Alaska Travel Update #8

If you click on a photograph, it will enlarge and should place a row of thumbnails on the bottom of your screen that you can navigate.

Today, Monday, July 15, it was to be off to Sterling, AK. We left about 10am and got into Sterling about noon. Since it was only another 90 miles to Homer, we continued on. We contacted the RV park where we had reservations and they did not have room for us tonight (July 15). Since we had planned on "boondocking" in Sterling, we figured that we would find someplace to land for the night. The road started out four-lane going through Anchorage, then changed to two lane, good road as it followed the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. Alaska 1 starts out going SE and then crosses the 20 Mile River, Portage Creek and the Placer River before swinging back to the west. Once the road crosses Ingram Creek it swings back to the south. Alaska 1 then crosses Six Mile Creek and follows it NW for a number of miles. Watching the compass on the GPS was like watching a spinning globe. Each time I looked, we were travelling a different direction. Still the road was good two lane with patches of construction. At Silvertip, AK, the road again turned south. At Tern Lake, Alaska 1 cuts to the west toward Homer, while Alaska Hwy 9 goes to Seward. The road comes to the shore of Kenai Lake follows it and then crosses the west end of the lake which empties into the Kenai River. Kenai Lake is very large and the east end of the lake is fed by the Snow River. 

Something that we were told - probably previously communicated, the rivers in Alaska run north, while the rivers in the lower 48 run predominately south or west. Once Alaska 1 crosses the Kenai River, it enters an area called Cooper Landing. Here the road narrows down - I mean, hope you don't kiss the mirror of the vehicle going in the opposite direction, or rack the side of your vehicle along the guard rail narrow.

Probably the narrowest road we have been on. And I get to drive it going back to Seward. The highway then passes through Sterling, Soldotna, Clam Gulch, Ninilchik and a few others. As we passed Clam Glutch, all these various things came to mind, like "I was on the razors edge when he turned up Clam Gulch Road" or "Gooey Ducked into Clam Gulch." Of course both Razor and Gooey Ducks are types of clams. What an idle mind, piloting a Motor Home, will think of. 
Arriving in Homer we continued through town and turned onto the Homer Spit. 

You can see the Spit, the gray line that extends into the Bay

The Spit is about three miles long and goes out into Kachemak Bay. It is less than a half mile wide. There are a couple commercial RV Parks and a Municipal RV Park. The Municipal RV Park, (Mariner) is dry camping only with a cost of $20 per night. We were lucky to score a site looking out at Kachemak Bay and the mountains on the opposite side. This was an easy set-up. Put the jacks down and put the slides out. Empty holding tanks and a full freshwater tank, 60 gallons of diesel for the generator, full tank of Propane.

View out the windshield

We were set for the one night we needed before our reservation at the Heritage RV Park a little further down the Spit. Once settled we went out to find the best Halibut Fish and Chips. Homer claims to be the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World." We settled for a place called Fresh Catch Cafe. We both had Panko breaded halibut and steak fries. The Panko breading made the Halibut flakier than you normally find with Beer Battered Halibut.

We gave the place an eight. It is small and because it is small it is noisy. Good service and nice view of the Bay. Of course, since the Spit is so narrow, they built a pier, and then put the restaurants and shops on the pier.

A little exploring of the shops then....

Back to the Motor Home to look out the windshield and relax.

July 16 - Rained last night and this AM until about 9. Then it started to clear. After a few minor repairs, (screws in the refrigerator door latch, tighten a drooping top rail on the wardrobe sliding doors, replacing a light bulb) it was moving to the RV Park a little further down the Spit.

About 1:30P we brought in the slides, lifted the jacks and down the road we went with Debbie following in the Jeep. No sooner had we backed out when an Airstream trailer was backing in. A very popular park.

Got to the Heritage RV Park about two miles further down the spit. Got our site assignment, a pull through facing the same part of Kachemak Bay, but with the main Spit road between us and the bay.

About the time we finished putting the jacks down, deploying the slides, hooking up the power and water it started to rain. Hard constant rain. Heavy enough that we lost satellite service several times during the course of the Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks game. Probably a good thing as the Rangers lost. We just hunkered down and read, did some Internet and Ham radio stuff and went to bed.

This morning, Wednesday, July 17, it is blue sky and gorgeous.
We drove the East End Road and the Old East End Road. Beautiful vistas of the glaciers and Kachemak Bay. The road turns to gravel 20 miles east of Homer. Where the road goes to gravel, you are just about to the east end of the bay. As best we can tell we were looking at Wosnesenski, Doroshim Glaciers, Sadie Peak, Peterson Bay and possibly Halibut Cove.

The Spit is the gray line extending into the bay

Coming back from that drive, we made a stop at Two Sisters Bakery in Homer. This is a very small shop with limited seating. They are a pretty full range bakery, they also serve lunch and have a dinner seating a couple of times a week. We got a Sticky Bun each and coffee and enjoyed. These rolls, topped with pecans and walnuts were sweet to the point of overload. But they were good.

They rate among the best ones that we have had so far on this trip.

After a quick stop at the Motor Home, it was off to the view point along the Sterling Highway coming into Homer.

Then it was up West Hill Road to Skyline Road. Again we were rewarded with beautiful vistas of the glaciers and mountains across Kachemak Bay. We followed Skyline Road to where it dead ends about 8 miles east of Homer. We then came back west and dropped down East Hill Road into downtown Homer.

We travelled to the end of the Spit and looked at the Seafarer's Memorial, honoring those that went to sea and never returned.

“The sea tells a story. It tells of the life it brings and the lives it claims. Its deep dark waters are home to some, a final resting place to others. The sea tells a story. It tells of the cycle of life running through its waters. Fish spawning, dying, sinking to the ocean floor, returning to the circle that engulfs all life. The sea tells a story. It tells of prosperity, yet how the prosperity can be unforgiving. Nearly everyone will experience its vastness, but some will remain there forever.” - Ryan Bundy - 1996

We then drove to the boat harbor to take a few boat pictures and then back to the Motor Home for the night.

Heritage RV Park

Today, July 18, it was breakfast at Sourdough Express Bakery and Café.

The café was started by a couple who drove to Alaska in an old bakery truck pulling a trailer. They set up shop on the Homer Spit and started baking bread. Before long they had a large following and eventually opened the restaurant at the current location.

After breakfast we went to Anchor Point the westernmost highway point in North America. We followed Alaska 1 north to Anchor Point, where we turned west onto Anchor Point Road.

Anchor River along Anchor Point Road

Anchor River Bridge, on Anchor Point Road - not enough clearance for our Motor Home

This section of the state was the home to beach mining. A group of Colorado investors calling themselves the Alaska Gold Mining Company brought 75 people to Anchor Point to mine on the beach. A promoter, Homer Pennock, whom the city of Homer is named for, led the company. He had a five mile ditch dug and hydraulic mining equipment installed. The mining camp was built on the nearby boggy ground and it flooded twice a day at high tide.
Needless to say, a fortune was not made.

Anchor Point, the city, holds the title of being the Western Most City in the US.

Dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant. Pink building on the Sterling Highway coming into Homer. I had Halibut Fish and Chips and Debbie had the Halibut Sandwich - Topped off with a Chocolate Malt for Debbie and a Huckleberry milkshake for me.

After we returned to the Motor Home, I took the dog out for a walk. I happened to look up and saw a Bald Eagle on top of a Lamp Post in the RV Park. Multiple photos taken.

Friday, July 19 - Homer to Seward - Departed about 8:30A - stopped to see about propane and found that the business did not open until 9AM. Hooked up the Jeep at the Safeway store and then on our way.

Stopped at a Holiday Fuel Station in Soldotna for propane and diesel. We survived another trip through Cooper Landing without damage to mirrors or the side of the Motor Home. The road was an unremarkable two lane that, after crossing Moose Pass, followed along the edges of Kenai Lake and the Snow River. After crossing the Resurrection River, we arrived in Seward about 1 pm. Toured one of the Seward City parks that was a dry camping only campground, and then found the proper campground. Located with a view of Resurrection Bay.

We however had problems decoding what was an available site and what was taken. I contacted the Camp Host who checked site 436 and determined that it was not occupied and was available. Parked the Motor Home, lower jacks, extended the slides Site 436 was now ours. Connection for the power cord was from the driver side rear electrical cabinet under the Motor Home and along the passenger side to the power pedestal located on the front passenger side corner. Ran the water hose from front left corner of the Motor Home to the water compartment on the driver's side. After getting the Motor Home setup we went into the Dock area to check it out and find out where we were to report for tomorrow’s cruise.

Visiting this area also meant that we needed to visit a few of the shops in the same area – some with unique names.

This is also a memorial to those that lost their lives in the Good Friday Earthquake, March 27, 1964.

We also learned that Seward is the mural capital of Alaska, and they have many.

A visit to the Visitor Center provided us with some great photos and lots of information.

Saturday, July 20, Major Marine Tours - Glacier/Wildlife boat tour. This 7.5 hour tour leaves Seward and travels almost 100 miles inside Resurrection Bay and some open water. It also goes along the shores of the Kenai National Park. The start of the cruise was very foggy with a mist of rain to full rain at times. The boat has an enclosed cabin area on two levels, plus three outside viewing areas. We got to view two different glaciers, the Holgate Tidewater and the Aialik Tidewater, numerous snow capped peaks and some marine animals. Below are photographs in random order.

Orca Whales, a small pod, put on a great show for the tour complete with surfacing, tail flaps and a few jumps out of the water.

Seals, and sea otters were among the other mammals seen.

The path taken

A few bald eagles and several puffins were spotted as well. Included with the tour was a Prime Rib and Salmon buffet. The Prime Rib and Salmon was served with a rice & black bean pilaf, a green salad containing mandarin oranges and sourdough bread. The vessel was the Glacier Express and is a catamaran designed boat. We met a nice young couple who was sitting at the table with us. He is currently in the Alaska Air National guard and she is a Kindergarten teacher in Arkansas. They met while he was stationed in Arkansas with the Air Force. He is a C130 pilot. After two enlistments with the Air Force he left and joined the Alaska Air Guard, full time, in hopes to become a helicopter pilot and get into Search and Rescue. His girlfriend came up the first of June and will be returning home the first of August. He and his dad drove the ALCAN in May when he moved up to Alaska.

After to cruise we returned to the Motor Home where we were greeted by a very happy dog.

This tour was well worth it -

Sunday, July 21, 2019 - After breakfast it was a trip to the local LaundroMat to do a quick load of laundry. When we arrived, we found all five top single load washers full and people using the two front load commercial washers. Off we went to some of the tourist shops and then returned to the LaundroMat to get the laundry done. After getting the wash started, we realized that we did not have enough change to do the drying - off to find change - Stopped at Safeway and got change for a $50 and then stopped at the carwash to get quarters - Once the laundry was finished it was back to the Motor Home. Walked the Dog and then did a couple of more travel updates.

One of the things that we had been told to do was to get a Bucket-of-Butt. However the name of the restaurant could not be remembered. So, kind of sheepishly, I started asking about a Bucket-of-Butt. Without missing a beat, they stated that it was Thorn’s Showcase Lounge and it was the best around.

So, we had dinner at the Thorn’s Showcase Lounge - A "Bucket of Butts" with a side of French fries - 14 one ounce pieces of halibut. Lightly breaded. Excellent taste and texture. Probably the best so far.

After dinner we returned to the Motor Home after mailing a post card, and I finished moving pictures off of Debbie’s iPhone.

Monday, July 22, Seward to Anchorage - after a breakfast at the Lighthouse Bakery and Cafe, which is more bakery than cafe, it was back to the Motor Home to remove the antenna whip, disconnect the water and power and lift the jacks. The 130+ mile drive is basically all good roads and the traffic was moderate until we reached the area of 20 Mile River and the construction started. I give them credit that they are doing most of the work at night, but the lower speed limit does cause the traffic to bunch up.

Arriving at the Golden Nugget RV Park for the second time on our travels, we got a nice back in site on the opposite side of the park from our first visit. Jacks down and slides out, then it was off to do laundry.

Out the door this morning, July 23, to visit the Ulu Factory.

The Ulu is a knife designed by native Alaskan women. The knife has only one beveled edge as opposed to the normal knife that has a bevel on each side of the blade. Additionally, it is a half moon shape so that cutting can be done in a rocking motion. It can also be used, with a bowl, to chop nuts and other things. They come in three different sizes, Small, Medium and Large. The medium and large sizes have a opening below the handle to put your fingers and help with the control of the knife. The small one does not have this opening, and though it is easy to use, it is not quite as controllable as the medium or large ones.

Next on the list was a restock trip to Wal-Mart, followed by taking Annie to a Veterinary appointment. Annie had been displaying the signs of discomfort so in order to keep things from getting worse, Google found a VCA (Veterinary Centers of America) clinic within a couple miles of the RV Park. I was greatly impressed with the facility and the Veterinarian that saw Annie. Liesle Lewis, DVM, has been in Alaska since 1989. She is an avid fisherman and a very caring vet. She took to Annie immediately, and provided excellent treatment.

Next up was finding a place to get the Jeep washed. It's last bath was in Fairbanks and it was looking a little "used." A place called the Pink Elephant provided a great automatic car wash and the jeep really is yellow.

Then it was back to the Motor Home to catch up on email and other items.