Day 13 – September 9 Whittier Fishing then back to Anchorage

We awake up to alarms at 5:30 am as we have to be at the charter at 6:45 am. It is a very cloudy morning, 48 degrees, has been raining most of the night with rain in the forecast, but hopefully it will hold off. We heat up the coffee I made the night before, as running generators at this time of morning is frowned upon.

After coffee and muffins, we move the RV closer to the boat launches and pack our day gear and head over to the meeting place where we await Zach and his father Terry and for the captain to call us down.

We go down to the boat, meet the deckhand Anthony and find out it will only be the 4 of us fishing today which is great for us as not sure where the other 2 people would be sitting and fishing. After a brief safety talk about the boat we are underway, as it is a 2-hour trip to the fishing grounds that the captain likes.

On the way out it is hard to see anything as it is foggy and rainy in spots. We do see some porpoises on our way out though.  When we get to the fishing grounds two of us are fishing with jigs and the other two with dead weights, and the depth is 250 ft, so it takes a while for the line to reach bottom where the Halibut are. (This is much deeper than when Seth and I fished out of Homer where the depth was about 125 ft deep). After several hours we are only 1 halibut short, for we need 1 more Halibut over 28” and we have tossed multiple halibut back for being undersized. While waiting to catch the halibut the captain lets Seth and Zach try another setup and both of them catch a rock fish which we keep.

The captain then moves to several other spots where we drift fish searching for the last halibut which is very elusive. She then decides it is time to do some rock fish fishing. We move to the rock fish area, where we do drift fishing, and use light tackle which takes a little bit to get use to. We start catching rock fish right away, though we have to release some of them, because we are only allowed 1 red/color rock fish per day. We almost limit out as we were only short 1 black rock fish, as the captain calls it a day and we head back to Whittier.

Back in Whittier, we take the fish to the fish processor, where we find out we have a total of ~37 lbs of Halibut and ~14lbs of rock fish fillets. We have the processor split them into ~ 2 equal shares, as Seth and I shipping ours home, while Terry and Zach are bringing theirs back to Anchorage.

We get in line for the 7:00pm Tunnel opening, but first have to wait for a train to go through. Once back in Anchorage at the Petrusa Homestead, we  have pizza and beer awaiting us. After dinner Seth and I start to unload the RV as we have t turn it back in tomorrow.

Wildlife seen today: Sea Otters and Porpoises

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today: 80 miles.

Day 12 – September 8 Bird Creek to Whittier

We awake to a very cloudy morning, 48 degrees, has been raining most of the night with rain in the forecast. Cannot complain as this is much needed rain. Go to make coffee and the generator starts, though we did hit the reset button several times before attempting to turn it on.

Breakfast this morning consists of bacon and eggs, with yogurt and fruit. Very healthy breakfast. On the way to Whittier we stop off and watch the Browns get their butts beat, and we leave before the game is over. It is raining again and the tide is out so we continue on down to Whittier.

We get through the railroad tunnel OK, with a minimum of a wait and leave the rain and enter a sunny Whittier, what a surprise there. We check out where to camp, pick a spot and setup for the night, we will move the RV up to the Day parking in the morning, which will give us a shorter walk to the charter boat, and easier exit out of town tomorrow.

We take the free time to arrange and pack things up since we drive back to Anchorage tomorrow after fishing and need to turn the RV in Tuesday by noon.

We walk around the small town of Whittier which has fishing shops and few eateries, find out where the fish processing place is and then walk over to the hotel where Brenna, Zach and Dean are staying tonight. 

Took these pictures especially for my brother Pete

When they arrive, we have a light dinner, and chase Dean around the board walk as they wait for their room to be ready.

We check out their room, with Dean being the guide before we depart and walk the mile back to our camper for the night. We get things ready like making coffee for the morning and laying our gear out etc.

Wildlife seen today: Seals, Bald Eagle

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today: 150 miles.

Day 11 – September 7 Homer to Bird Creek

We awake to a very cloudy morning, 53 degrees, with rain in the forecast which we can see out in the bay and surrounding mountains. Go to make coffee and the generator won’t start, not even turn over, so we call into Great Alaska and talk to a technician.  We go over things and after attempting a few things we finally get it to start. Need to have our coffee before heading out.

Breakfast this morning consists of bagels, cream cheese and the remainder of the lox we opened. We take showers in the RV and then pack up and we get moving just before the rain settles into Homer. First stop is the RV Dump station and fresh water refill.

While Chuck is filling the fresh water tank, Seth runs across the street and purchases 2 dozen large fresh oysters which we plan on having for dinner tonight. Our next stop in Homer is the Fish Processing center, were we find out that we have 27 lbs of fresh halibut to ship home. This will ship out on Tuesday and be delivered on Wednesday.

The rain starts as we climb the hill out of Homer and our next stop is Soldotna, for gas, and a lunch meeting with Sarah Callaway Stewart, a long tome friend of Brenna’s and the rest of the Simons family.  Along the way Seth spots a female moose browsing in the ditch, but Chuck did not get to see.

After the lunch and conversation, we head out back towards Anchorage, with Seth taking his turn at driving the RV. It finally stops raining, and we have multiple stops for pilot cars through the fire area as they have resumed constructed. During the stops we can look out and see the smoke were embers are still burning and the massive destruction the fire caused. At last count it had burned over 175,000 acres of State and National Parks.

We get into Turnagain arm and it is raining and blowing so we decide not to stop at Portage but to continue up the road to Bird Creek camp ground where we take one of the last spots for the night.

The fire band has been lifted, so we finally are able to make a fire in a ring pit, and relax. Also, for some reason the campground is also free for some reason.  We pull out our grill and cook the clams over both the grill and campfire. Both ways they are excellent to the taste. We then clean up and go inside for the night only to experience the same issue with the generator as we had this morning. The same technical approach we had to use this morning worked again.  So it is on our list of issues to report to the RV Dealer when we turn the unit in on Tuesday.

Wildlife seen today: Seth saw a female moose as I was driving.

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today:  205 miles.

Day 10 – September 6 Homer Fishing day

We awake to a very cool morning, 40 degrees, but had the heat on during the night so the RV is very cozy.  After some coffee and pastry, we head to the Charter Office to find out which boat we are going on. When we get to our assigned boat, we find out that one of the engines is down, so they take us to another boat.

Seth and I are the first two on, so are assigned numbers for fishing at 2 & 3. Since the current fishing regulations say you can only catch 2 halibut per day, with one of them shorter than 28” one of the two clips you are given is specially marked.  The Deckhand checks that we all have valid fishing licenses. There are 20 people on the boat, including a family with 3 small children.

Just after 10:00 am we are off and cruising for about 2 hours till we reach the fishing ground. On the way we see otters, multiple sea birds and in the far distance water spots from whales. After a short safety lecture by the deck hand, we commence fishing. The safety lecture was need since , we are fishing with 2 lb. weights. Seth and I go to the upper side of the boat to fish in an attempt to avoid tangle lines, though we were not spared but we only dealt with it a few times compared to the issues they are having on the back of the boat.

Fishing is slow for Seth and I, we are getting bites, losing bait while some of the others are catching small halibut. 

Then my line gets a mighty pull and I battle a larger Halibut in the 25-30 pound class. It is the biggest fish caught so far, and only later does somebody catch a slightly bigger one. After I few more casts I catch my other Halibut, the one that has to be smaller than 28”, so I am done for the day. Only 1 of the kids for the family has limited out before me.  So I watch and encourage Seth on till he catches his fist Halibut which is the small fish. 

He finally catches a second halibut which we decide to throw back as it again was under 28”, and there is still about 45 minutes of fishing left.

After about 10-15 minutes he catches another Halibut, this one definitely over 28” so he is limited out as well.  By this time there are only about 5 other people still fishing, and when the crew calls it a day, only 1 woman has not caught any fish, with several others only catching 1.

On the way back to shore the deckhand flays the fish and places them in plastic bags for us. When we get to the dock the fish processor meets the boat and takes away our fish for processing, freezing and shipping home.

We stop at the Salty Dog, which is right at the top of our boat ramp, for refreshments and reflect back on the day. Several other people who were on the boat also stop in, and just before we leave the deckhand shows up as well.

We head back to the RV, and make dinner, watching more RVs pull into the campground as it is the start of the weekend. We listen to the final part of the Indians game, and head to bed. 

We start heading back towards Anchorage tomorrow as we have to meet Brenna, Dean and Zach in Whittier on Sunday night for our fishing trip on Monday morning. To get to Whittier we have to g through the train tunnel which is only opened on the ½ hour, but can be delayed as trains have priority

Wildlife seen today included sea otters, seals, several Bald eagles, multiple sea birds, seals, and spots from whales in the distance. Still no moose.

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today:  ZERO, just walking

Day 09 – September 5, 2019 Homer

We awake to a very cool morning, 42 degrees but also to some unfriendly camper who runs their generator at 5:00 am. Luckily it only lasted no more than 10 minutes. (Quite time in Camper ground is from 11:00 pm till 7:00 am), so we are able to go back to sleep and get up just after 7:00 am. We turn the RV Heat on to eliminate the chill, and start our generator to make coffee and charge devices.

After Coffee and some breakfast of choice, we take showers, and then Seth drives the RV to the Dump/freshwater refueling site. After recharging our fresh water, and parking the RV back into our spot, we head off to explore the Homer Spit boardwalks, as Seth has a short shopping list.

We finally end up at Land’s End early afternoon and have a few beers while soaking in the sun’s rays on their deck. As we are sitting there, we watch the Alaskan Ferry unload, and several people fishing the shoreline for flounder and various fishing boats going in and out of the harbor.

 We start making our way back to the RV, stopping at Salty Dog for a brew. After dropping things off at the RV, we head across the street to the oyster co-op, order up a dozen of fresh oysters and sit out on the patio enjoying the incoming tide and the oysters.

We verify the shop hours, as we are interested in purchasing more oysters when we head back towards Anchorage on Saturday. We make friends with the women running the co-op in regards to when they open, since we will be leaving earlier than their official time, she tells us what to do as she will sell us Oysters on Saturday before we leave.

We go back to the RV, catch up on email, world news and sports, and fix dinner. Tomorrow we go out on a ½ day fishing charter.

Wildlife seen today included sea otters, seals and several Bald eagles. Still no moose.Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today:  ZERO, just walking

Day 08 – September 4 Soldotna to Homer

We awake to a very cool morning, 48 degrees, we both slept well as there was no rain like the previous nights. turn the generator on to make coffee and have each fix a cold breakfast of Yogurt, fresh fruit and trail mix. Chuck takes the time to cook up some more bacon on the outside grill while Seth checks out the various fishing locations at the city camp ground.

We decide to try our luck again on the Kenai river for silvers but all we catch is log fish, and various lures others have lost to the Kenai. After several hours we call it a day and decide to drive down to Homer. The reports we keep hearing from the locals is that the silver salmon run this year is very slow.

When we get to Homer, we decide to first stop at Homer Brewing company and try samples of their various beers. Many are excellent but we decide not to purchase any for now as we still have other beer in the RV.

We drive down to the spit, check things out regarding camping spots and decide on taking a spot in the city run campground by the fishing hole. We setup the RV, and then make our way to the shop area to see what is open and what fishing charters are available over the next few days, as we are only looking for a ½ day and we still have a full day charter scheduled for Monday out of Whittier.

We book a ½ day out of Central Charters on a head boat (max 20 people) that we need to meet up at 9:30 am on Friday. We wonder across the street and treat ourselves to Halibut Fish and Chips with a couple of Denali IPAs. We then wonder down to the Salty Dog for to see what is happening and another beer.

We walk back to the RV, complete our registration, and then walk over to the fishing hole to see what is happening, not much. We go back to the RV where we finally have an internet connection, so we catch up on email and updating the blog. We snack on chips, guacamole, and trail mix while doing email etc. we then call it a night.

Wildlife seen today included sea otters, seals and several Bald eagles. Still no moose.

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today:  87

Day 07 – September 3 Seward to Soldotna

Awake early to a rainy cool morning, in fact it has been raining all night. Make coffee and have it with bagels, cream cheese and Lox. We turn the heat on in the camper to get the dampness and chill out and decide to try out the shower in the RV. The shower is somewhat small but we make do and the showers feel great.

Rain stops and sun starts to come out as we depart Miller’s Landing. The two mile stretch of road from Miller’s Landing to downtown Seward, reminds Seth and I of our drive last year on the McCarthy Road, i.e. pot holes, wash board, pulling over to let oncoming car pass etc.

Once back into Seward proper, we head back to the fishing spot we tried yesterday but today we are armed with snagging hooks. It is almost low tide, so we can see some fish attempting to swim up the creek outlet, so we decide to give it a try. We are successful in our snagging efforts, as we both are able to snag multiple Pink and Dog salmon. They do not go to waste as we give them to an elderly gentleman who gladly takes them from us and others who offer him the fish.

We stop at the city RV dumping station to clear our tanks and fill up with fresh water and then the gas station to top off Petro. We then make our way back North to the Junction with the Sterling Highway to begin our trek towards Homer. The Fire crews have made significant progress on the Swan Lake fire, that pilot cars are no longer required for travel except through construction areas. As we approach the Skilak lake area, we can see fire crews still working, the remains of the fire on both sides of the road. We continue on to Soldotna, where we stop at Kenai Brewing to try some of their beer and also have a light lunch.

After lunch we drive to the City Swiftwater camp ground to check river access out, but decide to move further upstream to Moose Meadows, where we decide to try our luck. After a short period of fishing with salmon roe, Chuck catches a 20-inch rainbow trout, which we release back into the Kenai River. We continue fishing, but the only thing we keep catching are small fry. After a few hours we call it a day, pack up and head back to Kenai Brewery to fill a couple of growlers, before heading to Soldotna’s Centennial Park to camp for the night. We find a quite spot, back the RV in and settle down for the night.

Wildlife seen today included sea otters in Seward and several Bald eagles.

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today: 111

Day 06 – September 2 Labor Day

Awake early to a rainy cool morning, heat up the coffee we made last night and have it with breakfast muffins. We turn the heat on in the camper to get the dampness and chill out. After breakfast we depart, swinging by the Portage Visitors Center but it is closed.

We head South amidst the rain and as we get into the higher elevations the rain subsides and we decide to take the road back to Hope to see if there are any salmon in Resurrection Creek. There are salmon but they are all dead and rotting, guess we missed the run.

We head back out onto the main highway and head South towards Seward. We are in rain off and on, so we are hoping that the rain is moving towards the fires on the Kenai Peninsula. After lunch we decide to try our luck at one of the downtown Seward fishing holes, after several hours we decide to quit after having no luck though some of the other people around us were more successful.

We then drive to downtown and try a few beers at Seward Brewing Company. There must have been a very heavy downpour while we were sampling the beer, for when we come out, water is rushing down the street 6-7 inches high. We then traverse the Howell Point road out until Miller’s Landing and get a campsite for the night with electric.

Chuck cooks up some bacon so we have it precook for the coming days, we have a dinner of salad and beef strips, and settle in for the night as the rain continues. Chuck works on stringing an additional two poles and reels that Zach lent us, while Seth plays video games and keeps Chuck update on the score of the Indians game

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today: 127

Day 05 – September 1

Awake early to a cool morning, make coffee and begin finalizing getting things ready to leave for the Kenai, as we pick up the RV at 2:00 pm today. Raining on and off should that is helpful for the fires.

We go out and make our grocery run and pick up some other stables we need for the trip. Drive by our old house on W. 79^th street, as Brenna said there was a city notice regarding earthquake damage. It appears to Seth and I that the house is leaning and second floor is sagging. On way back to Petrusa Ponderosa, we spot an eagle perched on top of lamp post on Diamond Blvd.

We pick up the RV at 2:00 PM and are back to Brenna’s by 2:40 pm. Dean scopes the RV out as we start to load the RV with supplies with Brenna’s helpful hand. We get the RV arranged except for our clothes which we will do when we stop for the night as we have to expand the pull outs in order to get to some of the drawers.

We depart the Petrusa Ponderosa, by 4:00 pm and just have to make 2 stops before heading south. A stop for ice and another stop to pick up salmon roe for fishing. These two tasks completed; we head down the Seward highway by 4:45 PM. Once down the highway we start to encounter the high winds that was being forecast, 35 knot winds in the top part of Turnagain Arm, with some gusts up to 50 knots which I can really feel it with the RV.

As we pass Potters Marsh, the grass is all golden brown, and the water levels are low, though there are some migratory birds in the marsh. The tide is out and the wind is blowing the glacial silt such that it looks like a sand storm. Our first stop is at the Bird Creek camp ground, but we did not find a suitable spot for our 30 FT RV, so we decide to drive down to Portage and one US Government camp grounds. We find a pull through site which works well for us, as we are still feeling the high winds and rain from the storm front.

Just after we finish settling in, Brenna, Dean and Zach arrive for a visit, It takes Dean a short while before he warms up to the RV and because baby boss as he checks everything out. After a short stay they head out and back to Anchorage.

Seth and I have some dinner, and relax for the rest of the evening before turning in. Seth receives text message from Brenna that they made it home OK.

Tomorrow will be another adventure.

Nighty night

Miles driven today: 57

Day 04 – August 31

We wake up to a rainy cool morning. The rain is welcome relief. We begin the day with coffee and good conversations. Seth and I decide to go to downtown Anchorage once the rain lets up.  We go to F Street for lunch and have oysters and calamari.  Not sure what the issue was but service from the kitchen was extremely slow and the quality of the food was no what we have come to expect from them.

We then wonder through the Anchorage farmers market and pick up local potatoes for our RV adventure. Go to the visitor’s centers where we each make out a free postcard to send back to Ohio. We go through various gift stores as Seth is looking for certain gifts, wonder over to 49^th street brewery and share a seafood artichoke dip. We purchase several mini-growlers for our RV adventure. Do some more walking and go to Simon and Seafort’s for their happy hour and appetizer specials,

We then head back to the Petrusa Ponderosa, where we start to get things ready for leaving on our RV adventure tomorrow. i.e. checking Brenna’s garden for fresh vegetables, pre-cooking a few things, doing laundry and sorting through clothes to take and leave. On the way back the sky has cleared and the mountains are now visible. Brenna, Dean and Zach have left for the Crocked Lake cabin to spend the day and return later that evening for conversation before going to bed.

Sky is clouding up again as the storm front that canceled out fishing charter starts to move in.

Nighty night.

Day 03 – August 30

We awaken to a cool damp morning, a clear indication that fall is in the air. Seth and I pull chairs down to the dock and take in the solitude of the early morning on the lake. We watch a woodpecker fly by and then hear him in the distance. Soon a loon comes swimming by, and then watch its mate on the other side of the lake with the two of them finally joining together and frolicking together when they meet. Suddenly one of them starts to call out, we look up and there is a mature bald eagle flying over the lake, who glances down at us as it flies by.

Shortly there after Brenna brings down the fishing poles from the main cabin, tells us coffee is being made. I commence to try my luck again at fishing, since the lake is so still. Finally after multiple casts, I feel a tug and to my surprise I pull in a lake CLAM!!. That is correct a CLAM.

We have a leisurely breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, fruit and more coffee. We then pack up as the winds have shifted, and the smoke from the wild fires is beginning to get noticeable at the cabin. On our way out, we drive down the Burma road, see a flock of Ptarmigan in the road (still in their summer colors) and find our old cabin on Stephan lake, which we sold some 25+ years ago when we left Alaska. A very big disappointment as it is in a major state of disrepair.

We get back to Anchorage, and after showers Seth and I head out to find hip waders for fishing as we will be fishing various rivers next week. We finally find a few pairs so now we are set for fishing. On the way back we stop off at Matanuska Brewery and each try a flight of beers plus appetizers.  Brenna calls in a takeout order which we pick up besides a few growlers of beer and head back to the Petrusa Ponderosa.

We chill out the rest of the night with good conversation and watching dean play.

It is suppose to start raining tonight, so are fingers are cross that it is of a significant amount to help with the drought and wild fires.

Nighty, Night.

Day 02 - August 29th

Awaken at 6:30 am by a call from our charter captain, indicating that our scheduled charter for Monday, September 2^nd has been canceled due to a storm front moving in that will have 35 knot winds and cause 9-15-foot waves.  After a discussion we have rescheduled this charter for Monday, September 9^th when we were planning to head back towards Anchorage, since we turn in the RV on Tuesday, September 10^th.

Morning breakfast consisted of bagels, lox and cream cheese. After which we sorted through fishing gear that I had previous left, to make and inventory of what items we need to buy, before heading out for salmon fishing.

The air quality in Anchorage today, is very poor due to the wild fires on the Kenai Peninsula, and the mountains normally visible are shrouded in a heavy smoky haze.  So, we decide to drive up to Crooked Lake to the Petrusa cabin to get fresh air and enjoy the day. Along the way the birch trees are all out in golden yellow, fire weed has all bloomed, (sign summer is over) and the underbrush is all very brown, all telltale signs of the severe drought Alaska is experiencing.

We arrive at the cabin, unpack, pull out the chairs, take them down to the dock, and relax in the clear air, that is occasionally interrupted by smoke drifting through. We try our luck at fishing to no available but enjoy the stillness only interrupted by the call of the loons on the lake and the sight of a bald eagle across the lake. As it cools down, we call it a night, as campfires are currently banned.

Nightly night.

Day 01 – August 28th

Traveling from Hudson, OH to Anchorage, AK via Cleveland, Chicago, Seattle

Up early as Pat drives me to the Cleveland Airport Rental Car center, where I pick up a vehicle and proceed to Seth’s apartment to pick him up. We then start the first part of our journey by driving 5 ½ hours to Chicago O’Hare Airport. Smooth driving as we encountered no delays, with light traffic until we approach Chicago.

After clearing security checkpoint, we stop and partake in a few adult beverages as our flight does not board for another 2 hours. Next we catch an Alaska Airline Flight to Seattle, which left the gate on time. Our meal was a Peruvian Roast Chicken dish, featuring fried rice with egg, roast yellow and chayote squashes, and paired with a delicious Peruvian green sauce with side salad and dinner roll. Passing over the Rockies could see a forest fire. Sky was hazy coming into Seattle, and only could see MT. St. Helen's from our window seats.

We arrived into Seattle 10 minutes early, deplane and find our new gate for the flight to Anchorage. We have time so do some walking around the concourse to stretch our legs. The plane boards on time, but we wait an extra 15 minutes for 1 last passenger, which causes us to get into Anchorage 15 minutes late.  We deplane, get our luggage and catch a taxi ride to the Petrusa Ponderosa, where Brenna greets us. We do a slight unpacking and then time for some snooze and we have been up for over 24 hours. 

Nighty Night.