The Kenai....Homer and the Day of the Bears

      Welcome to Homer, Alaska......the Halibut Capital of the World.  One of the highlights of this trip was the chartering of a plane to take us to Southwest Alaska to see brown bears.  98% of the big brown bears in the U.S. reside there.  In spring they feast on abundant grasses and clams, then on salmon returning to spawn, and finally on berries and seeds as they prepare for winter.
      Arriving in Homer we stayed in Homer at the (end of) Homer Spit Campground. www.homerspitcampground.com/sites-amenities-1 We stayed at a Beach View spot with only electricity for $45/night.  There is water available for the freshwater tank and showers, laundry, and dump as well.  This is Homer; you pay what you pay.  We were going to boondock at the Municipal Fishing Hole CG with no hookups, but fresh water for $20/night, but I acquiesced to my wife and her desire for comfort this stop. (That means I gave in).  Apparently age may not be equal to appreciation to boondocking over time.  Love her anyway, she puts up with a lot.  This is a clean campground VERY centrally located, but nothing special.....a large gravel area with several levels and some hookups.  LOTS of RVs in here with not much room in between.  We also found the dump station, rest rooms, and showers to be very much IN DEMAND so timing was critical.  

Homer Spit Campground

      There is lots to see and do in Homer, the biggest attraction of course is fishing.  We fished here 5 years ago, but chose another charter out of Seward this time.  I did do some shore surf fishing while here, hoping to better my luck.  There are also many shops, cafes, and of course the 'Salty Dog'; a pub of fame and lore.  Some days it's just fun to walk the docks and see the BIG ASS halibut at they are taken off the boats. The Nick Dudiak 'Fishing Hole' is located next to the municipal campground.  The ADFG regularly stocks it with salmon fry which when old enough migrate to sea to grow.  In about 4 years they return to the Homer Harbor and the fishing hole where some very nice King Salmon are caught each year.  It is a popular place.   I fished off the end of the spit near the ferry pilings using cut herring.  It is deep water there and the nearby fish processing plants exhaust their fish waste near there, providing a smorgasbord for incoming flounder, halibut, cod, and rockfish.  I did catch a few each day, but nothing worth keeping size.

      We booked our bear adventure through Smokey Bay Air www.smokeybayair.com/bear-viewing/

It is not a cheap trip, but this was one of our only two extravagances this trip.  We were scheduled to go to Katmai NP, but foggy weather changed our plans.  We diverted into Lake Clark NP, which turned out just fine.  Our flight crew Brittany and Andrew were great pilots (landing on that sloping beach can't be easy) and our Naturalist Daniel was helpful all afternoon. After our 1 hour flight across Cook Inlet we deplaned and set out on foot with our rubber boots and camera gear in hand.  Our hearts were filled with awe, wonder, fear, and even a bit of thankfulness this day.  We were within 20 yards of the most magnificent and beautiful beasts all afternoon and sometimes a bit closer.  God and cohort, Mother Nature, are pretty amazing folks.  It is probably just easier to post several of our better shots than talk about it.

Within 20 yards

      Additionally, I have been in contact with some of the (apparently wide family) of Hilts in Seldovia, just across Kachemak Bay from Homer.  By chance I had met the father here 5 years ago and I reestablished contact with his family again about a year before this trip so we could hook up.  We decided on a day and Barb and I took the ferry across.  Seldovia, a village of just 260 people is just across Kachemak Bay.  It is the quintessential quaint Alaskan village.  www.cityofseldovia.com/ This village was once the hub of the Great Alaskan Crab Fleet, but that eventually moved to Dutch Harbor.  At it's heyday Seldovia was at one time bigger than Homer.

Seldovia Board Walk

Hilts Homestead

                       Seldovia Boardwalk                      

                 Hilts......ALL OF US.  Rich, Barb, Rod, Sunni Edith, and Laurel                

      Even more tasty meals at this stop.  Some of the meals I prepared included Italian Sausage Soup, Baked Spaghetti w/Reindeer, Stroganoff Topped Baked Potato, Catfish, and Sloppy Jacks to name a few.  Additionally we visited Coal Point Seafoods to stock up on some tasty razor clams since the local season was closed this year.  We also ordered some halibut to be shipped to the friends watching our house this summer.

Sloppy Jacks

Stroganoff Topped Baked Potato

Baked Reindeer Spaghetti

      Diesel was $3.15 here.  There is a Petro Marine Services diesel pump at their on shore facility at the corner of the Beluga Refuge Road and the main highway.  A standard credit card prepay pump with diesel at just $3.04.  They have another station out on East End Drive about 4 miles if you get out that way.  Propane was $3.89 per gallon and laundry at the campground was $2 each for wash and dry.  All not too terribly bad.  We stayed here 11 days.  I love Homer.  It is easily my favorite town in Alaska.  Many come close, but for me this is it.  I don't know if I'll ever be back this way again or not, but I have added many more cherished memories this trip.  

"I'm becoming more and more myself with time.  I guess that's what grace is.  The refinement of your soul through time." 

Jewell (Kilcher)

WiFi courtesy of Homer Spit Campground