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Ahmet Erkun

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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Sunrise Farewell to Homer
July 24, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Our travel day from Homer to Anchorage greeted us with a golden sunrise over Kachemak Bay.
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Day 82 Ends with a Bath!
July 23, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
It was neither Mui nor I who took a bath in the boat harbor. Rather it was a sea otter that was enjoying the bathing experience in the cold waters of Kachemak Bay.
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Last Dinner in Homer
July 23, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
When we decided to move our late lunch from Kenai to Homer, we called to make reservations for an early dinner instead.

Where did we go? To Fresh Catch, where we had lunch the day we arrived in Homer. We enjoyed our meal just as much this time as we did the first time. The food was excellent; the service prompt without making us feel rushed.

A great way to end our stay in Homer … we head to Anchorage tomorrow.

——————————————————

For those interested in such things ….

Mui ordered the fresh kale salad topped with grilled king salmon from Bristol Bay (Bering Sea); I ordered the seafood Alfredo pasta with shrimp, halibut, and double the salmon (in lieu of scallops). To wash down our food, Mui ordered a Pinot Noir from Oregon; I got the Glacier Brewing Company’s raspberry wheat beer. We wrapped up by sharing a delicious walnut chocolate tart that came with vanilla ice cream.Read more
Travelersalmon finally!
8/9/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Kenai Peninsula Drive
July 23, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
With a rain-free day forecasted for today, we shifted our plans and did our chores yesterday and went for a drive around the Kenai Peninsula today. Thus skipping day 81 in this journal/blog.

Though the sky above us was blue when we got to Baycrest — the overlook from which one can glimpse the Homer Spit — everything below us was hidden by low lying clouds that gave the impression of looking down on a bowl of Cool Whip. This scenery, and the small garden of colorful flowers, turned out to be the highlight of our day.

Our drive took us north to the city of Kenai. I was expecting a scenic coastal drive, but for much of the way, a screen of trees hid the scenery. What scenery there was across Cook Inlet was hidden behind clouds. Luckily, they lifted a bit on the way back and we managed a couple of hazy glimpses of some of the volcanoes on the far side of the inlet.

Initially, we were planning to have a late lunch in Kenai. But the restaurant that came highly recommended was filled to the gills. It was noisy inside and the ambiance didn’t tickle our fancy. So, we decided to head back to Homer for our meal.

Along the way, we stopped at Anchor Point State Park … the furthest western point of the US that is reachable by car. We were hoping to see tractors towing fishing boats out to the inlet during low tide. Unfortunately, it was high tide when we arrived. Oh well … sometimes you lose.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
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Day 80 Ends w/a Beach Stroll
July 21, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
After our museum visits, we returned to the Spit and had a late lunch at Captain Pattie’s. Though the restaurant comes highly recommended, we didn’t much care for the ambiance. Service was not great and the food just OK IMHO. A sweet treat from Carmen’s Gelato made up for our disappointing seafood meal.

Returning to the Cruiser, we spent the rainy afternoon at home. Quiet and relaxing … that’s a good thing.

When the rain let up around 7:00p, we went for a stroll on the beach. It was low tide and we were hoping to walk at least a mile before returning. Unfortunately, the Nick Dudiak Fishing Hole is open to Kachemak Bay and the outflow was too deep for us to cross over. Instead, we walked over to the fishing hole and watched the anglers plying rod and reel before crossing over to the beach that overlooks Cook Inlet.

More rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, but it should begin clearing up late in the day 🤞🏻.Read more
Traveler bright star!
8/9/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Rainy Day Museum #2
July 21, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
After our visit at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, we drove to the nearby Pratt Museum.

The exhibits are multi-faceted, focusing on art — fabric and other, natural history, native cultures, homesteading, fishing, and marine ecology. There are wildlife mounts and skeletons as well.

What I enjoyed the most were the quilts, the designs of which were inspired by nature. Also, there were some beautiful photographs that attracted my attention.

I had read that there is a botanical garden, but it was too wet to spend time outdoors today.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Rainy Day Museum #1
July 21, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 54 °F
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature
He finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
John Muir, Nature Writer
(From a panel at the Islands & Ocean VC)

Another rainy day in Homer. A day of steady rain. A good day to visit museums.

Our first stop was at the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center in the area of Homer referred to as the Bypass. It serves as the VC for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, which includes remote places such as the Aleutian Chain, the Pribilof Islands, and more. It’s a refuge that the US Fish & Wildlife Service website describes as “Thousands of Islands, Millions of Birds.”

Despite the rain, we took a short stroll down to the Beluga Slough before going inside the VC to check out the indoor exhibits … a replica of a Bering sea bird rookery, murals, Aleutian artifacts, a field camp, and a real-time tide gauge.

Interesting … well worth the visit.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Day 79 Ends w/Flight Sch Change
July 20, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
Our ANC-SEA flight on 26 July has seen several schedule changes since we booked it in March. Each change has been to our advantage … reducing our waiting time in Anchorage once we drop off the vehicles with Tote Maritime and arriving earlier in Seattle.

The schedule change we were notified of today is similarly to our advantage. We now have 11 fewer minutes to kill at ANC and we will arrive at SEA a few minutes early as well.

I like changes that work in our favor.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Stroll on the Homer Spit
July 20, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 57 °F
Chores done … dinner eaten. When the steady rain looked like it was going to let up, we decided to take a stroll along the Homer Spit. It continued to “spritz” but bundled up in our rain gear, it didn’t matter.

Our goal was to stretch our legs a bit. There is a pedestrian/bike path that runs the length of the Spit, which is about 5 miles long, which is nice since there is quite a bit of traffic on the road that runs down the middle.

We walked by the fishing hole, down to the boat harbor and beyond. Crossing the road, we stopped by the Seafarer’s Memorial and then checked out some of the shops. Then, we came to Carmen’s Gelato. Yup …. That was our second goal (or maybe it was the primary one that got us out for stroll). Yummm!Read more
TravelerWe have several good friends who lived in Homer for many years before moving to Ashland. It's a place we've always wanted to visit, so I'm enjoying seeing your photos and touring with you!
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Ooops! … Fixed
July 20, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 57 °F
Our run of good weather ran out today. We woke up to rain … and it is still raining. No matter, we wanted a day or two of rest … and time for chores … laundry was foremost on my mind.

Plus, Mui had an important errand to attend to this morning.

When we got back from Seldovia yesterday, the CR-V was dead as a door nail. How could that be? The battery was brand new … replaced just before we left the house in May. We managed to get jump from a guy parked nearby and got back to the Cruiser OK. Turns out the battery was indeed OK. The problem was a broken battery terminal connector.

Mui left after breakfast, intending to pick up the necessary part in town and replace the broken connector himself. He ended up getting it fixed by a mechanic instead. The cost? $0 … zip … nada. The guy told Mui it would cost him more than the actual work was worth to write it all up. He would not take a tip, but a six-pack of beer as a thank you did not go amiss.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
City of Secluded Charm
July 19, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Seldovia is another one of those Alaskan towns that has no road connection to the rest of the state, You can fly to this town, which was founded by Russians in search of sea otter pelts and timber to repair their ships … or you can take a boat there. We opted for the latter.

Instead of doing a wildlife cruise that has a stop in Seldovia, we chose to go there on the Kachemak Bay Ferry which has twice-daily roundtrip sailings. Not only did this give us more time in Seldovia, but it was less expensive since I had a TourSaver 2-for-1 coupon.

The ride across Kachemak Bay was a smooth one. When we arrived in Seldovia, we headed to the Boardwalk Hotel for lunch on the deck overlooking the boat harbor. Good food … but exceptionally slow service. Not that we minded spending time on the deck, but it did cut into our time for exploring Seldovia. In the end, we had to make a choice between hiking the Otterbahn Trail or strolling around town. We chose the latter.

Our meandering stroll, took us up to the Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas; gave us a chance to smell the roses, so to speak, in the pocket gardens planted all around Seldovia; study the chainsaw sculptures in hidden nooks and crannies; check out the historic boardwalk; and study the exhibits at the tiny but informative museum. We would have wrapped up with a couple of cones from the ice cream shop … but they were all out.

All in all, a good day exploring off the beaten path (sort of) in Alaska.Read more
Looks like a neat town. We noticed too service is slow out there but I also think we are suppose to adjust to their slow pace of living. :)
8/2/21Reply
Two to TravelIt’s more than that. Everywhere we went to in Alaska and in the Lower 48, the problem is the same … difficulty finding people to fill the server, kitchen, etc. jobs due to COVID. People are either afraid or they make more with unemployment. At a resort we stopped in near Leavenworth, they are now serving food in take out containers with plastic silverware and plastic cups because they don’t have dish washing staff in the kitchen.
8/2/21Reply
Sonia GelmanLooks like beautiful blue sky and pretty town. As always great pictures!
8/2/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Day 77 Ends w/High Tide @ Heritage RVP
July 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
It was 9:30p by the time we got home … after an unsuccessful foray for a light dinner. Instead, we made do with whatever snacks we found in our own kitchen as we enjoyed the high-tide view from our beachfront site.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
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Katmai NP&P to Beluga Lake
July 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Bears on the beach saw us off from Naknek Lake … and thus we began the return trip from Katmai National Park & Preserve to Homer.

By 8:00p we were “feet wet,” leaving Katmai National Park behind. By 9:00p, we were landing softly on Beluga Lake in Homer.

The air seemed slightly clearer on the way back and I even managed to get a shot or two of some of the volcanoes, as well as the Homer Spit.Read more
Traveler all the photos are wonderful, but this one made me happy
7/31/21Reply
Two to TravelI was so happy we were able to see it.
7/31/21Reply
TravelerWow!!! Your photos are spectacular!
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
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Katmai: The Scenery
July 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Since we had done a week-long boat-based trip to coastal Katmai National Park & Preserve to sit with and photograph bears in 2010, our initial plans did not include a bear watching trip this time.

But then … well, we jiggled things to include a day-trip to inland Katmai, which is accessible from Homer by plane. So, I booked an afternoon floatplane trip with Trent, owner/pilot of Adventure Airways.

The plan … fly out to Brooks Lodge from Beluga Lake in Homer on a six-passenger De Havilland Beaver; hike to Brooks Falls; photograph bears; fly back to Homer.

Joining us on this tour were four others — a threesome from Maryland/Virginia and a young man from Romania. Mui and I were given the “love seat” in the tail of the aircraft, which turned out to be great since we had more space than the three who had to share the middle seat and with a window each, I could take photos from both sides of the plane.

Our take off from Beluga Lake was smooth … our flight over Cook Inlet to Katmai was smooth … our landing on Naknek Lake was smooth. The scenery we flew over was breathtaking … the only disappointment was all the wildfire smoke haze blowing in from Eastern Siberia … no crisp views of the volcanoes and coastal mountains. It was what it was!Read more
Traveler oh that is wondrous!
7/30/21Reply
Ah, how cool! And the pictures are amazing! [Sonia]
7/30/21Reply
Two to TravelIt was … one thing about Alaska, the aerial views are spectacular.
7/30/21Reply
TravelerYou guys are such fabulous explorers!
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Moving to the Beachfront
July 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
When we made our reservation at Heritage RV Park on the Homer Spit it was for a beachfront site … arriving today. But then, we came a day early, so we spent last night in a back-in front. It was OK for one night, but we wouldn’t have been happy there for a week-long stay.

So, as soon as our assigned FHU pull-in site — #118 — was vacated this morning, we moved in. Ahhh … so much nicer.

The sites look tight, but if parked right, there is a surprising amount of patio space … plus the fire ring area, which is in front of the site … overlooking the beach and Kachemak Bay. An added advantage with this site is that there is a beach-access path on the driver’s side, which makes the site feel even more spacious.

Methinks we will enjoy this site. Now, if only the smoke haze from Siberian wildfires would dissipate so we can enjoy the mountain views without the filmy haze.Read more
Travelerwell at least it is haze and not smoke. the PNW is thick with smoke, thankfully not here in GP
7/29/21Reply
TravelerWhat a gorgeous view from your site! I hope we'll make it up there someday to follow in your footsteps.
8/7/21Reply
Two to Travel🤞🏻
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Sunrise in Homer
July 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
As the days get shorter, we’re enjoying having a couple of hours of darkness followed by a “real sunrise.”

I wasn’t up in time for the sunrise this morning … which was at 5:48a. But Mui was. Here’s what he captured.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Day 76 Ends @ Fresh Catch
July 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Well, actually the day ended with us doing three loads of laundry at Heritage RV Park, but before that we drove down the Homer Spit to get our bearings. While we were at it, we stopped to get a bite to eat.

Of the various eateries on the Spit, we opted for Fresh Catch Café. One of the things we appreciated about the place is that indoor dining is open only to those who are vaccinated. It also had a quieter ambiance.

We were hoping for salmon, but as has been the case everywhere we’ve been to, it wasn’t on the menu today … maybe next week. No matter. The halibut fish and chips was great … and the carrot cake was quite yummy.Read more
We had a good meal there too.
7/26/21Reply
TravelerWe're 58 days from our Norwegian Alaskan cruise and can't wait! Such breathtaking scenery!
7/29/21Reply
Two to TravelYes … breathtaking scenery in almost every direction.
7/29/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Settled (Temporarily) @ Heritage RV Park
July 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
When we called the Heritage RV Park on the Homer Spit to see if they could accommodate us early, they said, “No, on Friday … Yes, on Saturday.”

But there was a caveat. We had to take a back-in site for one night. Knowing how crowded the Homer Spit is this time of the year, we said we would take the available spot. Not ideal, but something we can deal with until we move to our pre-reserved beachfront site tomorrow. The nice thing about the particular site we’re in is that there is a wedge of green space that makes it seem more spacious.

Heritage is a popular RV park because of its location on the 4.5-mile long Spit … walking distance to outfitters, the small boat harbor, shops, and eateries. The FHU sites are narrow, but if you take the time to park right (not all do) there is a surprising amount of patio space. That said, this is one of those campgrounds where we would only stay (long term), or recommend to others, if one can snag a beachfront site.Read more
TravelerOur favorite places to stay are either in the middle of nature with hiking trails right out the front door, or in town where we can walk to everything. This looks like a great place for exploring Homer!
8/7/21Reply
Two to TravelThe middle to end of the Spit is definitely walkable … and you can also bike the path up into Homer town.
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Ninilchik Russian Orthodox Church
July 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
In 2001, I was doing research for our first trip to Alaska. That’s when I saw a photo of the very picturesque Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Chapel … more commonly referred to as the Ninilchik Russian Orthodox Church. Built in 1901, it replaced an older church that was built when Ninilchik was founded in 1846.

We didn’t have time to get down to Ninilchik then. Nor did we have time to do so in 2010. So, I wanted to make sure that we would visit it this year. Turns out, it was easy to do so as the church is accessible just off the Sterling Highway.

Taking advantage of the beautiful blue-sky day, we stopped for a quick look-see on our way to Homer from Soldotna. A highly-anticipated stop that met and exceeded our expectations.Read more
I went Halibut fishing in Ninilchik :) and Betsy was parked by the beach below the Russian church.
7/26/21Reply
Two to TravelFishing is so incredibly popular in Alaska.
7/27/21Reply
TravelerI love the architecture of Orthodox churches. What a beautiful site.
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Day 75 Ends @ Fred Meyer in Soldotna
July 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
Had we not jiggled our plans last week, we would have been heading from Whittier to Seward. But we did. So we headed to Homer instead … two days before our reservation at a campground on the Spit.

The Kenai Peninsula is hot stuff this time of the year … with salmon and halibut runs bringing anglers from near and far. So, when we decided to head to Homer, we called to see if the campground had space. No can do for tonight … yes, for tomorrow.

With no real plan in place, we drove 108 miles from Whittier to Soldotna … discussing options as we made our way there. Both the Seward and Sterling highways were busy with RVs and boats trailered behind vehicles of all kinds. The campgrounds along the way did not appeal. Nor were there any turnouts to take advantage of. So we decided to do what a lot of RVers do when they arrive in Soldotna … we boondocked at Fred Meyer.

The parking lot was a-buzz with activity at first, but it’s been quieting down quickly. To reciprocate the courtesy overnight parking, we did a bit of needed shopping earlier and are ready to settle down for the night.Read more
Travelerwe boondicked there too, as you probably know. 😀
7/25/21Reply
Two to TravelSo I recall … I probably made note of it when I read your post … as a just in case.
7/25/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Thru the Tunnel @ Whittier
July 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Once the M/V Aurora was docked at the ferry terminal in Whittier, we were first off the boat.

Hot-footing it through the underground passageway for pedestrians, we got ourselves over to the parking lot where the Cruiser and toad were awaiting us. Without delay, we hopped in and made our way to the staging area for the 2:00p traffic-release through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.

While we waited for our turn, we enjoyed the scenery … which included a waterfall and the Learnard Glacier.Read more
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Back to Whittier
July 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
The current AK Marine Highway schedule for the Cordova-Whittier ferry has the departure scheduled for 7:00a … with a 6:00a check-in. Ugh.

This time, we opted for one of the booths with a table … at the rear of the forward lounge on the M/V Aurora. The seats were more comfortable and Mui managed to sleep for a couple of hours since there were no armrests between the seats.

It was an uneventful ferry ride. Our only real wildlife encounter was a pod of Dall porpoises that played near the ferry for a while. Otherwise, the critters — mostly sea otters — were quite distant.

I read, I wrote … I read some more. I went for a walk around the boat. Before I knew it, the 7-hour ferry ride was over and we were pulling into Whittier.Read more
TravelerAren't the Dall porpoises delightful? I always love seeing them in the San Juan Islands. They're so playful!
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
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Day 74 Ends on the Deck @ RFI
July 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
The sun was out and the skies were blue when we left the Powder House, so we decided to go for a drive on the Copper River Highway. But, the further down the road we got, the more clouds filled the sky.

So, we turned around and went into town instead, driving out a bit towards the fish cleaning station on the Cannery Road to see if the bald eagle had returned. It hadn’t; but the gulls were still there … ever-hopeful for a fish scrap or two,

The Reluctant Fisherman Inn boasts that it has the best deck in town. So, when we got back to the hotel, we decided to drop off our stuff in the room and have a drink overlooking the harbor. Though the sun played peek-a-boo for a while, eventually the blue skies won out.

We would have stayed on the deck longer, but with a 6:00a check-in for the return ferry tomorrow, our bed beckoned us early.Read more
Traveler You look very happy, Erin. what an amazing trip this has been!
7/23/21Reply
Two to TravelIt was an amazing trip … but ready to leave AK.
7/23/21Reply
Traveleryes. amazing and long, but your surely did and saw a Lot!!
7/23/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Early Dinner @ the Powder House
July 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Since Mui had agreed to an early lunch that consisted of soup, I agreed to an early dinner.

Our new-friend Cobilynn, from yesterday’s jetboat tour, and Lucas, the tour operator, both recommended we try the Powder House, which overlooks Eyak Lake. So that’s where we headed.

This is a very casual eatery … bar and grill. It is founded on the original site of the Copper River Railroad’s dynamite powder storage house.

We both wanted salmon … after all we’re in Copper River Country. But, as has been the case everywhere so far, none was to be had. So, we both ordered the delicious halibut tacos, garnished with red cabbage instead of lettuce. I once again got the Alaskan White beer … which has become a favorite of mine because it is very light and not in the least malty.Read more
Travelerwhy no salmon I wonder?
7/25/21Reply
Two to TravelIt’s not like they are not fishing plenty, but perhaps our timing. We did finally eat some king salmon from Bristol Bay before we left. Probably could have bought from the market, but Mui didn’t want to deal with any real cooking on this trip.
7/25/21Reply
TravelerThe tacos look yummy! We often make grilled fish (or shrimp) tacos and I always garnish them with finely shredded red cabbage and cilantro. So yummy!!
8/7/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
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Cordova Center
July 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We were hoping to visit the Ilanka Cultural Center on Cordova’s waterfront, but it was closed to the public … perhaps because of the COVID-19 outbreak that was the hot news item today.

Instead, we went to the Cordova Center, a multi-use facility that amongst other things, houses the Cordova Historical Museum. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, we were especially pleased to have the place mostly to ourselves … and we wore our masks though it wasn’t required for those who are vaccinated.

We enjoyed not only the exhibits, which included interesting historic exhibits, but also the art gallery that is attached to the museum.Read more
TravelerWith the variant spreading in the US, they are talking masks in public places for even vaccinated people. Janna in Montana had vaccinated friends come down with COVID quite sick for 3 days. Glad you are being careful
7/23/21Reply
Two to TravelPersonally, vaccinated or not, we opened too quickly everywhere around the world.
7/23/21Reply
Traveleragreed
7/23/21Reply
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North to Alaska By RV 2021
Gulls & A Bald Eagle
July 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
On the way back from the Orca Lodge, we stopped at the fish cleaning station on Cannery Road to enjoy views of the inlet.

There were plenty of glaucous-winged gulls nearby … waiting for a fisherman or two to show up and give them some fish scraps.

Imagine our surprise when we stepped closer to the shore and found ourselves staring at a bald eagle. Not sure if the damage to his right eye causes him any problems fishing, but he sure was watching the water carefully … and he was very patient with us trying to take photos and videos of him. (Of course, it could have been a her, too.)Read more
TravelerI couldn't tell: what was wrong with its eye?
7/24/21Reply
Two to TravelHe had a scar running all the way down the other side of his face … and it went through the eye. It’s visible in the videos I took, but otherwise he kept this side turned to us when he was stationary.
7/24/21Reply
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