Homer

Homer and a boat trip to Seldovia

July 24, 2021

We had a delicious breakfast with more majestic views. And we were introduced to what our hostess called an “Alaskan pancake.”

Much to Karen’s delight, the B&B also has wonderful dogs to pose with and to photograph!

The fun restaurant Fat Olives was recommended by one of the artisans we met at the market in Anchorage. It did not disappoint!

July 25, 2021

Today we spent the whole day with Tim, husband of B&B owner Maria, on his boat on a custom tour of Kachemak Bay. Back in March, the three of us and Tim spent an hour on a conference call talking about options Tim offered and what we really wanted to see and do in Alaska. We wanted wildlife, nature, and landscape. Tim asked if we wanted a fishing trip—it should be prime time for halibut and maybe salmon. “It’s Alaska! You really should go fishing.” We asked if we could go fishing long enough to catch a fish, take a picture, and release it back and he said “sure!”

Our wildlife adventures included meeting the otter named Grandpa (probably more “tame life” than wildlife); Gull Island—a big rock that is nesting grounds for many birds including eagles, puffins, gulls, and red-legged kittiwake; sea lions basking in the sun of China Poot Bay; starfish of all sizes and colors in Sadie Cove; and an up-close experience with a bald eagle in Kachemak Bay.

At lunchtime we hurried to Seldovia (which you can only get to by boat or plane) to beat the ferry and “the crowd.” We had lunch in the shade on the patio of the Seldovia Boardwalk Hotel overlooking the water. A walk around town after lunch on a gorgeous day revealed many quaint and interesting sites including many winners of past Seldovia’s Craft Invitational Chainsaw Carving Competitions.

Sometimes we sat still in the water to soak in the beauty and sometimes we sped through the vastness. It was fabulous at any speed.

As we pulled into Homer Spit at the end of our amazing tour with Tim, he asked Karen, “What’s your middle name?” It seemed an odd question but she answered and he laughed and said “Check out that boat.” Nice to have a boat with your name!

We learned to make reservations days in advance and so we were able to have dinner at Captain Pattie’s Fish House, the restaurant with the best reputation on Homer Spit. And we got one of the best tables in the place! It lived up to expectations with delicious food and excellent service.

We spent our last night in Homer and the last night of our trip soaking in the majestic view from the balcony of our B&B cabin.

July 26, 2021

How we hated to leave! We had two very full, wonderful, and awesome days in Homer and three great nights and breakfasts at the Majestic View B&B.

Thank you, Maria and Tim!

We left Homer today and headed back to Anchorage.

We drove through Anchor Point, Alaska, the most westerly highway point in North America. We made a small side trip to check out a 1901 Russian Orthodox church and its historic cemetery that overlook the original settlement of Ninilchik village at the mouth of the Ninilchik River.

We bought a picnic lunch for yesterday’s boat ride but then had lunch in Seldovia instead. So today, we stopped in Soldotna Creek Park and had the picnic lunch on our way back to Anchorage.

We made a stop at Alyeska to ride the Aerial Tram. Another gorgeous day in another gorgeous location.

As is our tradition, we met again (this time in Phoenix in January 2022) to put together a photo book of this Alaska Adventure. And our next adventure will be the delayed Rick Steves tour of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in June 2022.

Then it was off to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport where we each went in different directions back home.

Karen and Theresa dropped Rodney off at the water taxi that took him across the Kachemak Bay where he hiked to the base of Kachemak Glacier. Then they plundered around the shops on the Homer Spit.