Homer: Halibut Capital of the World

Tuesday morning Mike and I left Anchorage and started a day-long drive south on the Seward Highway towards our next stop on the Kenai Peninsula. Gorgeous views of mountains, glaciers and eerie green rivers of glacial water greeted us at every breathtaking turn, in spite of the rain. After we turned onto the Sterling Highway (all Alaska highways are named), we went through towns with histories of Russian settlers mixing with the native Dena'ina Athabaskan---towns like Soldotna, Kasilof and Ninilchik. I should investigate their histories sometime, but maybe not tonight.

 

It stopped raining briefly (above) and we stopped at Deep Creek Beach near Ninilchik to enjoy windy views of  Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Redoubt, and skip rocks. A campground and day-use area are at the beach where Deep Creek enters the ocean. Mike was excited to note the location so he could camp here someday if he returns to Alaska. Tractor-assisted boat launching was interesting to watch as the charter fishing boats were pushed into deep water and headed out into Cook Inlet.

 

So we arrived in Homer and Mike got the RV set up in a brief interlude between rain storms.

 

Above: The view from our RV site on right on the water. At low tide we were astounded to watch a bald eagle THIS close to us steal a gull's catch.

 

Homer, we discovered, is a famous destination for sport fishermen. It boasts the title, "Halibut Capital of the World." Every other business is a fishing charter outfit on Kachemak (catch-a-mack) Bay. The charter operations are all by the marina out on Homer Spit, a thin spit of land extending from downtown out into the bay.

 

 

 

We had planned to take the water taxi across the bay to Kachemak State Park and do some hiking around glaciers, but the dang rain never let up. It is still pouring as I type this! So, we explored colorful Homer in the rain (fifth consecutive rainy day for Mike), visited museums, ate fish tacos and taco salad at the Cosmic Kitchen (and skipped McDonald's), bought gifts and postcards, drove the entire Skyline Drive high above town, shopped the Spit and watched episodes of Northern Exposure in the RV. But we did not fish.

 

 

My new, very warm, very felted, wool hat. I can laugh at the rain! HAH!

 

Fortunately, the shops had boardwalks above the puddles. Liz, thanks for the loan of your hiking boots!

 

We ended our Homer visit by enjoying delicious local halibut and salmon at Captain Pattie's. We leave Thursday morning for Seward, Alaska.