United States
Ostrovski (historical)

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    • Day 57

      Homer Spit

      June 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      In der Nacht stehen wir noch einmal auf und schauen aus dem Fenster. Es ist kurz nach Mitternacht und die Sonne geht gerade unter. Am Strand vor unserem Bus sitzen zwei Weißkopfseeadler. Einer von Ihnen hat einen Fisch erbeutet. Faszinierend. Plötzlich taucht etwas im Meer auf. Wir sehen eine graue Rückenflosse und schon ist es wieder weg. Das wiederholt sich noch ein paar Mal, aber mehr als die Rückenflosse bekommen wir nicht zu Gesicht. Leider können wir nicht sagen, welches Tier das war und auch auf den Fotos lässt es sich nicht erkennen. In dieser Gegend gibt es Buckelwale und Orcas, aber es war eine Nummer kleiner. Wir tippen auf einen Belugawal, leider werden wir es nicht erfahren.

      Nach dieser aufregenden Nacht müssen wir heute ausschlafen. 😃 Für uns ist diese Jahr jeden Tag Samstag! 😉 Ausgeruht geht es nach Homer. Dort angekommen besuchen wir zuerst das Visitor Center. Mit vielen Prospekten und Informationen starten wir Richtung Homer Spit. Eine Landzunge, die als Seitenmoräne eines Gletschers vor vielen tausend Jahren entstand. Hier befindet sich der Fischerei- und Privatboothafen, viele Restaurants, Bars, Geschäfte und Campingplätze.
      Wir entscheiden uns für einen einfachen Schotterplatz direkt an einer kleinen Lagune. Das sogenannte Fishing Hole. Für 20 Dollar kann man hier 24h stehen bleiben. Öffentliche Toiletten und Wifi gleich daneben. In der Lagune kann man wunderbar Lachs fischen. Wir haben aber leider an diesem Tag kein Anglerglück. Aber wir haben trotzdem das große Glück, dass uns jemand seinen frisch gefangenen Lachs schenkt, da er keine Kühlbox mit hatte. Gemeinsam mit ihm essen wir den frischen Lachs roh mit Soja Soße- Sashimi. Später gibt's dann noch gebratenen Lachs. Schmeckt ausgezeichnet, frischer gehts nicht!

      Danach schnappen wir uns unsere Fahrräder und düsen etwas am Spit entlang in Richtung Lands End, das Ende dieses Sporns wird so bezeichnet. Dabei hören wir wie jemand " Achtung" zu seinem Kind sagt. Wie sich durch Michi's Gesprächsbereitschaft herausstellt, heißt die Dame Heidi , stammt aus Saalfelden, hat in Innsbruck studiert und hat beim Auslandsstudium in den USA ihren Mann Andrew kennengelernt. Mit ihrer Tochter Thalia leben sie seit 10 Jahren in der Nähe von Homer. Wir gehen gemeinsam Eis essen und morgen Abend sind wir bei ihnen zum Essen eingeladen. Das beweist wiedermal, durchs reden kommen die Leut zusammen!

      Wir lassen den Abend vorm Bus ausklingen und schauen der Sonne langsam beim Untergehen zu. Alaska ist ein Traum!
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    • Day 14

      Homer

      June 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

      Winding up this incredible trip on Homer, on the Kenai Peninsula. Long 4 hour drive from Whittier. However mother nature came through with several bald eagles and a huge Moose!

      The entire Peninsula is incredible and Homer is the crowning jewel for sure. We have some Alaska friends, and they grew up here so tomorrow is on their boat fishing.

      The beach photos were all taken from our campsite on "the spit" at the veery end of the line.... Of Alaska, essentially. They were taken after 11pm!
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    • Day 8

      Another day in Homer

      May 23, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      It is another beautiful day in Homer! The sun is out with light winds making the 50 degree weather very comfortable. We walked along the beach and then to the harbor where we talked to a local fisherman as he was cleaning his catch of halibut and cod. The tide is unbelievable - at least a 100 foot difference! While at the harbor we caught sight of a ship docked - the Time Bandit. This is one of the ships that the Discovery Channel follows in the tv show, Deadliest Catch! We saw an ice rink in the main part of town. While sitting outside admiring the view we noticed two eagles down on the beach. We were able to walk pretty close to them without having them fly away.

      Homer's the "Halibut Fishing Capital of Alaska," and is about 26 square miles with half being land and the other half water. The population Is about 5000. Homer spit is 4.5 miles long and is between Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay. Kachemak Bay is among the richest marine estuaries in the world. Homer was named for Homer Pennock, a gold-mining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 on the Homer Spit and built living quarters for his crew of 50 men. However, gold mining was never profitable in the area. Homer has a moderate subarctic coastal climate which causes its weather to be moderate compared to interior Alaska. Winters are snowy and long but not particularly cold, with the average January high only slightly below freezing. Snow averages 50 inches, falling primarily from November through March. Homer receives only about 25 inches of rainfall annually due to the influence of the Chugach Mountains to the southeast which shelters it from the Gulf of Alaska.

      We had dinner at a local restaurant- Captain Pattie's Fish House. I had locally caught salmon and Rod had Alaskan King crab legs. Both were delicious.
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    • Day 7

      On to Homer!

      May 22, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

      We left Kenai under sunny skies! We headed south to Homer - about 90 miles from Kenai. The only road into Homer is the Sterling Highway which is Route 1. It was a beautiful drive - mostly coastal so the views were beautiful! We saw moose again crossing the roadway. This is the farthest south we will go on our trip. Homer is on the shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula. Its distinguishing feature is the Homer Spit, a narrow 4.5 mi long gravel bar that extends into the bay, on which is located the Homer Harbor. We are camping on the Homer spit and our view is pretty nice! Much of the coastline as well as the Homer Spit sank during the Good Friday earthquake in March 1964. (This is the same earthquake that effected Seward). After the earthquake, very little vegetation was able to survive on the Homer Spit.

      Pictures 7 and 8 are views from our camp site. Pictures 9 and 10 are of the Salty Dawg. Your visit to Homer is not complete unless you visit here. The Salty Dawg Saloon was originally one of the first cabins built here in 1897, just after the town was established. It has been a post office, railroad station, grocery store and a coal mining office. A second building was added in 1909 and it too served many purposes including a post office, store and schoolhouse. In 1957, the Salty Dawg Saloon officially opened. The building was moved to its present location on the Spit after the 1964 earthquake. The lighthouse was added to cover a water storage tank. It’s now one of Homer’s most recognizable landmarks. The walls and ceilings are covered with paper money (that started when fishermen pinned up notes and drink money for other fishermen still at sea), life rings, some of which serve as memorials to fishermen lost at sea and others who were well loved and respected. Also adorning the walls are other maritime trophies, some from boats that went down at sea.
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    • Day 15

      Day on the Water

      June 21, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

      Visiting good friends who grew up here on Homer. By the way, check out the screenshot Katherine took of the Homer Spit where we are staying. It's so narrow that maps can't even pick it up!

      Andy and Roxanne have a small skiff, and we had an awesome day out on the water. Kids got to drive the boat! Went to Halibut Cove, an amazing village reachable only by boat.

      Tried some fishing (little luck), had a fire on a beach in the middle of nowhere, and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Kids LOVED it!

      Alaska has shown me so many things.... One is that folks who have immediate access to true wilderness are lucky, and they really cherish it.

      Super day...
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    • Day 21

      "First Class Camping by the Sea", Homer

      July 16, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

      Arrived in Homer during torrential downpour. Staying at the well known Heritage RV Park located on the Homer Spit for next two nights.

      The Spit is a peninsula that extends into the ocean. The Spit should have washed away long ago if man had not intervened and saved the land mass. Way to go man. Very cool place.

      https://www.homeralaska.org/the-homer-spit.html

      We are right next to the "Fishing Hole" which is a man made lagoon that contains salmon, so we are told. Way to go man.

      Looking forward to charter fishing for King Salmon tomorrow morning.
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    • Day 17

      Alaska Day 17 Homer

      July 23, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

      A short note today. A "work" day and a day off from tourism. We decided to stay another 2 nights here as there is a lot to see and do and we need a "day off". Did all the maintenance stuff today. Cleaned the RV, did laundry, went to the grocery, got gas, and went to the ATM. I said tonight when we were putting everything away, "everything is clean but us". No time for a shower. 😆. Special dinner tonight. Fresh halibut from the dock. Homer is the Halibut capital of the world! Pictures today are some from other days for "catch up".Read more

    • Day 18

      Alaska Day 18

      July 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

      A day to explore Homer. First off to the Oceans and Islands Visitor Center. Much more than the usual visitors center - a mini museum, nature walks, lectures, etc. Enjoyable several hours. Then to check out Old Town Homer. Not to much there except a well publicized bakery - Two Sisters. A fun stop for lunch - great baked goods and good sandwiches. Onward to checkout a winery - Bear Creek. All of their wines made from berries. Tasting for 8 wines - $5. 😂. They had 2 types of wines - those blended with grapes and those just berries. Alcohol content from 8-17%. Wines OK. I would consider all as a desert wine. Bought a bottle of my favorite, Black Current. Alice bought a bottle of Port.
      Then a ride to checkout the hills around the town. The fireweed is in full bloom. And sooooo beautiful. A friend of a friend of Alice's told her about the hills on the other side of the mountain. Spectacular scenery with the fireweed covering the hillsides. Next off to the Pratt Museum, a local museum to Alaskan art and culture. I begged off of this one for a nap instead. ( Missed some sleep last night). Alice enjoyed. And one more stop at the Farmers Market which was just closing down and we did not see much.
      So a full-day of tourism, back to campground. Had had some rain last night but cleared this after noon and now sunshine at 9:30PM. Have gotten used to the many hours of daylight. Love the long days. Just wear a sleep mask at night.
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    • Day 76

      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 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.
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    • Day 77

      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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    Ostrovski (historical)

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