edge of the water, turned the boat around, and backed it quite a way out until it was floating.  Then it was disconnected from the skidded and off they went.  There were 4 other fishermen and 2 crew members aboard the 30 foot boat.  The weather was clear and beautiful, and everyone except Steve caught their limit of 2 halibut, but David caught 3 so we got our total of 4 anyway.

 Jackie and I went down to watch them get the boat out of the water, which was exciting.   The log-splitter backed into the water, and then the boat ran at it at full speed (or so it seemed), and hit the boat trailer with a loud smack and a bump.  Then it was pulled out of the water and attached to the truck again.  It is a really different way of getting a boat in and out of the water, but it seems to work!

After picture taking (David caught the biggest fish) and filleting we ended up with 18 pounds of halibut.  Nicely done guys!

Ninilchik

The trip down the Kenai Peninsula to Ninilchick seemed long although it was only 195 miles.  There were beautiful views as we traveled along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, but there were also some delays due to road construction.  The highlight of the trip was when we saw a large moose beside the road munching on some berries as we neared Ninilchik.  Unfortunately, we were going too fast to stop and get pictures, but we all saw it.

After getting settled in and having lunch, we set out to see the area which is divided into Old Ninilchik and New Ninilchik.  The new part is just a small group of stores along the Sterling Highway.   The old part was settled at the turn of the 19th century and contains many old dove-tailed log cabins nestled around the mouth of the Ninilchik River with awesome views of Cook Inlet and the two active volcanos on the other side.  The old Russian Orthodox Church on the bluff above the old village completes the magnificent view.

The Transfiguration of our Lord
Orthodox Church

The old village with the church
on the bluff above.

The old village as seen from the churchyard.  

Mt.Redoubt.  Last eruption 2009.  

Mt.Ilianma

Sunday in Anchorage

I did not catch these--I wish I had!

After a quiet Sunday morning, we set out to see some of the sights of Anchorage.  We started at the Ulu Factory where we watched a demonstration of how to use an ulu knife and saw some very ancient ones.  Then we walked over to the Shipp Creek bridge and watched the salmon fishermen as they angled for silvers.  Some were successful and some were not, but all were interesting to watch.

Next we went to the "Made in Alaska" weekend market where they sold everything from animal furs to ice cream made in Anchorage.  The weather was so beautiful that we enjoyed just wandering through the market and seeing what everyone had for sale.  Steve and I enjoyed a spiral potato stick which was very tasty!



On the way home, we stopped at the Quilt Zone to pick up a pattern.  Happy hour outdoors completed a great afternoon.  THEN....

After dinner, Steve and I drove out to Otter Lake slowly, keeping an eye out for wild life, but saw none even though it looked like perfect territory in which to spot a bear or a moose or at least a deer.
THEN, when we were almost back to the campground, near a busy street, a female moose crossed the road right in front of us!  Steve got his window down and was able to get good pictures of her.  Just as we were congratulating ourselves, a baby moose cavorted across the road to follow mom, who was waiting in the grass!  Speedy Steve captured this on film as well.