Day 17 July 1st

Day 17 –July 1^st

The Sourdough Sunrise B&B sent us off, you guessed it, with a stomach full of sourdough pancakes. They said the starter was over one hundred years old. The owners were great hosts. They had moved up from Salt Lake City about 40 years ago and just couldn’t think about living anywhere but Seward. While finishing up our breakfast she looked out the window and said, “There are some blue clouds and some sucker holes out there today.” I guess you don’t dare say, “Blue skies”; that’s dangerous. The sucker holes are a small parting in the clouds showing a smidge of blue sky. She claimed that is enough to coax Alaskans outside only to be rained on moments later.

The ride to Homer was 165 miles. Riding across the interior of the Kenai was beautiful. The road, for quite a ways, follows the Kenai River. Being it was Sunday there was a lot of rafting and fly-fishing going on. The river was a beautiful greenish blue color. It was one of the prettiest rivers we have seen. The last 74 miles the road is right on the western coast of the peninsula, overlooking the Cook Inlet. What a view! Across the inlet there are two snow capped volcanoes towering above a range of mountains. You can enjoy this view for almost the entire one and half hour ride. The hwy takes you through the town of Anchor Point, which we are told is the most westerly paved road in North America. Sounds like next year’s road needs to take us to the most eastern paved road in North America.

Then, just when you think it doesn’t get any better, you get to the viewpoint of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet. Again, pictures can’t do it justice. You have to be here. You can see the Homer Spit too, which we rode out onto. I needed to see the Salty Dawg Saloon, and say we went to the end of the road.

The cabin on the lake we stayed in was really cool. It was not real fancy but the setting was spectacular! We got an air show all evening with float plans flying in and out of the small lake. We have stayed in such a variety of motels, hotels, cabins, lodges, and B&Bs.

Each one has been an experience and added to our adventure. What a great way to end the trip. This is our last night on the ground in Alaska. We have been so blessed to have done this. It’s not over yet by any mean but it does end Chapter one, “The Ride North”.