Seaside Wonders

I mentioned in the last blog entry that I found Hope in Alaska, that is Hope, AK.  The town of 130 year round residents, with the aid of a lot of volunteers and a myriad of committees, maintains this little town and its historic buildings including a fine free museum.  It's a lazy little town with two streets and a few offshoots, all in gravel or dirt.  No sidewalks here and no even a little grocery.  16 miles off the main road that goes between Anchorage and the towns of Seward, Soldotna and Homer.  Dad and I toured the museum while Louise was busy getting acquainted with one of the town's artisans, a jewelry maker and husband, painter.  She was welcomed into their home to tour the house that was originally a barn built in 1916 with an add-on decades later.  A picture post card look, a log cabin of true vintage.

The cabin/former barn was made from beetle-killed spruce.   Dad and I were toured around by the volunteer lady, a resident of 30 years, where we saw an old authentic smith's shop, trapper's cabin, a mining dorm and the original one room school house.  These small town gems continue to be treats for us on our grand adventure.

Last evening the three of us went to the local bar, dad and I enjoying a German beer and Louise her own drink, a diet Coke.  We did this for the music, a local guitarist and singer who entertains every Thursday night.   There were a lot of 30 somethings in attendance as well; part of a group of 20 young adults traveling as friends and associates of the Sierra Club.   We visited with a New Hampshire couple on their second year of retirement, and second annual trip to Alaska.   We enjoyed the company and the music; the music only as long as our ears could stand the overdone volume.  But, there was foot-tapp'n and good conversation lasting into the evening.

We pulled up stakes and headed toward Seward or Homer, not knowing until a decision needed to be made, opting for Homer first.  As with this split decision, we made another leading us to turn off about 45 miles short of Homer on the Sterling Highway.   I had just made comment that I would like to park the trailer for the evening with an unfettered view of Cooks Inlet and the range of snow capped mountains across the Inlet.  Within five minutes we see a sign for an RV park called Sea View, and here I sit in my lazy boy chair with a 180 degree wide view overlooking the Inlet and watching Bald Eagles fly by in the currents of air.  What a life we are living, what a blessing from the Lord, the Creator, who made all this beautiful scenery and provided us the means and the health to do this trip.

Later today or tomorrow morning we are going to go about 8 miles toward Homer, with the proprietor, to an area we can access the beach.   We are on a bluff, perhaps a hundred feet above the water, but beach combing beckons us once again, a five or six week departure since the Puget Sound.   This weekend or early next week I plan to take a half day boat to try my hand at Halibut fishing.  A husband and wife at the RV park went fishing early this morning and together they kept, among many caught, 80 lbs worth of Halibut.  Another fellow I met today a the grocery store just caught a 40lb. King Salmon on the Kenai River.  Perhaps there are a few fish still needing to be caught.  I will let you know.