(June 29 – July 6, 2018 – Homer, Alaska)

From Kenai we headed on down the Sterling Highway towards Homer, Alaska. The day was overcast and drizzly, with increasingly heavy showers as the further south we got. Although our route took us along the coast, overcast was too heavy to make out any of the mountains and volcanoes across the Cook Inlet. As we neared Homer, we met with dense fog, only lifting as we dropped down the last grade into town.

On the Homer Spit

Our travel goal for the day was the Heritage RV Park on the Homer Spit, a narrow, miles long section of land intruding into the Kachemak Bay. We settled into the RV park for a seven-night stay. By the time we had set up camp, the overcast was lifting and we had our first look at the bay and surrounding scenery.

Spectacular! The word is apt, but is simply pale in describing the splendor of the view. The calm, blue waters of the bay extended to a line of jagged snow-capped and glacier-studded mountains marching along the far shore. Several large ships sedately rode at anchor in the bay, while fishing and excursion boats buzzed about at a more frenetic pace.

Having a Great Time at Homer

Travel Itinerary 2018 – Alaska Part III

For the next week we enjoyed a spell of lovely weather on the Spit. Days were mostly clear, sunny, and fairly warm with a cooling sea breeze, stiffening in afternoons, and occasional showers in the mornings or evenings. We enjoyed sight-seeing around Homer and along the Spit.

Highlights of our stay include visits to the Homer Farmers Market, the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitors Center, and Bishop’s Beach. We enjoyed walks and shopping along the Homer Spit Boardwalk, as well as dining on seafood in local restaurants. We also visited a local landmark, the Salty Dawg Saloon, where as rite of passage visitors leave dollar bills to commemorate their visit – in keeping with tradition we left our mark, too.

The pups were also having a great time with long walks around the campground, along the beach and playing fetch in the bay.

Making the Rainbow Connection to Seldovia

One day we took an excursion aboard the Rainbow Connection tour boat across the bay to the small town of Seldovia. Founded by Russian traders, trappers, and settlers to the area, Seldovia has a rich history and culture.

The name of the boat, Rainbow Connection, was interesting with its echos of the Muppet Movie. We were somewhat disappointed not to meet Kermit, Ms. Piggy, or even Fozzy Bear aboard, but did have a catchy tune stuck in our head for days. We enjoyed our own rainbow connection – the lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Surprisingly, pets were welcome on the tour so we were able to take Jasmine and Pepper along. Given the length of the tour, we were not comfortable leaving the dogs at camp and would have needed to find a pet walking service or forego the tour. This was the first major boat ride for the pups and they did very well. After some nervousness when the boat engines started they settled right down and slept much of the way. They also seemed to enjoy the attention other guests lavished on them at times during the trip.

Along the way, we passed Gull Island and several other small islands for viewing of the sea-bird rookeries. We saw many Glaucous Gulls and Common Murres, as well as a few Crested Puffins and Cormorants. At least once a predatory Bald Eagle raided a nest, resulting in a swirling gyre of angry gulls rising from the island.

Along the way we also saw a few sea otters, including a small raft of otters resting entwined in the kelp. According to the tour guide, the otters were unusually skittish due to recent Orca activity in the area. A pod of the killer whales had passed through the area a few days before and engaged in a rousing game of toss-the-rag-doll sea otter. Yikes! Understandably, surviving otters were a bundle of nerves and rather shy of disturbances.

Arriving in Seldovia, we had just a few hours ashore. We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant, but the slow service by an understaffed restaurant overwhelmed with too many visitors was disappointing. By the time we finished our meal, there was very little time to see the sights, although we did get to see the historic St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church and, briefly, the boardwalk. Speaking with other passengers on the tour boat, we heard similar stories. We had a nice time, but should we take the tour on another trip we would pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a more leisurely tour of the town.

Overall we had a great time on the excursion to Seldovia and can heartily recommend it.

All too soon our time in Homer was up and it was time to pack up and move on. Next stop, Seward, Alaska. We had a great time in Homer and would love to return on another trip.

That’s all for now. Safe travels and enjoy the journey!