HOMER, ALASKA ---- ON THE HOMER SPIT!!

After all the rain we had in Kenai and the weather forecast we were overjoyed by the time we had our “briefing” with the wagon master for our next drive at 9AM on July 21^st.  The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to peak out….we were all like a bunch of kids who were just given a present.  And we had…God blessed us with a beautiful day.  The sun shone brighter every mile we drove. 

We packed up, pulled out and headed for the gas station before leaving Kenai.  As we were pulling out of the gas station we ended up going through a residential area and there stood this moose, right in the middle of the road.  She just stood there for a few minutes (as I was struggling to find the camera --- yes, we still get excited when we see one unexpectedly) she seemed a little confused and then took off into the trees.  No picture this time.  Bill did accidentally get a video of the moose crossing the road!

We stopped to take a few pictures at a Wetlands area, a good stop to do some bird watching, look for moose and other smaller animals.  The mountains in the background are always spectacular.

The “Milepost” indicated that “Clam Gultch State Recreation Area” would make a good stop.  Great views.  So we pulled into the dirt road and weren’t sure where to go next, everything looked so narrow and we couldn’t see far enough to tell what lay ahead.  We didn’t want to take the motor home somewhere and not be able to turn it around, so Bill pulled off into the first area he could fit, not sure whether there was a way out there either.  We decided to leave the RV there and head down the road on foot.  We had to walk about 2 miles downhill to the beach.  It was worth it (of course I still had to walk that far uphill back to the RV). Absolutely gorgeous.  There were only about a dozen people on the whole beach on Cook Inlet, which leads into the Pacific Ocean.  The panoramic view of Mount Redoubt, Mount Iliamna and Mount Spur across Cook Inlet and the expanse of beach are well worth the trip.  These mountains (Chigmit Mountains of the Aleutian Chain) had volcanic eruptions a year or so ago.  On this day you could see the “steam plumes” from the mountains as they continue to smolder within.  Hopefully you can see that in the pictures.   We rested, took pictures and absorbed the scene around us before attempting the return hike to the RV.  At which point, Bill had to unhook the tow car to turn the motor home around and then re-hook it before we could continue our trip.  One of our favorite stops of all.

We pulled over a few more pictures and took a break for lunch in the motor home and Bill needed a quick nap.  Our last stop was on a bluff overlooking Kachemak Bay with 180 degree views of Kachemak Bay, Homer Spit, glaciers and mountains.  Beautiful!

It took us several hours to make that little 88 mile trip but it was very enjoyable.  As we drove to the campsite, we realized we were actually camping on the “Spit” with the mountains and Katchemak Bay directly in front of us.  Our motor home actually faced this view…we did not close the curtain on the front window the whole time we were parked there.  Unbelievable.  If you aren’t familiar with the “Spit” it is a long, narrow bar of gravel that juts out 4.3 miles from the Homer shore.  A very neat place to camp and visit.

WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM OUR CAMPSITE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FRONT WINDOW.

AND LOOK AT THESE CUTE LITTLE HOOKUPS -- REMINDED ME OF WHEN WE WENT TO KINGS ISLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY HAD "CHARACTER" TRASH CANS.  FUN!












 





The caravan had a planned dinner at “Land’s End”, a nice restaurant that is on the very end of the “Spit”.  We had our choice of Halibut or Prime Rib – you guessed it I had the “outer” circle of the Prime Rib (too rare for me in the middle).  This way Bill gets the best of both worlds.  LOL. 

We had given a couple ladies a ride to the restaurant.  They had been asking us to play scrabble with them for a while so they came in for a couple hours.  They actually have the official 4^th edition of the Scrabble Dictionary.  Now, there are some very unusual and strange words in there.  Did you know that a cat’s meow can be spelled M-I-A-O-U??  Well remember it for the next time you play SCRABBLE. 

I had bemoaned that we had not taken advantage of the good weather to walk along the Homer Spit the night we arrived.  By the time “Scrabble” time was over we were ready to hunker down for a warm quiet evening.  The weather forecast had looked dim with 10 days in a row of rain so I felt that this “one” day of sunshine and 63 degrees was too much to ask for again the next day.  

I slept in (it was my birthday --- Bill humored me all day!!) and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not raining!  Although I can’t say temperatures ever passed 53 and the sun never really shone, it didn’t rain --- another blessing.  Bill prepared pecan pancakes, (my favorite) bacon, juice and coffee.  He would not let me lift one finger to prepare the meal, set the table or clean up the kitchen.  It was MY day and I had to make all the choices for the day’s events.  That was fun, although those of you that know me best know that I really don’t like to make decisions --- that was a little bit stressful!!  LOL.  The wagon master had tied a few balloons to the front of the motorhome while I was sleeping, they popped so he came back a tied a few more on – they popped also but we did rescue one pitiful one.  They also presented me with a “Tracks to Adventure” Coffee cup with some goodies and the group sang “Happy Birthday”.  Two of the ladies came by with birthday wishes and baked goods.  Celebrating my birthday in Alaska! That’s a good present.  LOL

We checked out the different excursions and attractions and decided to take a boat sightseeing trip with “Bay Excursions”.  It was a small boat with a driver and another young man pointing out wildlife and things of interest, relaying information about the things we were seeing.  There were only 3 other passengers on the boat with us.  Two women from France and one from Switzerland who had met on previous travels and are now traveling together.  They were very interesting, only one who spoke English, (which she did very well).  It was very cold on the boat especially as it was a lot more fun outside (not looking through windows).  We saw beautiful scenery all around us with surprisingly very few other watercraft in the area.  We also saw a number of sea otters just floating on their backs, washing their faces, some eating and some with their young on their stomachs.  We missed it but the Captain saw one with an octopus on his belly, which he was eating, one tentacle at a time.  We covered the waters in Kachemak Bay around Gull Island and back, which took over 2 hours.  They estimate there are approximately 17,000 birds, with 15,000 being two species of gulls along with tufted and horned puffins, bald eagles, common murres, kittiwakes and cormorants along with many types of ducks.  It was a very fun trip.   Exhilarating!!

 ONE OF THE MANY OTTERS JUST FLOATING AROUND IN KACHEMAK BAY















 BIRDS ON A ROCK

 GULL ISLAND




















We headed to a local restaurant for lunch and spent a couple hours walking along Homer Spit ducking in and out of shops.  We did buy a sea otter for our “we’ve seen these animals” collection.  That was our only purchase.  After touring the “Spit” we drove into Homer and visited the “Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center”.  We only had a little over an hour before it closed but watched a couple films and walked around the exhibits.  It was a good stop.

We picked up a few things at Safeway and went back to the motorhome.  We were deciding what to do about dinner when Joan came by with cupcakes and we decided to do dinner with them at a restaurant on the “Spit”.  She talked to the waitress on the side and we all shared a coffee tiramisu cheesecake.  Too many desserts flying around this trip. 

I was asked what was my favorite birthday, even as a child?  I have to say I have always been blessed with family and friends that have made my day very special.   Can’t say one was better than another --- all special in it’s own way, but celebrating a birthday in Alaska is a blessing for sure.  Thanks to all who called, texted, face-booked, e-mailed, sent cards --- it means a lot to me that you took the time to think of me and reach out with your wishes.  Elaine (our wonderful neighbor who takes care of our mail and watches over our place while we are gone) sent word that she figured it was my birthday as the cards kept sliding off the pile of mail.  LOL   We are a long way from home and it is wonderful to know we haven’t been forgotten!  We miss everyone of you!  God truly has blessed us in so many ways! He’s amazing!

THIS IS THE SUNRISE FROM THE FRONT OF OUR MOTORHOME THE MORNING WE LEFT.  BILL GRABBED THE CAMERA AND RAN OUT TO GET THESE GREAT SHOTS.

Next morning briefing at 8:45 and then we drive 168 miles to Seward, Alaska.  We are looking forward to the new adventures that await us there.  The Tracks Tour has planned some exciting excursions for this town on Resurrection Bay, on the east coast of the Kenai Peninsula.  More fun to come!