Homer Explorations

Majestic!

This morning I wake up with a head cold, which is disappointing, because we were going to visit the different breweries in Homer.  Alcohol is the last thing I feel like drinking - I'm more in the mood for tea.

Eagle in flight.  Nice shot, Steve!

We take a drive to look for eagles, and find a nest near a waste dump site (and we see them flying over the dump, too).  Turns out eagles are scavengers, so this is the type of place to check out if you want to spot them.  Steve takes some terrific pictures with the camera. 

As we're driving around, we stop at Anchor Point, apparently the most westerly highway point in North America (now you can get that question right when watching Jeopardy!).  Steve and I decide we need a selfie with the sign, and Dad takes a picture of us checking out the selfie.   

Dad's picture

Our picture

Backing in as the boat comes across the water...

Many people fish out of Anchor Point, and they have a unique way of  getting the boats in and out of the water.  The tractor and trailer drive right into the water, and the boats motor right up to it...they don't seem to slow down very much, either!  Once they're connected, the tractor pulls it up to land and the people jump off (hopefully with lots of fish).

Here's the boat, almost on the trailer.  See the wake!  The boat's moving fairly quickly.

The front entrance - forgot to take a picture of the quilting section.

Long delays due to road construction cause us to give up hunting for animals and return to Homer.  We stop in Ulmer's Hardware, similar to Wal-mart (there isn't one in Homer) but with a big quilting section - lots of fabric, quilting supplies and notions (it's not at Wal-mart prices, however).  It's worth the stop, though I only buy one cut of fabric (maybe for another tunic....one day).  There used to be a true quilt shop here (conveniently located next to the Washboard) but it closed.  Ulmer's is a good substitute.

Homer Small Boat Harbor

Another scenic Homer site - except the boat is on dry land.  Good thing there's no sails on the yardarm!

outdoor eating

We stop at a place on Homer Spit to eat fish (halibut) and chips.  It was also recommended by our cabin manager.  It's good, but the breading is thicker than I like.  We also eat outside, which is fine, but it's very windy! 

In the evening I decide to drive to the grocery store to pick up ice cream for my sore throat, plus a few other items, including candles for Mom's birthday cake.  It's my first time driving a car in almost 2 years....but it's like riding a bike - it all comes back to you.  No problems, though I'm kind of glad the speed limit doesn't go above 45 mph!

I may have a few more pairs...

The next day Mom and I visit the cute boutiques and art galleries along Pioneer Street, the "old downtown."  They're full of jewelry, paintings, pottery, wood carving, etc from different Alaskan artists.  I love these kinds of places!  I find my favorite brand of earrings at the least expensive price, so I use it as an excuse to buy some more.  They're actually made in Colorado, not Alaska, but I love them (and they have them at all the shops in Alaska).

My new mug!

It's Mom's birthday, so we all go out to Captain Pattie's for dinner.  Mom and I split the 3 pound order of king crab legs.  They're huge!  Probably the biggest crab I've ever seen.  Mom's hand and wrist are equal to half the leg.

Gigantic crab legs - each individual leg is one pound!

Mom's cake - pretty, with fresh flowers!

Then we return to the camper to enjoy Mom's birthday cake, and the relighting candles.  I guess I should have looked at the package more closely, instead of just the color of the candles.  Oops!

Yes, it clearly says relighting on the package!

She blows them all out...eventually!

Enough said!

The following day we visit the two breweries in town.  It doesn't take the employee at Grace Ridge Brewing Company a long time to convince me that beer will help my cold.  I get the sampler, and I actually like the amber beer better than the darker ones, which is unusual.

Grace Ridge Brewery entrance

We convince Mom to try some beer, but she hates it - still.  I think if she tries it enough times she'll start to like it - that worked for me!  (It took me 18 months before I started liking it.)

This is not a happy face!

  


From Grace Ridge it's a very short ride to Homer Brewery.  I order the sampler there, too and I like their beers a lot better.  There's also a fresh oyster truck right outside - it's hard to top that!   It's $24 for 17 oysters, some of the best prices we've seen around Alaska. We end up having two orders to accompany our beer.  Dad doesn't like raw oysters, but we don't share a taste with him.  They're too good to waste! 

Beer and fresh oysters - good combination!

​I've been emailing with the kennel owner about Tie-Dye for the past few days.  His eye is looking better, but we schedule an appointment for Tie-Dye at the Triangle Animal Eye Clinic for when we return.  It's too far to walk, so we also arrange for a pet taxi...and for a friend to accompany us to translate (because the doctor refuses to keep our appointment if we don't have a translator).  It's a lot to organize from thousands of miles away, but with email and the help of the Tokyo American Club, we're able to work it all out.

Mom makes me chicken soup for dinner since I've still got the cold (turns out the alcohol doesn't kill off the germs).  It's always the best medicine!