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September 10, 2004
ice worms, loons and homer
Yesterday I started driving south of Anchorage along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. I stopped by the office of the Forest Service district where I worked in 1990, and only one former coworker remained, who is about to retire and was more than happy to give me a 45 minute lecture on the current state of the salmon fishery in the region. I'm all caught up on that now, thanks.
Then I drove down Portage Valley to the visitor center where I worked, surprised to see that it had been remodeled. I got a kick out of an 'S'-shaped sofa upholstered to look like a giant ice worm, an actual creature that lives in between the grains of snow in the ice fields below glaciers, feeding on pollen grains. (I am not pulling your leg on this one.)
Then I went in search of some of the salmon fishery projects I worked on in that valley, and found the actual trench I dug to create a salmon spawning channel. And MY CHILDREN HAVE RETURNED!!! Chum and Sockeye salmon were nearly spawned out near my channel, having shot their load (or eggs), their trip complete. I am so proud of my little fishies. But now they're dead. That's the thanks I get.
I had forgotten what a beatiful valley it is. Numerous glaciers are cascading down into the valley, many easily hiked to. I was really fortunate to have worked there.
From there I drove to Homer, the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World. After checking into my hotel, I drove down to the infamous Homer Spit for some pretty pictures, had some extremely fresh halibut fish 'n chips, then a beer at the Salty Dawg Saloon. When I came out of the bar, the sun was setting on the ocean, casting a semicircular rainbow on the other side of the bay. Spectacular.
Today I found the new visitor center that replaced the old one where I worked in 1993. Many of the staff were still there, and were glad to see me. I even nabbed some hot naturalist schwag, of little interest to anyone else but me though. Then coffee and quiche at the uber-gyno coffee shop in Homer, Two Sisters Cafe for that crunchy, organic feeling.
Around town I spotted common loons, ravens, bald eagles, a sea otter, a harbor seal, and for some reason a female pheasant, which shouldn't be there. Must have been stocked I guess.
I think a week is about all I need for a vacation. It isn't that I'm not having fun, it's just that I'm just ready to go home now. Next time I'll limit the vacation to a week. I've definitely been having a nice breather and good perspective here. Early September is a good time to come here. While it is starting to get nippy, there are far fewer tourists here, and no mosquitoes. The roads were clear for much of my trip.
Posted by jimbo at September 10, 2004 11:17 PM
Comments
It is common knowledge that Homer is wonderful.
Posted by: homer at September 11, 2004 9:01 AM
I took a ton of Homer gag pics, like a beer sign for happy hour at "Homer's Otter Room".
Posted by: jimbo at September 11, 2004 2:36 PM