Homer: sea kayaking, hiking
July 20-22, 2012
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After an excellent couple of days at Hatcher Pass, we headed to Homer. We slept somewhere along the Seward highway the first night, and did a nice hike up to Devil's Pass (part of the Resurrection Trail) - it ended up being an uncomfortably hot day, which took us by surprise! The hike wasn't particularly scenic or enjoyable, but was great exercise. We finished driving to Homer in the evening - wow, it's such a beautiful spot!

The weather was supposed to be great the next day as well and we headed out sea kayaking for a full day - this was truly awesome! We took a water taxi to Peterson Bay where the kayak center is (it's amazing people live here, with boats being the only way for access) - from there we circled around Gull Island and went to a beach, from where we hiked up to a look-out and got to see a nice bald eagle nest up-close. After that, we paddled into China Poot Bay (actually more like drifted... the 21 foot tide was coming in, which made for a strong current!) There, we checked out a salmon run and some locals dip netting... which was very weird to see - you literally dip your net and get a few fish, guaranteed.

The next day it started raining very heavily, with high winds, so no activities... we returned the truck on Sunday morning, and hung out in town, checking out the air museum, bbq'ing more meat and hanging out with Melissa's family there - and even shooting some guns - when in Alaska do like the Alaskans, right? :) We had an overnight flight home after that... and back to California!

Next: home (the end)

  Hike up Devil's Pass  
  Hike up Devil's Pass

  Lots of vegetation  
  Lots of vegetation

   
 

  Homer!  
  Homer!

  Sea kayaking in Peterson Bay - up to Gull Island  
  Sea kayaking in Peterson Bay - up to Gull Island

  Gull Island  
  Gull Island

  Puffin! Our guide, Paul (it was too much of a hassle to organize the kayaking on our own, and he was great!) Sea star on the beach  
  Puffin! Our guide, Paul (it was too much of a hassle to organize the kayaking on our own, and he was great!) Sea star on the beach

  What the...  
  What the...

   
 

  Tree fungus The male was keeping guard The female was feeding the chicks seagull...  
  Tree fungus The male was keeping guard The female was feeding the chicks seagull...

  I'm watching you...  
  I'm watching you...

  Someone didn't make it... Dip netting for sockeye... was a bit of a circus  
  Someone didn't make it... Dip netting for sockeye... was a bit of a circus

   
 

  Skilak lookout  
  Skilak lookout

   
 

  Air museum in Anchorage  
  Air museum in Anchorage

  One of the first Talkeetna Air Taxi planes, in the museum Melissa and her uncle Randy that drove us to Talkeetna!  
  One of the first Talkeetna Air Taxi planes, in the museum Melissa and her uncle Randy that drove us to Talkeetna!

   
 

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