Homer Alaska

March 21-23, 2009 (posted April 4, 2009)

I took my first trip to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska this weekend. I left on the trip right after work on Friday, March 21 headed toward Cooper Landing for the night. I had a relaxing evening at a bed and breakfast then headed out the door at about 9:30 a.m. the next morning to make my way to Homer.

Within seconds of walking out the door a phenomenon occurred which has happened a few times since I moved here…the moisture in my nose froze! My first thought was to call Alena and tell her what had happened because she is always saying she’ll never go to Alaska during the winter because it’s too @$#% cold. As I made my way down three flights of stairs to my car with my much too heavy luggage (too many books and clothing layers) I thought "If it's cold enough to freeze inside my nose, I hope I don't have trouble starting my car". When the car started right up I knew it couldn't be as cold as I thought it must be. Well, I was wrong! The temperature was 4 degrees. I immediately got on the phone and left a message for Alena telling her that the inside of my nose had frozen in the 4 degree cold!

The drive to Homer on Saturday morning was beautiful. I stopped along the way to take pictures, even thought Mt Redoubt was erupting because I saw a plume of something coming off the top. Ended up it was just steam. The real eruption happened Sunday night around 10 p.m.

Earlier in the week when I’d told my boss that I was going to Homer he said I should be sure and go to the Salty Dog. I knew Julie Davis had been to Homer in the past for fishing so I called and told her my plans. She said “be sure to go to the Salty Dog”. With two recommendations, how could I go wrong? After arriving in Homer I drove along the spit of land, which is a major spot during tourist season, and found the Salty “Dawg”. I decided to stop in for lunch later in the day. Maybe some halibut and chips.

As I continued down the spit, with each turn of the tires I saw more and more and more bald eagles. They were as abundant as seagulls in a marina or port town. They were perched on rooftops, light poles, tree crags, etc. I got a few pictures, one that I knew Alena would love (flagpole). I also took some of what I love. Rocks, marina, beach, mountains. Wow!


After checking in at a bed and breakfast, and getting some great tips and pointers from my hostess, I headed back to the spit. I walked along the marina taking pictures and enjoying the sunshine. There wasn’t much to see because most of the area was still boarded up for the winter, plus it was cold and I was hungry so I ducked into the Salty Dawg to get a bite to eat.

Those of you who have been to the Salty Dawg are laughing just about now because at the Salty Dawg there is nothing to eat except minor pub fare. The place is very small with as much seating as the fire code will allow and one pool table that takes up an entire room. It was a sight to behold, with money and pictures of patrons from all over the world plastered all over the walls and ceiling. The first time I’d seen something like that was at the employee bar at Denali last year with Austin. I’ve added camping along the spit at Homer to my “must do” list for Alaska, maybe then I’ll go to the Salty Dawg and have a drink. If you want to join me, let me know! Sunset that night was beautiful and, as is normal for what I've seen so far, lasted a very long time. The first time I noticed an extended sunset I timed it once at over 1/2 hour.

The next morning I went XC skiing on my new waxless skis that I didn’t wax so they didn’t slide very well. That aided in keeping me upright and gave me a very good workout! It would have been quiet and pristine except for the noise my unwaxed waxless skis made on the snow so I had to settle for pristine.

As I got closer to Cooper Landing (the place I stayed Friday) I encountered snow fall. Once again I was glad that I’d purchased studded tires at the beginning of March to get me through what was remaining of the winter. As I got closer to Anchorage I saw quite the accumulation of snow that wasn't there when I left on Friday. It had snowed 4-7 inches within the area 50-60 miles around Anchorage and in town. Once again, I missed it! I know…I’ll get more than my fill next winter!

Before I left Homer on Sunday morning I got footage of bald eagles soaring along a cliff .

Julie: On the way back home I stopped in Soldatna to get a picture of the Kenai River which was so thick with ice it appeared to be frozen solid. Unfortunately, the picture didn't turn out...too much white!

Until next time...