2008 - July - Homer, Alaska

Ninilchik, Alaska is a little fishing village on the way to Homer on the Cook Inlet.  Fishing boats are rugged aluminum boats with a cabin enclosure to give some refuge against the elements.  In Ninilchik the boats and boaters are launched and retrieved by farm tractors that wade out into the water with the boat trailers.  Here's some of the catch.

The "beach" in Ninilchik had several Bald Eagles scavenging.

The view across the inlet

We passed by the official Homer Spit Greeter each time we ventured on this little strip of land.

What a great site for a home.

We met Brian from Foley, AL on the Spit.  He was operating a water taxi for the summer.

Beluga Lake is an airfield for many.  This family just landed and pulled their plane to shore to visit the Spit.

Watching young men clean the Alaskan Halibut was a great pastime.

We rode over to the Otter Cove Resort past and island covered with sea birds.  While we were having lunch at the restaurant we heard some bangs.  Looking down the coast we watched a hunting cabin burn to the ground and listened to the ammo inside being spent.  The cabin was on the island and there was no way to respond to the fire. 

The marina had a 28ft tide.  We left on a boat one morning and climbed down some stairs to board the boat.  When we return the tide was in and there was no climbing back up.  Notice why some call Bald Eagles "Alaskan Pigeons." 

Camping on The Spit

Horse back riding on The Spit

The Salty Dawg Saloon is an icon of The spit that's history goes back to 1897.  Patrons leave dollar bills taped to the ceiling that are eventually donated to charities.