Homer, AK. July 6, 2013 and later

We headed further down the north coast of the Kenai Peninsula to its end at Homer.  It was only about 85 miles with a lot of traffic on the road.   Here are some sights along the road.

This is Cook's Inlet as we travel on Sterling Highway.
The mountains across the Inlet include five Active Volcanoes, which you will see more of as we go.  The treat started when we got to Homer Overlook; what a view!

This view shows Homer Spit.  It is a natural formation; the terminal moraine from a long ago Glacier.  At the end of the spit, the valley floor was much deeper, so you can't see the moraine, but it is still there--underwater.  During the 1964 Earthquake the spit sank about eight feet, making some people very nervous.  So since then they have built it back up.   
It's the place where we hope to find a Campsite--on July 6.  


Do you know it is the middle of the 4th of July weekend?  That's a detail which completely slipped our mind.

Very nice welcome sign.










We cruised through town on out to the end of the spit--with lots of visitors, and a whole lot of traffic.  It had not dawned on us yet why there were so many people here at the "Playground of Alaska".  But the "No spaces available" signs at all the campgrounds was beginning to make us a little apprehensive.  I didn't see a Fred Myer or Wal-Mart, where sometimes you are allowed to spend the night.  I ignored a No spaces sign  at the Homer Spit Campground, and got lucky.  They had one space but I would have to move the next day to another spot.  Guess what?  We took it.  We got settled in and took a walk.  It was crowded. 
 
  


The campground was right next to a very nice Seafarer's Memorial, for all who are lost at sea.  There were flowers at the statue all the time we were there.

Along the boardwalk shops were lots of plants and seashore themed decor.  Now we know what to do with the boots after the kids grow out of them.

Pauline even had a chance to catch a fish.  You should have seen the one that got away.

Mine was bigger.

 Well weathered wood pilings edge a sidewalk cafe

The famous Salty Dawg Saloon
















Side of the saloon

Small boat harbor at low tide, and with Cow Parsnip, a.k.a. "Pushkie" in bloom.

Lots of fishing boats, tour boats, etc.  Look at the height of the pilings to realize how low the tide is now.

Lilacs bloom in July in Homer, still at the Salty Dawg Saloon, Lighthouse.










 

We saw lots of sea birds:  This is a group of Sand hill Cranes flying by.

Boat crews cleaning the catch for the clients who pay for the trip.

As is now our custom, we headed for the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center:  Ceramic artwork on the wall






 There were some really good displays.

After touring the VC for a while we headed back to the RV just to relax for a while.

We moved the RV the next morning to the "Eagle Lady's" RV Site, with its view overlooking the beach and the Bay.  There is a reason for having this name; I think the only campsite with a name.

 Notice the tree, or stump, or what ever it is.  This is where Jean Keene, known as the "Eagle Lady of Homer" used to feed the eagles.  More info at http://www.adn.com/2009/01/15/654023/homers-eagle-lady-dead-at-85.html.  There were pictures of her with the Eagles in this tree all over Homer.                                                                 

 Another view of the tree and RV.  During our 6 days there the only birds we saw in the tree was crows.
While at the Visitor Center yesterday we heard of a Ranger led walk so "we" decided that was a good idea.  It was through the Beluga Slough, just behind the VC.  

The trail was a boardwalk used to observe the critters.  They have seen Bear, moose, and many birds around the slough.  Of course, we saw only birds.  

This is one of the Sandhill Cranes.  I can just hear you saying right now, Chuck, wrong color for a Sandhill Crane.  You are right.  There are so many eagles around here that the cranes have learned to coat their bodies with the mud to camouflage themselves so the eagles can't see them.   Do you think it works?  Ask this guy.

He was in a tree overlooking the slough.  Either he didn't see them or he wasn't hungry.

There were others out there also so maybe the eagle just couldn't make up it's mind on which one.

When we got to the shore we saw this eagle with a stick.  Either he was building a nest or he was going to beat the dirt off the crane to make sure it was a crane.  Pauline is pretty sure it is for a nest.

This is a wall or road to keep the salt water at a minimum in the slough.

Next to the trail, on private property was this outhouse.  I didn't see anyone go into it.

 This is a pair of Marblid Godwit.

This is My Dear Bride at the end of the little hike.  It was not a long hike and we took our time.  Only 2 or 3 miles (Ha!), but level.  She usually picks trails that are uphill both ways, so this was nice.








After is exploration we thought we would take a ride on the East End road on top of the bluff overlooking Homer Spit & Kachemak Bay.  By the way, Sterling Highway goes to the end of the Spit and ends there.

This is Homer Spit at low tide.  Looks a lot wider.

We saw Grewingh Glacier across the Bay

Homer spit and Portlock Glacier

Panorama of Kachemak Bay, with Homer Spit

After finding flowers beside the road we came to this Nature Center.  What a surprise.  Guess who was navigating.   
So we parked and went for another little hike.  We were prepared:  covered with bug repellant this time!  All we had to do was not breathe them in.   Guess what they had here:  Native Plants, some in bloom.

 

Native Iris

 Chocolate Lily
Fritillaria camschatcensis





 

 Lupine

 Unalaska Paintbrush
Castilleja unalaschcensis

 Aptly named:  Fairy barf lichen

The grain in the wood is very tight because of the short growing season

Which makes the trees smaller even at the same age

When we left the Nature Center, seeing no critters--just flowers, we went on up the East End Road and got this picture of Dixon Glacier across the Bay

Tomorrow we will backtrack up the Peninsula in the 'toad' and see Anchor Point, and other interesting things we did not want to take the RV to.  See you later.