Trip to Homer, AK June 30 thru July 2, 2013

The trip down was beautiful even with the overcast skies.  We have been watching for the fireweed which many old-timers depend on for weather predictions.  The first snow will fall  six weeks after the fireweed blooms out and “snows” .

 

Finally the blooms begin to appear . . .

Of course there were many other wildflowers

As we drove down there were fields full of lupine as well as fireweed but seldom do you see them together as we do the other wildflowers.

A very popular area in the Kenia for visitors particularly fisherman is the Kenia River.

The old Russian village of Ninilchek and Deep Creek are always points of interest.  One spot is the Russian Church.

And cemetary.

  and old homes built on the side of  the bluff.

The boats are in the nearby harbor . . . .would like to see them getting their boats out from the back row.

 

The boats brought to Deep Creek on trailers are launched by tractors since the tide changes are so great there is no wharf.

and when the fishing is done a call is made so that your trailer is waiting for you drive upon . . . .

and to be hauled out.

 

Where there is fishing there are eagles

And when the catch is good you have bragging rights . .

While we were in Homer Francis went halibut fishing on a charter .. . this is lots of work hauling these bottom fish up 150 to 200 feet but he caught his limit.

Homer small boat harbor

with many sailboats

Another popular mode of transportation are the float planes.  Some are used for sightseeing trips or taxi service to a remote location or hauling freight.  At the Beluga Lake in Homer I counted 11 planes tied up and do not know how many were away at the time.

Drove out the East End Road and looked back at the Homer Spit

Here is one of the many homes/lodges across the Kachemak Bay (no road in).

Lots of different construction for homes . . . this igloo is not made of ice

Have not seen a lot of moose but wonder how large this rack will be by late fall

McHugh Creek late June, 2013

While I cannot begin to name the plants in Alaska, I sure do enjoy their beauty as the flowers decorate the area.

             

Soon after we arrived at McHugh (May 2)  this was the flow over the waterfall and the level of the pond near the entrance

Late in June with the warm weather, snow melting and rain this is the levels.

While most people think of this day use area for picnics,  hikes or taking pictures, some people enjoy the water in this pond with the higher water level.

Some people even dive off the high boulders.  This is really  dangerous . . . . here the EMTs are removing a 21 year old lady that didn’t clear the rocks when she either jumped or fell.  Thank goodness she lived but we never heard the extent of her injuries.

The Mud Flats in the Arm and Inlet are also dangerous areas.  They appear to be damp sand however they can suck you in and when the tide returns several people have drown.   A young man from the the JAG unit at the base drowned a couple weeks ago when attempting to walk out to Fire Island in Cook Inlet. 

The staff and volunteers recently got together for a picnic at Eagle River Camp Ground

The Eagle River is flowing full also.

 

For years prior to 1964 the bore tide in Turnagain Arm was very large.  There is still a noticeable tide but it is not as large.

 

However boarders do surf this twice a day tide. Kite boarders also enjoy the winds in the arm.

Turnagain Arm is known for its changing weather and winds.  Occasionally the Arm is perfectly calm and on one of these occasions I took the following picture.

On June 26 there was a full moon . . . this was taken about 1 AM

June 18, 2013 Earthquake Park and Hood Lake

Decided to drive into Anchorage to check out these two locations.  Hood Lake is one of the largest and busiest float plane operations in the world.  In times past we have watch the commercial shoppers and pilots load orders for delivery into the bush by these float planes (in winter most of them convert to skis). The big box stores (and others) publish catalogs on line for the convenience of these shoppers.

                 

                                    

The lake is adjacent to the Ted Steven International Airport and air space is controlled from this tower.  Here is an incoming plane.

Don’t know if the guy sleeping is pilot of this plane or someone waiting for a ride.

During the 1964 earthquake a large area of Anchorage slid into Cook Inlet.  It may be a little hard to see but the elevation of the land is much lower just beyond the tree line.

Looking across Knik Arm

                

The visibility was not good but this is our first view of Denali (approx. 250 air miles away).  McHugh faces south so the mountain is not visible from the park unless you climb up one of the mountains in our range.

Located throughout Earthquake Park are numerous signs

                    

The 1964 Earthquake changed much of this part of Alaska either raising or lowering the elevation.  The Cook Inlet and many other water ways had to be re-charted because of the underwater changes.