July 8, Soldotna to Seward, 93 miles

Nice day today for a beautiful drive to Seward. We were lucky to find a spot right on the waterfront in the City RV Park. We beat someone to the spot by seconds. It was like parking at the mall at Christmas, we were coming one way and they were coming the other way; and we got there first. I to run over 5 people and a couple of dogs but we got there first. It was a beautiful day so about 1:30 we scheduled a 6-hour boat cruise through the Kenai Fjords National Park that started at 3:00. Around 2:00 we loaded the backpack and I groused about Sandi taking all this stuff that I had to carry. We learned first hand how fast the weather could change here. I was glad we had it all as shortly after we disembarked the sky clouded over and the wind picked up and it got cold once again. It was a large touring boat so we were able to get inside when we wanted. They served us a salmon dinner which was very good. We saw tons of wildlife; dolphins, sea lions and sea otter, hump back whales, and zillions of birds including a couple of kinds of puffins. We stopped right beside a glacier and listened to it crack and calf. It sounded like a good Iowa thunder storm. The glacier was about ¾ of a mile across and ran up the valley for several miles but I don’t remember how many. I was not too excited about seeing a glacier but it was an impressive thing to see and watch. At dinner we shared a table with a couple from France that are spending 36 months traveling the world in their camper. They are 21 months into the trip and will go from here to Australia. It was fun visiting with them but was difficult as their English wasn’t too good and our French is zippo.

July 7, Soldotna

So much for 07-07-07! We got up at 4:30 a.m. in order to be at the boat dock by 5:30 and in position by 6:00. (Guides can’t be working before 6 or after 6). No rain but about 50 degrees so we wore as many layers as we could and stayed warm. It warmed up to mid-60’s and turned in to a very nice day. DOZENS of boats ON the water but no fish IN the water. We fished an area of the Kenai River near where it comes off Cook Inlet and the Salmon would start their journey up the river to span. We had a good guide and a good spot, just no fish. We fished from 6:00 until 11:30 and didn’t get a nibble. Our neighbor in the RV Park is a Guide so he was out all day with no luck. He said he hadn’t been skunked in 2 years. That would be a really long day. Next week though! So, we headed for the Fish Processing plant and bought 20 pounds of fresh salmon and stuck it in the freezer. $9.95 a pound but less than half of what we would pay in Iowa for Alaska wild salmon, if you can find it.

July 6, Homer to Soldotna

Left after breakfast to return to Soldotna for our fishing charter tomorrow. I got Sandi a cinnamon roll at the coffee shop/bakery just down the street. She’s always happiest when she has her cinnamon roll. Soldotna is only about 90 miles up the peninsula but is away from the bay and is usually warmer. We have had mid-50’s and overcast days in Homer but sunny and mid-60’s today in Soldotna. Checked into the Kenai River Fishing and RV Park instead of Swiftwater Park so we would have electric, water and sewer. It’s also on the Kenai River (the other side) so we tried our hand at fishing again. Same results, (it doesn’t seem to matter which side I’m on). Nothing, not even a nibble, but at least no one is catching anything. They all say the same thing, “maybe next week they will start running”. Well, next week we won’t be here and tomorrow is our fishing day so they better start running TONIGHT! Tomorrow is 07-07-07 so that ought to be our day to catch fish don’t you think? We’ll see just how good this guide is!

July 5, Homer

Rained off and on most of the day but usually more of a heavy drizzle than rain. Was also cool and windy so all-in-all a pretty nasty day. I went to the coffee shop WIFI in the morning while Sandi slept-in. Checked out a few more shops in the afternoon but just looked, didn’t buy. After a while it all looks the same. We had reservations for a boat ride to Halibut Cove, 45 minutes across Katchamac Bay, for dinner so weren’t sure we wanted to keep the reservation. Finally decided that we would go even if it was raining and it turned out to be a good decision (mostly). The Island where the restaurant is located was very picturesque and we got to explore the island after dinner. Most of the houses are located along the shore with a boardwalk connecting them. Really interesting and neat! The return boat ride however was brutal. The boat left at 9:15, it still wasn’t raining but the wind came up and with the temperature in the mid-50’s we were pretty darn cold by the time we got back to Homer. The boat was a neat old wooden trawler but all open seating and no protection from the elements. Had a hot toddy when we got back and thawed out pretty fast though. It was a good trip. Oh yea, we had salmon for dinner.