North to Alaska

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Day 32 Homer

When we listen to Rving friends who have made the Alaska trip before us one of the destinations that always comes up as a favorite is Homer and camping on the Homer Spit. The 4th holiday has made this a very busy place so we drove down from Ninilchik, a 35 mile trip, early enough to choose a site with a great view on the city beach near the base of the Spit. We will be here without hookups for the next three days but that is not really an issue in the Tradewinds. The upside is the view out the windshield and the room we have on each side of us.  We have watched kids and eagles playing on the beach in front of us this afternoon and we are not sure who was having more fun!

We drove out to the end of  the Spit after we got settled and checked out the mass of boats, cars, and RVs that have gathered in the mile or so out to lands end. The spit is full of shops, restaurants, fishing and cruise charter companies, and a large boat harbor.  Homer is known as the halibut capital of the world and everyone seems to be here to make it so.

We will have a chance to check out the restaurants and shops tomorrow evening and Wednesday as we are taking a cruise tomorrow morning. Art and Jo Savoy (Mexico) and Lee and Jeanne Faust who we met in Seward last week are meeting us here to take a sightseeing cruise across Kachemak Bay to Soldovia for three hours and will have dinner here on the spit when we return.

We also drove up on Hillside Drive overlooking the bay and spit this afternoon. The view from up there was breathtaking. Kachemak Bay has 5 glaciers above it that all reach down almost to the water and the spit is a distinctive landmark as it juts out into the bay from the edge of town.

We also checked out a few of the shops in Homer including a wood carver who had made some very humorous statutes of moose, bears, and moosquitos. Jeff was ready to shell out for a little moose for the m/h but got outvoted.

We are spending a quiet evening watching the beach and reading.
 

Attachments

  • Homer Sign [800x600].JPG
    Homer Sign [800x600].JPG
    92.1 KB · Views: 39
  • Homer Spit 2 [800x600].JPG
    Homer Spit 2 [800x600].JPG
    66.3 KB · Views: 42
  • Eagle 1 [800x600].JPG
    Eagle 1 [800x600].JPG
    83.8 KB · Views: 36
  • Kachemak Bay [800x600].JPG
    Kachemak Bay [800x600].JPG
    48.9 KB · Views: 40
  • Glacier 2 [800x600].JPG
    Glacier 2 [800x600].JPG
    67.4 KB · Views: 35
  • Bossy Moose  [800x600].JPG
    Bossy Moose [800x600].JPG
    115.5 KB · Views: 45
  • Moosquito [800x600].JPG
    Moosquito [800x600].JPG
    125.7 KB · Views: 43
  • Eagle 3 [800x600].JPG
    Eagle 3 [800x600].JPG
    98.9 KB · Views: 37
  • Evening [800x600].JPG
    Evening [800x600].JPG
    63.7 KB · Views: 40
Jeff, If you haven't already done it, take a ride out the East Road (it goes several miles along the north rim of the bay).  Spectacular sights and photo ops.  lou
 
We drove the East End Road all the way to the end, it's at least 20 miles, and the view are incredible.  Definitely worth the drive.

The chainsaw carvings in Seldovia are something to see.  They have an annual contest there.  Last year's winner was on display in the visitor's center.
 
Ned and Lou:

We followed the East End Road down about 5 miles yesterday.
 
Jeff and Sue,

I'm glad you got some views from up above the Homer Spit.  Some of the people who live up on the hill have fabulous views!

The restaurant right out at the very end of the Homer Spit was just a tiny hole in the wall on our first trip and had grown considerably by the next trip.  They had the best halibut I've ever eaten.  Wish I could remember the name of their specialty halibut dish.  Seems to me it's named after someone famous like Napolean but that's not right.  I'll be dining with you.  ;)

ArdraF

 
ArdraF said:
Jeff and Sue,

I'm glad you got some views from up above the Homer Spit.  Some of the people who live up on the hill have fabulous views!

The restaurant right out at the very end of the Homer Spit was just a tiny hole in the wall on our first trip and had grown considerably by the next trip.  They had the best halibut I've ever eaten.  Wish I could remember the name of their specialty halibut dish.  Seems to me it's named after someone famous like Napolean but that's not right.  I'll be dining with you.  ;)

ArdraF

Ardra:

Thanks we will be out there again tomorrow and will check it out.
 
Day 33 Seldovia

We spent a leisurely day with our friends the Savoys and Fausts today on a cruise to nearby Seldovia that started with a walk along the spit this morning in quiet solitude.
Our friends the eagles were back as were horseback riders enjoying the minus low tide. Our walk took us by icons of the mariner way of life that exists here in Homer as well as the beautiful landscape surrounding Kachemak Bay.

The cruise to Seldovia on the Discovery left from the spit and included a slow trip around several small islands full of wildlife and seas full of sea otters. With all the stops we made the trip to Seldovia took three hours while the nonstop return was an hour and 12 minutes

We had never seen such a concentration of birds including Puffins, Common Murres, Red Headed Cormorants, and various members of the seagull family. We also met a several large groups of sea otters, many who were carrying pups on their bellies.

Seldovia was settled by Russian fur traders in the late 1800s who established trading posts to trade for the abundant sea otters living in the surrounding waters. After the near extinction of the otter population Seldovia continued as a shipping hub for the gold and coal mining of the area in the early 1900?s. Today it is a tourist destination accessible only by sea and air.

Our stay in Seldovia was for three hours which included plenty of time for lunch and a chance to see its landmarks including the ever present Russian Orthodox church that reflects the work of early Russian missionaries.. As I have mentioned the churches demonstrate how completely the Russian settlers had tamed the Kenai before the Seward Purchase.

Notice the difference in tides as we left and returned to the small boat harbor at Homer Spit. I also took a photo of one of many examples of homemade Alaska RVs we have run across.

After our return to Homer everyone met at the local Elks club to say goodbye for awhile.  Since we are all planning on taking the same general route back through Alaska and Canada we are sure to meet up again in the next few weeks.
 

Attachments

  • Peaceful Morning [800x600].JPG
    Peaceful Morning [800x600].JPG
    61.4 KB · Views: 35
  • Eagles Are back [800x600].JPG
    Eagles Are back [800x600].JPG
    71.4 KB · Views: 34
  • Horses [800x600].JPG
    Horses [800x600].JPG
    38.1 KB · Views: 33
  • Icons [640x480].JPG
    Icons [640x480].JPG
    107.2 KB · Views: 34
  • Discovery [800x600].JPG
    Discovery [800x600].JPG
    128.1 KB · Views: 37
  • Alaskan RV [800x600].JPG
    Alaskan RV [800x600].JPG
    118.6 KB · Views: 47
  • A Few Common Murres [800x600].JPG
    A Few Common Murres [800x600].JPG
    77.2 KB · Views: 33
  • Red  Beak Comorant [800x600].JPG
    Red Beak Comorant [800x600].JPG
    143.3 KB · Views: 37
  • Puffin [800x600].JPG
    Puffin [800x600].JPG
    84.8 KB · Views: 33
  • Sea Otters & Pups [800x600].JPG
    Sea Otters & Pups [800x600].JPG
    95.1 KB · Views: 34
  • Seldovia 1 [800x600].JPG
    Seldovia 1 [800x600].JPG
    104.6 KB · Views: 38
  • Seldovia 2 [800x600].JPG
    Seldovia 2 [800x600].JPG
    89.8 KB · Views: 35
Day 33 Seldovia More Photos
 

Attachments

  • Seldovia Church [800x600].JPG
    Seldovia Church [800x600].JPG
    99.7 KB · Views: 34
  • Back in Homer [800x600].JPG
    Back in Homer [800x600].JPG
    83.6 KB · Views: 30
  • Low Tide Outbound [800x600].JPG
    Low Tide Outbound [800x600].JPG
    95.5 KB · Views: 34
  • High Tide Return [800x600].JPG
    High Tide Return [800x600].JPG
    88.7 KB · Views: 32
  • Sue [800x600].JPG
    Sue [800x600].JPG
    87.6 KB · Views: 36
  • Alaskan RV [800x600].JPG
    Alaskan RV [800x600].JPG
    118.6 KB · Views: 36
  • Dry Land [800x600].JPG
    Dry Land [800x600].JPG
    88.9 KB · Views: 36
Still enjoying  Thank you both  Sue doesn't look as if she's having any fun with that grin  LOL
 
Jeff Cousins said:
...
We spent a leisurely day ... that started with a walk along the spit this morning in quiet solitude.
...
How are the mosquitos up there?  Are some areas/months worse than others?
 
KodiakRV said:
How are the mosquitos up there?  Are some areas/months worse than others?

When you get off the coast they can get pretty thick and thirsty. Here on Homer Spit they are a minor annoyance. It also has been cool and windy which is a big help.

When up here carry LOTS of Deets! 8)
 
Jeff and Sue,

Can't believe the height of those dock piers!  At first glance I thought they were sailboat masts and then realized they were part of the dock.  They must have huge tides there!

When you go to Denali, expect great hoards of mosquitos.  We had mosquito hats with netting and wore them along with long sleeves and pants tucked in boots.  If you expect the worst, maybe they won't be so bad.  ;)

ArdraF


 
Ardra

Last year they weren't bad at all at Denali but then it was windy, rainy and cool all the time we were there so that kept them hiding.
 
Day 34 The 4th in Homer

We have spent a very lazy day in Homer. We went for a walk this morning and then
spent a couple of hours checking out shops on the spit and downtown for a tee shirt for a friend. We had lunch at the spit and then took a drive out NE of town for a bit before returning to the motorhome and spent a quiet afterno0on watching everyone play on the beach.

One distraction of the day was watching Mt Augustine spew steam all day growing in intensity this afternoon. The volcano is one of the most active in the Aleutian chain and is located across Cook Inlet 75 miles SW of here.

After grilling halibut and salmon we invited our neighbors over for a fire for a couple of hours and finally succumbed to the wind and cool temperatures and settled for a TV and warm m/h for the evening.

Because of the long daylight hours most communities here do not have fireworks; they loose their impact in bright daylight. We will have to settle for a little flag waving as we also missed the local parade at 6:00PM. Hopefully the cool weather will also put a damper on the impromptu fireworks we had last night around 12:30AM! Oh well, it wouldn?t be the 4th without them.
 

Attachments

  • Mt St Agustine 1 [800x600].JPG
    Mt St Agustine 1 [800x600].JPG
    90.8 KB · Views: 43
  • Mt St Augustine 2 [800x600].JPG
    Mt St Augustine 2 [800x600].JPG
    81.3 KB · Views: 42
  • Mmmmmmm [800x600].JPG
    Mmmmmmm [800x600].JPG
    96.1 KB · Views: 47
  • Evening [800x600].JPG
    Evening [800x600].JPG
    78.7 KB · Views: 42
  • Campfire [800x600].JPG
    Campfire [800x600].JPG
    116.5 KB · Views: 48
Day 35 Anchorage Bound

We left Homer this morning under threatening skies and by the time we passed Soldotna were in rain for a good part of the trip. This is the last leg of our trip along the coast of Alaska and we were remembering how lucky we have been on the weather the past few weeks.

We stopped for a disappointing lunch at Gwen?s Lodge in Cooper?s Landing which is at the confluence of the Kenai and Russian rivers, THE center for sockeye salmon fishing in Alaska. Gwen?s was completed in 1952, the year the Sterling Highway connected the lower Kenai to Seward and Anchorage and claims to be the oldest eatery on the Kenai. With their slow service they must have been the only eatery on the Kenai!

The fishing here is described as ?combat? fishing because the anglers are standing shoulder to shoulder up and down the rivers during the salmon runs from late June through August. There are rules of ?Good Sportsmanship? posted to control the crowd during the run.

Just north of the junction of the Seward Highway and the Whittier/Glacier Highway that we took through the tunnel last week is the Alaska Wildlife Refuge in Portage.  Portage is located at the very end of the Turnagain RM, one of the last fingers of the cook inlet reaching into interior Alaska that helps form the Kenai Peninsula.  The refuge is a non-profit foundation that with the support of the Alaska park Service and US Forest Service provides a home for orphaned and injured animals until they can fend for themselves.

While it is a lot more exciting to see the animals in the wild as we travel visting the Refuge allows you an up close look at most of the wildlife species found in this section of Alaska. We enjoyed a couple of hours walking and driving through the preserve and taking lots of photos.

Just north of Portage is the town of Girdwood and the Alyeska Ski Resort. We are spending the night here to avoid a late arrival in Anchorage and enjoyed dinner at the Lift 5 restaurant here in town. Tomorrow we arrive in Anchorage to spend a few days in the ?big  city? and see Jeff?s niece Jo and her family.
 

Attachments

  • Rainy Drive [800x600].JPG
    Rainy Drive [800x600].JPG
    69.4 KB · Views: 36
  • Kenai River [800x600].JPG
    Kenai River [800x600].JPG
    120.9 KB · Views: 42
  • Kenai Lake [800x600].JPG
    Kenai Lake [800x600].JPG
    40.2 KB · Views: 38
  • Turnagain Arm [800x600].JPG
    Turnagain Arm [800x600].JPG
    48.8 KB · Views: 37
  • Elk [800x600].JPG
    Elk [800x600].JPG
    129.4 KB · Views: 41
  • Brown Bear 2 [800x600].JPG
    Brown Bear 2 [800x600].JPG
    139.2 KB · Views: 41
  • Moose [800x600] [800x600].JPG
    Moose [800x600] [800x600].JPG
    143.6 KB · Views: 40
  • Muskox [800x600].JPG
    Muskox [800x600].JPG
    110.2 KB · Views: 43
  • Alyeska [800x600].JPG
    Alyeska [800x600].JPG
    108 KB · Views: 46
Day 36 & 37 Anchorage

We have spent a delightful two days with Rick & Jo Phillips and their son Hunter, Jeff?s niece and her family. Rick is assigned to Elmendorf AFB here in Anchorage and they arrived here in February of this year, brrrr!

We spent today sightseeing in downtown Anchorage, a truly unique Alaska city of 260,000 that reflects its frontier character. Unlike many of the coastal communities of Alaska Anchorage does not owe its existence to the gold rushes around the turn of the century.  It came into being in 1915 as the construction of the Alaska Railroad got underway and saw immediate growth during WWII and the discovery of oil on the Kenai Peninsula in 1957 and on the North Slope in 1968.

Our tour of downtown Anchorage included seeing salmon fishermen on the ship canal a couple of blocks from the city center and admiring buildings peppered with murals. A visit would not be complete without a visit to the Uli knife factory and checking out the many amusing salmon statutes around the downtown.

We had lunch at the Sourdough Barbecue Restaurant, one of the better meals we have enjoyed in Alaska. If you come be sure to order some of their homemade corn fritters! Next door to the restaurant is the Alaska Wild Berry Park . We enjoyed visiting the store with its bears and chocolate waterfall. We really needed the walk around downtown after lunch so we passed on the free trolley system that will get you around the shopping district.

On our way back to Rick and Jo?s we got a quick tour of Elmendorf which supports a fighter wing of F-15s and the new F-22 Raptors as well as a wing of C-17 heavy lift transports.

Weather permitting tomorrow Jeff and Rick plan on playing golf on the base golf course while Jo and Sue continue touring and shopping.
 

Attachments

  • Bear [800x600].JPG
    Bear [800x600].JPG
    76.8 KB · Views: 36
  • Ship Canal Fishing [800x600].JPG
    Ship Canal Fishing [800x600].JPG
    51.8 KB · Views: 40
  • Sue Jo & Rick Phillips [800x600].JPG
    Sue Jo & Rick Phillips [800x600].JPG
    103.8 KB · Views: 39
  • Mural [800x600].JPG
    Mural [800x600].JPG
    70.7 KB · Views: 35
  • Post Office [800x600].JPG
    Post Office [800x600].JPG
    66.9 KB · Views: 32
  • Salmon 1 [800x600].JPG
    Salmon 1 [800x600].JPG
    129.4 KB · Views: 36
  • Salmon 2 [800x600].JPG
    Salmon 2 [800x600].JPG
    120.9 KB · Views: 36
  • Salmon 3 [800x600].JPG
    Salmon 3 [800x600].JPG
    105.8 KB · Views: 32
  • Salmon 4 [800x600].JPG
    Salmon 4 [800x600].JPG
    90.6 KB · Views: 30
  • Salmon 5 [800x600].JPG
    Salmon 5 [800x600].JPG
    126.5 KB · Views: 32
Day 36 & 37 More Photos
 

Attachments

  • Ulu Factory [800x600].JPG
    Ulu Factory [800x600].JPG
    104 KB · Views: 37
  • Sue & Bear [800x600].JPG
    Sue & Bear [800x600].JPG
    129.3 KB · Views: 36
  • Elmendorf 1 [800x600].JPG
    Elmendorf 1 [800x600].JPG
    69 KB · Views: 39
  • Elmendorf 2 [800x600].JPG
    Elmendorf 2 [800x600].JPG
    76 KB · Views: 42
Thanks Shayne, we hadn't seen them for several years and it has been fun.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
131,753
Posts
1,384,360
Members
137,524
Latest member
freetoroam
Back
Top Bottom