Day 46, July 22, 2011 The Road to Homer AK

Day 46, Friday July 22, 2011-- The road to Homer AK

1. Caribou on the Sterling Road

2. Grewingk Glacier in Harding Icefield

3. Mt. Iliamna On Cook Inlet

4. Some of the stores on the Homer Spit

5. Assumption of the BVM Russian Orth Ch. (Ninlichik)

6. HOmer Spit from the bluff above

7. Three Eagles in nest (Adult feeding chicks)

The trip to Homer had been looked forward to as it was the last part of the Alaska trip (minus the boat trip next week) that we had to see.When starting out on the local road before the Kenai River Bridge we saw some Caribou, seven Sandhill Cranes and a new birds,two Pelagic Jaegers. Jim thought they might be them but we had a difficult time making positive ID as we had never seen them before. We just got started again on the Sterling Highway when two Caribou were seen on the opposite side of the road we were driving, Jim did a ‘cheerio’ and we came up near them on the same side, The Caribou tolerated us for some time before they became nervous enough to move back into the woods. Great shots!

Some stopes along the side on the Cook Inlet side gave more great shots of those three outstanding mountains, Mt. Spurr (11,000), Mt. Redoubt (10,900) and Mt. Iliamna (10,000+). These three make up the northern horizon when looking across the Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula. ( The towns of Kenai and Ninilchik and Anchor Point can see this view from their towns.)

As we arrived near Homer there was a huge turnout so we had the ability to see the entire Kachemak Bay and the Homer Spit. The day was clear and there were just a few clouds near the mountains but not obscuring their view. As we got down into town (It is a 1,000 foot vertical drop to sea level) there was an Eagle’s nest near the postoffice and quite visible to the view. We took pictures of it and the three eagles that were there (an adult and two young ones) and watched the mother feed the young ones some salmon.

Then it was down to the spit and do a reconnoitering run through and take some pictures of the huge wharf and marina that is there .A cruise ship was docked and many ships were in port . There were hundreds of trailers and rigs and more hundreds of cars.The pleasure water craft were innumerable. By then it was lunchtime and we had planned to eat at “Crabbys” downtown (old town) in a small, but fine food place where sea food (of course) was the order of the day. We ordered the halibut (fresh) basket and a salad, so filled ourselves with good food. ‘Crabbys’ is up for sale and it is a well known, medium priced establishment and the owner will listen to bids.

Then we went back to the Spit and headed for the Frosty Bear Ice Cream Parlor on the spit. Oh, Boy! Lots of flavors and homemade waffle cones. We did good!~ It was a fitting end to the day to Homer Nothing out of the ordinary, but we did get taste of that Homer Flavor. JIm had Rocky Road and Praline and Cream in a waffle cup.

We ended the day by taking the “high road” out of town and drove up east hill and got some great views one more time.The rest of the ride back included some more pictures of the mountains on the north side of the Inlet and we made it home as the fishermen in the campground were wrapping up a MOST SUCCESSFUL day on the river. There were salmon all over the cleaning table area.

Tomorrow we head back to Anchorage , park the trailer for eight days and take a flight to Petersburg for that 6 night Ocean trip on the six passenger “Heron” with Scott and Julie Hursey. Might not see ya for awhile, but we will be back in 10 days or so.