This was an impromptu decision to drive down to Homer but hey, what the heck. I really hadn't seen much of Alaska last time here so this time I'm making the most of it. We leave Anchorage on a clear sunny mildly chilling afternoon and head for Homer. Used to be this trip took all day to make but now it's done ina matter of hours (at least at this time of the year with so little snow). We head out on the Seward Highway headed south. First leg of the trip takes you through Potter's Marsh and there is a area here to pull out and enjoy watching the wildlife here. There are all kinds of birds and animals that play here and it is overlooked by The Chugach and Anchorage's Hillside community. Next you come to the Turnagain Arm and around Cook Inlet. I absolutely loved this trip as as we approached the Inlet I got to see a site I had never before seen. The water is so still and calm in the inlet that it is reflective and the mountains on the other side are reflected in the water. Wow, what a sight for the eyes. First major stopping point if you take this trip is a pull out on the highway at Beluga Point. On a rare occassion you might get lucky enough to see Beluga Whale here (I of course do not enounter one)But the scenery of course is stunningly beautiful. Mother nature sure puts on a show here. Next up is Girdwood. In the great 1964 earthquake that ricked this region Girdwood fell nearly 30 feet into the earth. It also has a great spot that I can't stop at this time and that would be The Portage Glacier. It is also a turnoff area for travelers headed to the Alyeska Ski Resort. Leaving Girdwood behind we head off again on our journey. While there are no sheer climbs through mountains like there were on the trip headed to Alaska from Canada there is a little bit of squirrley driving again here. We drive around the Turnagain Arm and head for The Kenai Penninsula. As we come out od yet another mountain pass we can now see in the distance to our right Mt Iliamna (10,013 ft) and Mt Redoubt(10,194 ft) both are both volcanos and are an awesome sight almost appearing as phantoms in the near distance over 100 miles away. On our way to Homer we have decided to see Soldatna by night as well as Kenai. We actually drive through Soldatna and head for Kenai first. Kenai is best known for it's world class King Salmon fishing but we are a bit early for fishing season and it is where my sister-in-law is from. Finally we stop for dinner in Soldatna with friends and get a hotel for the night.
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