Day 41 Road trip to Homer

Today started with coffee, CNN, Fox News,Weather, a call to Sleazy & Breezy. and MOOSE!  Gail saw them out the window and went for the camera. I got my coat and went out to make friends. Heidi growled.

There were 2 calves, but I only saw this one before Pam chased them off.

The lady across the street came out to take pictures. But she was too late. Pam had already chased them off.

You might be able to tell, they are from Oklahoma too. They are from Kansas, OK (80mi east of Tulsa). They have been at this park for 2 months, fishing. She said they go stripper fishing at Lake Texoma at least once every year.

A little later, Lon got up and we headed for Homer (as far south as you can go in Alaska by road).

Along the way we stopped for the scenery.

This valcano is Mt Redoubt, I think.

In front of it is the Cook Inlet, maybe.

This might be Mt. ILiamna, another volcano.

This explains it all.

The village of Ninilchik.   click on pic

They actually do catch fish here.

Here is the fishing fleet. They have a fish processing and canning operation here.

A Russian Orthadox Church.

Made it to Homer after 18 stops and 132 pictures.

What a good looking group of tourist! Nice dog too!

That thing out in the water there is known as "The Homer Spit". That is where IT is happening in Homer.

The most famous structure in Homer and most photographed.

The Salty Daug Saloon.

We couldn't hold Lon back.

BUT Pam got in first. Reminds me of the No-Name Pub in the Keys.

                                                                                 ??????

If ever in Homer, Captain Pattie's is a great place to eat!

This is a collection of who knows what, but it was interesting.

Tomorrow we head a few miles south. Going back to that little Ninilchik village and just relax for couple of down days. The days are getting shorter, as we actually have some darkness at night. We heard it snowed in Denali a couple of days ago. Good thing we are half way threw our Alaska adventure. I'm thinkin' it might be getting close to time to get out of here!

Day 40 Soldonta

We started the day at the Visitors Information Center where Heidi found Fishing Dog Heaven.
                                    "Just the mention of my name, patrifies fish."
                               

                                                                 The Kenai River, where the fish hang out, as well as some tourist.

Next, the wood carving store.

                                                          The wood carver at work.

Lon ordered 7 more chairs and a dining table. Pam is looking for new dishes. She is also planning some really big Dinner Parties!

                                    Gail didn't buy anything!!!  Except some Salmon Jerky for Heidi and Lon.

Next stop, the St. Elias Brewing Co.

Good beer and good pizza and Heidi was welcome.

Stopped at another wood carver in Kenai on the way to the beach. Hmm..."beach" in Alaska takes on a whole new meaning.

Heidi went fishing in the Cook Inlet.

This moose had a calf with her but it wouldn't come out of the brush.

It was 55* when we got to Stormy Lake, but these Alaska kids didn't notice.

This moose was  a bit bashful.

This one didn't care. She was hungery.

Did we mention there are flowers everywhere. These are Fire Weed, the state flower.

Pam is trying to get reservations at this RV park. It is close to the water so not many empty sites.

Tomorrow, a road trip to Homer to check out the coast. Maybe.



Day 39 Palmer to Soldolna

We left Palmer headed for the Kenai Peninsula. First we go south 45mi. Of course there is only one road. It goes through the middle of downtown Anchorage.

South side of Anchorage is a blow-up golf facility, I think a driving range. They have paint it to blend with the mountains.

Then comes the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet, where we turn East for 45mi.

Just south of Anchorage, the Seward Highway hugs the dramatic shorelines of Turnagain Arm, arguably one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in America. Chugach State Park's 3000-foot mountains just up on your left. On the right, the sprawling, sometimes four-mile-wide flats of Turnagain Arm seem to stretch like a plain to the opposite shores of Cook Inlet, where mammoth sloping mountains abruptly stop their flat expanse. Each turn reveals another scenic wonder.

Heidi was wondering "what the hell is She thinking....this ain't no dog walk"

Then at the East end, we came upon the Portage Glacier. There we turned back South for 40mi.  (click on the pic to enlarge and hopefully you can see the blue of the ice)

The road South took us into the mountains.

A bladder break .

Then we turn back West for 65mi.

Fishing on the Russian River.

Rafting on the Russian River.

And we landed in Soldotna.

Tomorrow we are going to do something else.