Daicey Duo: Four and Five...Time is flying!

We have much to share today, much of it fish stories! Since our last post, we hiked in the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, visited Homer for the first time, fished for Sockeyes and Halibut, and ate a classic meal for the 4th of July.

We hiked this special trail built in 2003 commemorating the Hundred Year anniversaryof the National Wildlife Refuge system, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. What vision!

Devil's Club. Very large leaves and the flower will turn into a clump of red berries that the bears love to eat. Not edible for humans. Bad tummy reactions, hence the "club" part I guess.

A side trail took us to this beautiful lake. Hard to see, snow-capped mountains were all around the background.

As we hiked we followed the advice to make lots of noise so we wouldn't startle a bear. When we turned the corner and saw this, we both were in shock for a moment. Okay, just a deadfall, but for a moment we were stopped in our tracks!

There are boot cleaners at the ends of the trail to keep from introducing non-native plants and weeds into the area.

We realized that we were okay on the trail probably because of the noise we were making, but only missed a bear sighting by a few days. This was our first venture into the woods of the Brown/Grizzles of the area and were encouraged by the folks at the Visitor Center. So we made it, but not without a lot of caution and concern. It was beautiful and worth it!

HOMER TRIP. On the drive to Homer, we had more mouth-dropping views...

Homer is the place made famous by the National Geographic article written many years ago, highlighting the eagles which were everywhere. The story we learned was about the Eagle Lady, Jean Keene, who for more than 30 years fed as many as 200-300 eagles during the winter months from fish she got from salmon processing plants and from road kill. After her death in 2009, the town made it illegal to feed eagles or other raptors. However, many still find residence on the Homer Spit.

Homer is also famous for several others things including halibut fishing, a piece of land known as the Spit, the small boat harbor, and the tourist shops, the Pratt Museum, and the eateries and a famous saloon known as The Salty Dawg.

The Spit is the piece of land in middle of picture. Not very good picture,but we were high above it at the time.

We appreciated this Memorial to all who have been lost at sea in Alaska. In Maine, we know this experience as well.

One of the largest small boat harbors anywhere with over 700 boats here.

The famous saloon...

Where we ate a wonderful brunch.

Several Kittiwakes found a cozy spot for their nests.

One of the exhibits we enjoyed at the Pratt Museum was a video presentation by the family of Ruth Kilcher called The Rich and Simple Life about pioneering and homesteading in Alaska with her husband and eight children. Very fascinting. You might enjoy googling this woman's name and reading more of her story.

My favorite eagle shot so far...for Jean Keene and others.

On the way home from Homer, we stopped at Anchor Point and saw something I couldn't believe.

These boats are actually launched by this tractor that backs right into the surf and releases them into the water. They come back in the same way. The method is certainly common in fresh water but unique to me on the salt water beach.

SALMON FISHING

Al hs one on the line. This is the first day he took me to the River to learn to fish for Salmon.

He was successful, but I did get a chance to wet my line.

Hopefully next post, I will have one on the line!

JULY 4th

We enjoyed eating picnic dinner with Al and other work-camper Rusty. It was the traditional July 4th one for me that included Mom's potato salad, pickled beets and eggs, barbecued chicken, and watermelon .

HALIBUT FISHING

Al made it possible for me to go fishing with his friend Mike, Captain and Owner of Alaskan Adventure Charters. Here is Glenn, crew member, getting our gear on board.