Alaska – Canada Travels 2014, Homer and a Rainbow Connection Cruise, July 19th to 22nd.

Mt. Redoubt in the Aleutian Range.

As we travel down the Kenai Peninsula to Homer we can see several of the great volcanoes of the Aleutian Range on the Alaskan Peninsula.

Homer, a quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem. That's what they say.

We spend several days camping on the Spit. It's were Alaskans come to recreate. There are private campgrounds but we camped in the city campground side by side on the gravel bar with the Alaskans. It's essentially just a parking lot, no facilities except bathrooms but we had an ocean view and a lot of fun. We got to experience the fishing madness.

Our camp on the Homer Spit.

Making Halibut Tacos from the fresh fish our Sportsmobile friend, Rick caught. 

Next time we come to Homer we're going to catch a for real Halibut.

Driving down the Spit.

Lots of great shops, restaurants and fun on the Spit. 

More shops. You can also books fishing and wildlife viewing cruises.

 

There's a large marina and great little shops and restaurants along the single road down the center of the Spit.

The marina in the Spit.

Gulls aren't shy as they gather at the fish cleaning tables.

An Eagle waits its turn at the scraps. Easy pickings.

We spent the day walking around Homer and visited the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center.

A great coffee shop with giant cups in downtown Homer.

We visit the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center.

 

Inspiration from a plaque at the Islands and Oceans nature walk.

A walk on the beach at Islands and Oceans.

Living art on the beach.

On our 2^nd day we take a wildlife viewing tour on Central Tours Rainbow Connection. We cruised by Gull Island, through the fjords and saw several species of gulls, Common Murre, Cormorant, Turfed Puffin, Horned Puffin, Bald Eagle, Sea Otter and a Humped-backed Whale.ins, Horned Puffins, Bald Eagles, Sea Otters and a Humpbacked Whale. We had lunch and spent a few hours in Seldovia before heading back across the inlet to Homer. Here are some pics of the old sea-side homes and the chain saw sculptures in Seldovia. The last pics are our camp by the sea and a shared meal of fresh Halibut tacos with our fellow Sportmobile friend.

We take a wildlife viewing cruise on the Rainbow Connection.

Cormorants, Murres, Puffins and Gulls congregate on Gull Island. 

Everyone gets along and enjoys the abundant fishing.

Our cruise gives us 2 ½ hours in the little port town of Soldovia where we have lunch and walk around the town. They make some nice chainsaw sculptures.

Bay-side homes in Soldovia.

A chainsaw sculpture garden in Soldovia.

A ceramic sea life mural at the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center.

Sea life sculpture in downtown Homer.

If you every go to Homer you must stay on the spit. It's all about the experience.

Our next stop is Seward.

A custom motorhome on the Homer Spit.

A farewell to Homer. Fireweed blooming in the mid-summer.

Until then,

Jackie