GONE FISHING

Tuesday, 6/11/2013.  The Kenai Peninsula is just below Anchorage.  It may look small on the map but it is larger than the combined areas of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware.  It is bordered by Prince Wm Sound and the Gulf of Alaska on the east and Cook Inlet on the west. 

We are on the south end of the peninsula at Seward, a quaint little town founded in 1903.  It is surrounded with forested mountains and shores of Resurrection Bay.  Many seasonal visitors arrive in Seward on a cruise ship or Alaska Railroad for a day or two.

Right now, just interested in the salmon that have started to come in.  Tim is excited about his new reel and gets ready.  Head to Mt. Alice Harbor where all others fish. 

Triple hooks used for snagging a salmon.

 

Young and mature bald eagles are all around us!  Soaring, perched on rocks and trees, and searching for fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Back to campsite, wander the shops and relax.  Deluxe turkey burgers + baby carrots with brown sugar, a shake of cinnamon, 1 tsp Penseys orange peel, and butter..and fresh cauliflower cooked with olive oil, garlic salt and pepper.  Perhaps tomorrow we will have fresh salmon?

 

Wednesday, 6/12/2013.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!  Hooray, you're 7 years old today!  Enjoy your school picnic and lots of other celebrations.  Thinking of you..Memaw and Grandpa love you, XOXO

 

Back to Mt. Alice Harbor at 10:30am, low tide.  Tim wears sneakers, although muck boots are best walking through the waters.   The walkie-talkie crackles... "salmon for

dinner!"

 

 

 

 

Here comes Tim and he sure looks proud. What a beauty!  An Alaskan local helps to filet the 8lb salmon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An amazing story ...seconds after placing the salmon carcass in a stream 10 ft away, an eagle swoops down, snares his prize , and flies away!   A memory etched for life.

 

 

 Backtrack on Seward Hwy1 and take Sterling Hwy9 south, along the other side of the peninsula.  Homer sits on the shore of Kachemak Bay.  The Homer Spit extends 5 miles out into the bay.  Oceanview RV Park is quiet, clean, convenient and has a beautiful view.  Grill the fresh salmon in foil, drizzled with melted butter, garlic and salt.  Hot coals, 8-12 min, flip midway.  Serve with brown rice and quinoa + fresh brocolli cooked with a little butter and parmesean cheese.  Delicious!  Maybe next time will prepare the salmon with other seasonings ...or add lemon juice, or cook less time.  Any suggestions Cory?

 

 

Thursday-Friday, 6/13-14/2013.  Laundry, relax, register at site for another night.  Tim checks the RV oil and hears a clop..clop..clop beside him.  Moose at campsite! Ravens at campsite! Napping at campsite!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Early dinner of grilled ribeye, mashed potatoes and succotash.  Ahhh...  motorcycle to lovely Homer movie theater and see Star Trek-Into the Darkness.   Great movie! Very entertaining.  Recommend to all. 

 

 

Next morning, move RV to campsite on Homer Spit, a lively artsy area with boat harbors, hotels, restaurants and shops.   Meet Dave and Diane at Bob's Trophy Fishing and set up charter boat fishing for next am.  Shop the strip, walk the beach...and nap!  Shrimp with spinach and parmesean noodles + beets. 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, 6/15/2013.  Up at 5:45am and walk to pier to fishing boat Nauti Lady! (Joe and Judy take note).  Gonna catch some halibut today!  Boat leaves 7 am with 15 passengers + crew.  Rods are ready... begin fishing after 1 1/2 hr ride.  Fish for 2 hrs--2 halibut limit per person--thereafter, catch & release--and another 1 1/2 hr ride back to Homer Spit.  FUN group.  EXCITING time.  HALIBUT for dinner!  Pick up catch of the day (20 lbs halibut filet) from fish processing plant. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave Homer and backtrack Sterling Hwy9.  Advertised estate sale? 

 

 

Stop in town of Anchor Point.  Not exactly an estate sale but great picking.  Tim leaves with a bucketful of man toys.  For me, another cake plate w/ cover, a few cookbooks, and a vintage light pink tablecloth with fish drawings.  FUN! 

 

 Drive until 6:30pm and find Beluga Lookout Lodge and RV Park in the city of Kenai.  The bluff views of Kenai river and Cook Inlet are beautiful!   Here just in time to witness the changing of the tides.  Views of currently dormant volcano, Mt. Redoubt, which last erupted in 2010. 

 Fire up the grill!  Fresh halibut for dinner (recipe recommended by charter boat Australian passenger).  On hot coals place..... #1 filet--chop tomato, spread on foil.  Top with halibut (without skin). Sprinkle with melted butter/garlic, parmesean cheese and breadcrumbs.  Seal/tent foil.  #2 filet-- leave skin on and brush with melted butter/garlic.  Sprinkle both sides with garlic salt and parmesean cheese and breadcrumbs.  Sear the flesh side first, then flip onto skin side, 8 min. total. 

Will hold dearly this recipe.  Absolutely the best!!



 

 

 

 

 

ANCHORAGE & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Saturday-Sunday, 6/8-9/2013.  Stroll around Talkeetna in the morning and enjoy craft market and muffins.  What a handsome Alaska railroad train.

  Take Parks Hwy3 south and stop at the post office in Houston.  Froggie,  have a safe trip back to Nathan in Virginia.  It's been very special having you along with us on our road trip adventures (including Paris) this past school year.  See you again when we visit!

Alaska has the highest concentration of glaciers in the country and 60 of them can be found within 50 miles of Anchorage.  Awesome sightings while traveling.  The city of Anchorage is accessible to everything-you-can-think-of outdoor activities + shops, culinary treats, museums... and Ship Creek RV Park near downtown.  Let's settle tonight with grilled steak, broccoli and corn on the cob. 

It's market and festival day on Sunday! 


Crafts, food and music.  For lunch, very tasty salmon and reindeer sausage quesadilla.  Afterwards, a funnel cake.

Motorcycle through beautiful downtown Anchorage.  Visit the AK University, AK Sausage-Seafood shop and AK Wildberry shop to drool over the largest chocolate fountain ever. 

 Enjoy dinner of grilled chicken, creamed spinach and baked potato and plan the next route.

 

 

Monday, 6/10/2013.  SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...................WELCOME our new grandson!  CADEN FLOYD TAMBOURINE, born at 2:26am, 7lbs 12 oz, 20" long.  Congratulations Eric and Susan! 

What a cutie pie!  Can't wait to hold him.  LOVE HIM!










Travel south and stop to view the stunning scenery.  Of all days... today...we see this posting at a viewing area.

Going now where the fishing is abundant, so they say.  Through Chugach National Park to the village of Seward.  Beach front camping sites! It's 60 degrees (no mosquitoes) and restful.  Chicken and shrimp w/herb-lemon glaze over whole wheat pasta, and beets.  Get together our fishing gear for tomorrow.  Salmon season has started!