Homer Brewing

Homer Brewing has some of the best beers I have found anywhere. And always a friendly smile when you wander in and have your growler refilled. A great session beer, the Broken Birch Bitter is one of my favorites, and at 4.5 ABV, you can have more than one. A local favorite, the Red Knot Scottish is a great beer. I have a couple good friends that would really like the China Poot Porter.

All there beers are cask condition, unfiltered, and unpasteurized ...

Ya gotta get up here and have one!

Favorite Places

Captains Coffee in Homer is a great place to swing into and get a coffee and berry muffin on the way to the airport in the morning. They even have a drive through if you are feeling lazy!

Homer Spit

Not long and the boards will come off the buildings on the spit, and the small shops will begin the season here in Homer. It's a short season, three good months with May and September being the wind up and wind down of the Summer. The Salty Dawg Saloon is open .. I'm not sure when it opened this year, but I stopped in for one of Homer Brewing's finest yesterday afternoon.
It's kinda fun feeling the anticipation in the small town as the shopkeepers are getting ready, my small part is getting two airplanes ready for the bear viewing season. This is my second season working with Kbay Air in Homer, the little yellow building in the photo above is our office on the Homer Spit.
Anyone finding their way here over the Summer please stop in to say hi .. and if you're feeling adventurous, come see the bears in the Katmai Wilderness.

Mt Sanford

One of the many Alaskan giants I drove by along the way. Mt Sanford stands 16,237 ft and part of the Wrangell St. Ellias National Park. Although you can't see it in this photo, the South face rises 8000 ft in 1 mile. Having spent most all of my 55 years around the woods and lakes of Minnesota, spending time here among the mountains and glaciers is a treat I will never tire of.

Morning Walks

First day here I had to go check out all the places I enjoyed while I was here last year. The Two Sisters was my favorite stop in the morning last year. I'd have a cup of coffee and do some emails most mornings before the day began. This morning was a grand day to begin the season here. The sun is shining and the air is warming nicely! I read a couple rumors through the emails this morning it was snowing in the Twin Cities! A run to the hanger and go through some of the stuff I was able to bring this year, and took some time to clean and oil up the bike, the poor thing rode on the back of the Jeep for 3600 miles of dust, snow, rain, and slush. There was at least 50 pounds of frozen crud on it at one time or another. A walk on the beach at low tide this morning I saw this guy on the image above, he didn't seem to mind me walking past and taking his picture. Walking the beach was a favorite pastime last year .. I imagine I will be doing much more of the same.

Day 4

The day started out pretty much like day 3 ended. lots of snow and ice on the roads, but once the sun came out things did get much better. It's hard to believe there is actually a road through all of this. One can only imagine the undertaking to make the Alaska Highway. the last two images are looking across the lake to the tiny village of Teslin in the Yukon, the last is looking out the motel window in Teslin. Another 20 hours drive time and I should make Homer Alaska.

Windshield Time

Lots of time looking through the windshield. this is a bit of road on 15 just South of Sweetgrass Montana. Canada is pretty flat .. at least the part I've seen so far. I am looking forward to the Canadian Rockies. Lewistown Montana for Thursday night, Whitecourt Alberta Friday night .. had a beer and a burger at a roadhouse next to the motel. The motel is offering a coupon for a free breakfast at roadhouse. I think I'll just have my oatmeal and hit the road early!

Alaska

The Jeep is loaded and ready to go. A few hours of sleep and I should be on the road well before sunrise, I'd like to be well into Montana by tomorrow night. The plan is the Eastern route through Great Falls Montana, cross into Canada at Sweetgrass, and make my way North. It's been a busy week .. now some sleep.

Last weekend on Superior for awhile

I'd been watching the weather all week, hoping for a break in the wind and rain on Superior. I don't know if it was luck, or a little bit of magic .. my traveling partner remarked she had a little magic working this weekend, and the winds would leave us alone. She was right!

We put in at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors and spent a few hours paddling northward along the shoreline. With the sunshine and a light warm breeze, it was hard to believe we were on Lake Superior for the first Saturday in April.

Sunday morning brought rain, wind, and snow.

This time next week I will be getting last minute preparations in order for the drive to Homer Alaska. It was nice to get up to Superior this Spring, my next time will be in September.

I hope the magic will still be working ...