Homer, AK

Tuesday brought a quiet day for some shopping and sightseeing as we prepare to move down to Homer, AK.

Wednesday morning dawned clear and cool again as we got underway stopping at the fish processing plant to pick up our salmon already vacuum packed and flash frozen for us.  Traveled about 75 miles south along the Sterling Highway mid-day.  We were disappointed that more of the coast is not visible from this tree-lined road but we would still say the views are scenic.  Road conditions deteriorate a bit south of Kasilof with one major repaving project underway between Ninilchik and Homer.

Sterling Highway south of Ninilchik

Passing the crest of a hill just north of Homer transforms the view from rolling spruce forest dotted with Fireweed to mountainous oceanfront in a matter of seconds.  We arrived at our campground midway down the Homer Spit (a three mile, hundred yard wide gravel bar in the middle of Kachemak Bay).  We are now parked in the Heritage RV Park, site 19 for the next week.  Our son Bob is on his way as I write this blog from St. Louis.

We plan to test this sign!!!!

First views of the Homer Spit

Joy wanted a room with a view - she got it.......

Oldest building on the Spit

This is the “apogee” of our route as we have traveled from St. Louis to Alaska.  Our motorhome has now traveled 4,274 miles.  The Jeep has traveled many more touring about while we have been camped.  Albeit a little dirty they continue to perform without problems.

RV Report:  Fuel: $4.56/gallon for diesel and $ 4.25/gallon for gasoline.
Road conditions deteriorate a bit south of Kasilof but driving 55 MPH with good shoulders and several pullouts.

Sharon and Joy parked again

Beautiful Kachemak Bay and Homer Spit
Kenai Fjords National Park and Kachemak State Park
across the Bay

Grewingk Glacier

Mt. Redoubt Volcano about 80 miles away

                                                Fields of Fireweed Video - Click Here 

Salmon fishing on the Kenai River

On Monday we awoke to another beautiful day here is Alaska.  Joy and Sharon had laundry on their agendas as we prepare for Bobby to join us in Homer this weekend.  Bob and I had wanted to try salmon fishing here on the world famous Kenai River so we arranged for local guide Mike Adams to take us drift-boat fishing for the day.

This was a first for Bob and I to use fly rods in a river.  What a wonderful time we had as the day moved along.  With hip waders, boots, and life jacket in tow we stopped along a rocky shoreline and got some lessons in proper techniques for salmon.  The Sockeye salmon are running right now from mid-July into early August.  Where we fished was about 55 miles from the mouth of the Kenai so the fish we caught (and yes, we did catch some) had traveled this distance past probably a thousand fish hooks and dip-nets before we made contact with them.  It is truly one of God’s miracles that these fish are born in these streams, travel into the ocean for up to five years before returning to the exact spot to spawn and die.  Like the monarch butterflies and the swallows of Capistrano they return after long migrations without a GPS or map.

We ended our day at a local fish processing plant with over 14 pounds of salmon fillets to be vacuum-sealed and chilled.  Looking forward to a dinner one evening this week.  Today we plan a quiet day (mostly so two old guy’s can rest up a bit) will a little shopping, cleaning, and preparation to move tomorrow to our southernmost point at Homer, AK.

Bob lands the first fish

Don eventually matches him

We caught several more as the day wore along

Bob had agreed to kiss one earlier in the day so we reminded him......

Proper techniques from our local guide really help

End of the day on the beautiful Kenai River

              This is a link to Bob Relyea catching a salmon:  http://youtu.be/FPM8GAVKgUg

Kenai, AK today

Joy, Sharon, and I left mid-morning for a tour of Kenai while Bob enjoyed 18 holes of golf at a local golf course.  We were able to see the mouth of the Kenai River where resident-Alaskan folks were thick with their dip nets.  They stand about 2 feet apart extending their large nets into the river to catch salmon.  These fish prefer shallow water near the banks to swim upstream as the current is generally slower making it easier to fish.

Mouth of Kenai River onto Cook Inlet
Alaskan dip-net fishing

Mt. Redoubt Volcano visible across Cook Inlet from Kenai

Still active Russian Orthodox Church 

Sharon and Joy do the tour

Original Chapel built over graves of first Parish Priest here

After a nice brunch at a local Greek, Italian, and Mexican restuarant (some combination, huh) we visited the site of a Russian Orthodox Church and the ridge overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai.  From what we know of Russia today it is ironic to us that the Russians were sending missionaries and establishing churches in Alaska Territory around the time of the Civil War (which belonged to Russia until about 1869).  Of course, today the US has sent many more missionaries back to Russia.

We ended the day returning to the Soldotna Days celebration to see the final totem pole completion and judging.  The totem poles were for sale but we couldn't figure out a way to get in latched to the roof of the RV so we decided to settle on our small bear we purchased yesterday.

Totem poles near completion

Alice in Wonderland totem finished

Today's one hour event was eagle carving.
Jamie Rothenbuhler completes his entry

Totem Pole named Mannnnnnny Salmon

Another colorful entry

Great detail work on this one displays an eagle,
a wolf, and a caribou wrapped around the pole

Joy and her new "happy teddy" our new RV mascot
in lieu of one of the totem poles

A day in Soldotna, AK

Yesterday, we departed late morning for another hour-long drive west to Soldotna, AK parking our rigs at the Klondike RV Park.  Overcast skies once again turned bright blue as we arrived and planned our next four days here.  Joy and Sharon wanted to see the Soldotna Days annual celebration not far from here so Bob and I headed out for the afternoon.  There was the usual county fair food and exhibits along with the Alaska State Dutch Oven contest and what was billed as “SawFest 2013”.  Here we observed five wood carvers work their magic in a one-hour bear-carving contest.  Quite unexpected entertainment we enjoyed immensely.  Oh did I mention they were using chainsaws to carve about six foot sections of raw logs?

An old car show entry 41 Ford Pickup

Plenty of hotrods

Foreground is a 71 Corvette Joy noticed had Historical license plates - We were married in 1971
Historical??????

Lady with a chainsaw makes an Alice in Wonderland Totem Pole

Local wood carver works his magic

Alice in Wonderland upright

Amazing to see this bear emerge for a six foot raw log!!

Another Bear entry

Joy's lunch - she never met a food group she wouldn't try

Dutch Oven Cookoff

Reminded us of our friends Jennie and Fred McMachan
and Jeannie's Dutch Oven Cobler

another bear emerges from a log

The finished product - elapsed time: 1 Hour from log to this angry bear
By the way, the artist told us angry bears don't sell to well.  People prefer happy, cuddly bears!

Cooper Landing, AK and the Upper Kenai River

7/26/13

Up early (for us elderly folks on vacation) we departed for the Russian Lake Falls trailhead with our packs, bear spray, and cameras in tow.  A bit of fog and low clouds gave us a cool time to hike to this incredible vantage point for viewing the currently in progress Sockeye red salmon run.  These salmon were born in Kenai Lake anywhere from one to five years ago.  They have traveled out into the Gulf of Alaska and return here to fresh water to spawn and die.  A true tale of survival of the fittest playing out before our eyes.

Five miles round trip through dense forest

Russian Lake Falls is a natural "fish ladder" for salmon

Here dozens await their turn and rest

Next step up is another pool of salmon headed home

Here you see one in the center of the picture.  We began cheering for each fish to make it upstream!

In the afternoon, once suitably attired (see us below) we departed on a three-hour float trip down the Kenai River.  The weather was beautiful, the water aqua-blue, and eagles and a bear kept us company down the river (not to mention the hundreds of salmon fishermen we encountered engaged in what the locals call “combat fishing”.  We observed a few dozen salmon being hauled to shore as we traveled along this afternoon.

Joy ready for any contingency

Don also prepares for getting wet in 40 degree waters

Off we go launching from Kenai Lake

This river is pristine, aquamarine blue, and dropping 440 feet toward the Cook Inlet some 80 miles away

A beautiful day on the world famous Kenai River

We encounter our first group of salmon fishermen (and ladies)

This is "Combat Fishing"

A Bald Eagle uses another method to fish soaring overhead us

This is drift-boat fishing for trout and silver salmon

Our guide Jeff prepares to haul out our boat at the end of the tour