We woke up very early Friday morning (4:30 a.m.) ready to fish! However, the fish were destined to swim for one more day. The charter boat people determined that the seas were too rough to go out that morning, so we rescheduled for the next day and went back to bed. When we awakened 4 hours later, we decided to do some sightseeing and some souvenir shopping. We headed for Homer and the Homer Spit. The Spit is a narrow stretch of land/gravel that extends out (about 4 miles) from the city of Homer into the Katchemak Bay waters. It is dotted with quaint little shops and restaurants and is also home to the world-renowned Salty Dawg Saloon. It also has a very large marina that can accommodate up to 300 some boats and ships, most of which are either charter fishing boats or commercial fishing ships. We did a walking tour of the marina and our guide told us that the downward economy has hit Homer like everywhere else. He said the fishing charter business is down this year by over 40%. Len and I did what we could to help boost the economy in Homer. :-)
On Saturday, we went out on our halibut fishing adventure. The good thing about rescheduling was that we were able to get on the afternoon trip rather than the early bird trip. The limit for halibut is 2 per person per day. What a beautiful day it turned out to be, and successful to boot! (pics attached) Everyone on the boat caught their limit. After they filleted it for us, Len and I netted a grand total of 36 lbs of halibut! Anyone up for a fish dinner when we get home??
Sunday was another travel day – from Homer back to Anchorage, about 4 ½ hours. We called Len’s cousins, (Sharon and Dale Shaw), when we arrived in Anchorage. They immediately invited us over to their condo and off we went to visit with Len’s cousins whom he hasn’t seen since 1983. They took us for a tour in and around Anchorage and then we all went out for yet another delicious Alaskan seafood dinner at the Sea Galley in downtown Anchorage. (I don’t think I can get enough of this fresh Alaskan seafood!) When we got back to their condo, there was a mama moose and her twin calves taking a stroll at the end of their block. (pic attached)
Monday turned out to be a day of R&R. It was nice to have a day where we could just relax and enjoy the beautiful, great, out-of-doors in Alaska (altho’ Len did take the new truck into Anchorage for its first oil change). We were camped again at the Eagle River Campground in the Chugach State Park, and it is a beautiful setting of trees, mountain back-drop, and the forceful Eagle River. (pic attached) Dale and Sharon came over in the evening for a cookout and some more “cousin catching-up”. (pic attached) They have been so helpful, informative, and gracious in their sharing of Alaskan knowledge and hospitality. Sharon had been mailing and emailing Len information 2 months prior to our departure from Michigan. Thanks a ton, Sharon! It’s nice to have cousins in “high” places.
On Saturday, we went out on our halibut fishing adventure. The good thing about rescheduling was that we were able to get on the afternoon trip rather than the early bird trip. The limit for halibut is 2 per person per day. What a beautiful day it turned out to be, and successful to boot! (pics attached) Everyone on the boat caught their limit. After they filleted it for us, Len and I netted a grand total of 36 lbs of halibut! Anyone up for a fish dinner when we get home??
Sunday was another travel day – from Homer back to Anchorage, about 4 ½ hours. We called Len’s cousins, (Sharon and Dale Shaw), when we arrived in Anchorage. They immediately invited us over to their condo and off we went to visit with Len’s cousins whom he hasn’t seen since 1983. They took us for a tour in and around Anchorage and then we all went out for yet another delicious Alaskan seafood dinner at the Sea Galley in downtown Anchorage. (I don’t think I can get enough of this fresh Alaskan seafood!) When we got back to their condo, there was a mama moose and her twin calves taking a stroll at the end of their block. (pic attached)
Monday turned out to be a day of R&R. It was nice to have a day where we could just relax and enjoy the beautiful, great, out-of-doors in Alaska (altho’ Len did take the new truck into Anchorage for its first oil change). We were camped again at the Eagle River Campground in the Chugach State Park, and it is a beautiful setting of trees, mountain back-drop, and the forceful Eagle River. (pic attached) Dale and Sharon came over in the evening for a cookout and some more “cousin catching-up”. (pic attached) They have been so helpful, informative, and gracious in their sharing of Alaskan knowledge and hospitality. Sharon had been mailing and emailing Len information 2 months prior to our departure from Michigan. Thanks a ton, Sharon! It’s nice to have cousins in “high” places.
Hard to believe our trip is half over! I think we are both falling into a bit of a “homesick” slide. We miss our families and friends terribly! But, we will overcome that and continue on with our exploration of the last frontier. Denali, Fairbanks, Skagway….full steam ahead.
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