We have arrived in Ninilchik. The drive from Anchorage to milepost 47 S 90 A (47 miles to Seward, 90 Miles to Anchorage) was absolutely G O R G E O U S. It reminded us why we returned to the lower 48 in 1999 with a desire to move up here. It was cloudy and rainy all the way up so pictures weren't so great but this is one taken from a viewpoint where people watch for Beluga whales. - This is at Bird Creek - the water is the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet which feeds from the Pacific Ocean and runs all the way to Anchorage.
90 miles south of Anchorage, we turned west onto the Sterling Highway and followed the Kenai River 58 miles to Sodoltna. Everywhere there was any parking, there were people on the banks of the river fishing. The water was a beautiful milky blue as a result of being glacier fed. Monday on the way back, I plan to stop and get a few pictures but today we were rushing a bit much and JW was driving.
At Sodoltna, we stopped long enough for lunch. We ate at the Bear's Den - fish and chips made with fresh salmon. When we walked into the restaurant we got a bit of a surprise - they have a kind of arctic entry and it was decorated like a brushy room with a sound effect of a growling bear - the rest of the dining area was decorated with a lodgy theme. Good food although a bit pricey. Is a place we would return to.
JW didn't see much to look at here so he headed another 40 miles south to the little town of Homer which is a fishing village.
Everywhere along the way there is plenty of fireweed growing.
At the southern end of Homer there is a long thin piece of property that they call the spit. This is where all of the fishing boats dock and if you go fishing out of Homer, this is where you board your boat. The place is packed with rvs, tents and lots of little shops and restaurants.
We went into a gift shop to look around. I bought postcards to send to the older two granddaughters and a prism to hang in my office window - mainly they just had a bunch of junque. We listened to the cashier talking to 6 fishermen in the store. They had come up from Florida and Pennsylvania to go fishing for halibut. There is a limit of 2 fish per day. The total weight of the fish that that 6 had caught today was 1100 pounds. The fish had started biting right at high tide and it hadn't taken them long to catch their limit. Good news is, we also are going fishing during high tide tomorrow which is the best time.
We decided we might as well eat in Homer while we were there. So, I chose to go to Grabbie's Steak and Seafood House. When we walked in the door, I was a little taken aback as you walk in through the bar area and on one of the stools there was a fake skelteon wearing a pirate hat - I wasn't sure what I was getting us into. They took us in to the dining area and the entire ceiling was covered with hanging fish nets and various other sea objects.
We ordered crab stuffed halibut. The fresh halibut was so good and mild. However, we really should have ordered one plate and shared it. Instead, we each brought half of our dinner "home" so will have leftovers tomorrow night.
We then drove on down through the business district of Homer and headed back up to Ninilchik to get a good night's sleep. I could not resist taking pictures of this little Yurt village in Homer - not homes but little shops.
and Cups - another little cafe in Homer.
And now, I'd better get to bed as it is almost 10 o'clock. I want to look around Ninilchik a bit in the morning. At noon we'll be on a boat heading out into the Cook Inlet to hopefully catch our big halibut. And the best news - right now the sun is shining bright, the sky is clearing up and tomorrow may be a warm sunny day - it's supposed to reach 60 - woo hoo.
I love the wood grapevine trim on the cup house. Hmmmmmm, would that look good in my house somewhere?
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