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Alaska
2023
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I drag all my stuff
from way in the back and get BlueBelle ready to roll. This will be a really
short day of less than 170 miles so I don't have to be in a hurry at all. |
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So when
I come to road construction, I just chill and enjoy the view beyond the
traffic. |
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It's a lovely ride
out to Homer - that is if you like snow touched mountains and rugged terrain. |
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And it
seems that there is no end to the construction zones as I move along. This
one just happens to have a traffic jam with it to add to the overall ambiance. |
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But soon I leave
them behind and enjoy riding alongside the Trail River. It is located in
the Chugach Mountains and flows through the Trail Lakes finally emptying
into the Kenai Lake. |
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Soon I come to the
booming metropolis called Moose Pass and I have to wonder if the moose do
as the name would suggest. |
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When I come by scenes
like these ... |
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it once again reminds
me ... |
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of why I took the
trouble, time and expense to ride up here. |
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You cannot do these
views justice with a camera but can only provide a small view of the grandeur
before you. |
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As I continue to
make my way to Homer, I pass by an area devastated by a forest fire and
once again it saddens my heart. As the Bible says, a fire is one of those
things that never has enough for it will burn until it runs out of fuel
or is stopped. |
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Knowing I am headed for another
long ferry ride, I start looking for a place to buy some more ratchet
straps as I get into Soldotna. There's an O'Reilly Auto Parts and they
have just what I need. The lovely Miss Carolly checks me out and I ask
her -
"Is there a good place
around here you'd recommend for breakfast?"
She puts me onto a place down
the road a bit and a little out of the way. But I have plenty of time
and my stomach is texting my throat to see if it's been cut since it's
been a while since anything has come down the chute.
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With her good instructions
I find it easy enough and have to laugh when I see the name. When we moved
out from the hills to a local city farm (and we got a house with indoor
plumbing), there was a run down restaurant nearby (probably a speak easy
since my hometown was in dry county) named the Duck Inn. I never went in
it as I was 'too young' at the time to patronize their establishment. |
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And I have to say
that Miss Carolly has hit a home run from the delicious hot chocolate ... |
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to the wonder omelet,
taters, bacon and toast. |
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And lest word get back to her
that I didn't enjoy it, I lay waste (or is to my waist) the last bite and
there no fragments that remain. |
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Back
on the road again I come across this sign which I believe is just bullying
the moose. Can you imagine trying to drive with a pair of antlers on your
head and then have someone put up a sign about you crashing? There's got
to be a class action lawsuit in there somewhere... |
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The way into Homer
is really pretty with views looking out to the ocean from the high spots. |
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When I come into Homer proper,
the fog has rushed up to greet me. A bit of history about the town -
Homer
was named for Homer Pennock, a goldmining company promoter, who arrived
in 1896 on the Homer Spit and built living quarters for his crew of 50
men. However, goldmining was never profitable in the area.
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But then it clears
and I'm immersed in some more incredible views. |
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I find my motel
for the next three nights - the Beluga
Lake Lodge - which sits up on a hill right above a float plane basin.
I am way early and in no hurry, but Miss Barbie the manager not only lets
me go ahead and check in, she gives me a nicer room that I had reserved.
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The float planes
are not active at the moment but I hope I will be able to get a shot of
one them taking off before I leave. |
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With plenty of daylight
to spare, I unburden BlueBelle as I want to run down toward Homer Spit or
what is know as 'Land's End'. |
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The scenery on the
way down again is just so pretty and enjoyable to me. |
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Down there they
have a nice memorial for those who went to sea plying their trade and never
returned. |
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I locate the 'end'
and grab a calendar shot of BlueBelle there. |
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The area down here
near the Spit is pretty touristy and reminds me a lot of what portions of
Florida look like near the ocean. |
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So I don't stay
around long and figure I'll head back into town to search for a 'local'
supper rather than an overpriced 'tourist' version they would offer here. |
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I find a place called
'Fat Olives' and it looks local enough to suit me. |
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I decide since I am in a fishing
area that I will get some fresh seafood instead of my regular dead cow
stuff. I order up some scallops and shrimp and they are absolutely delicious.
Since I don't know the town, I ask my server -
"Since y'all are not open
for breakfast, you got any recommendations?"
She tells me about the Duncan
House Diner which only does breakfast and lunch. So I thank her, settle
up and head back to the motel.
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Although it's rained
mostly for the last two days, today has been a very peaceful and enjoyable
day. When I get back to the motel I book a ferry over to Seldovia, a local
island that has been recommended by Raymond a fellow rider. With that business
taken care of, I drift off to the island of peaceful slumber pretty quick. |
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