July 22 through July 26, 2010

July 22 -- July 26, 2010

We pulled into the Homer Elks and found a spot with a great view of Kachemak Bay!  Drove the "East End Road" which goes way back into Kachemak Bay to a predominantly Russian housing area.  The Bay narrows and the glaciers appear to be touchable.  It was a gorgeous area.

We made an attempt to go halibut fishing while in Homer but were weathered out -- very rough ocean.  Pat and Bernie went out in the morning (we tried to go out in the afternoon).  They got 12 miles out before the captain decided it was too rough.  We didn't get away from the dock in the afternoon!  We will maybe try again while in Seward, our next stop.  The weather here has been unseasonably cold this summer.  Even the locals are complaining about the low temperatures.

The glaciers are awesome!










This one is my favorite.  It looks like you could reach out and touch this one but it is clear across the bay.







July 26, 2010:   We were going to move to Seward today but with the driving rain though it best not to make the journey.  The road into Seward is a very scenic one and we wouldn't be able to see much!  We explored the area around Homer some more.  Went up to Anchor Point where they launch fishing boats off of the beach with a tractor.  They also take them out the same way -- very exciting.

I want to go fishing from this beach just to be in the boat when they drive up onto the trailer.  He was hauling!!  There were about five or six passengers inside of the cabin when he drove the boat onto the trailer.

There is a winery outside of Homer and of course we went wine tasting.  Grapes are not grown here but the juice is imported.  A lot of their wines are fruit based, i.e., raspberry, pear, kiwi, rhubarb and many others.  We did buy so hope to share, if there is any left, when we get home!

\This is various stages in fermentation of rhubarb wine!  Surprisingly, it's kind of good.  Other fruits are also used, i.e., raspberry, and blueberry.  They also make an  "Alaskan chardonnay" which is rhubarb and chardonnay from California (Sonoma County).  Most of their wine is a little sweet for us but we bought six bottles anyway (two of the chardonnay!)  Who would have ever thought there was a winery in Alaska.
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The view from the winery -- do you see any vineyards?!

The view from our back window at the Homer Elks.  We turned our big chairs around and enjoyed the view, even in the rain!




Tomorrow we are off to Seward, Alaska.