Overlook coming into Homer...

And another really close bear! I need to start packing my heat. Somebody got killed by a bear in Anchorage yesterday :-( So says the newspaper, and people are buzzing about it here in the coffee shop this morning...

assorted wildlife

He's quite the PJ...

Dunno what I would have done without this guy. So grateful for his help, company, etc. It would have taken me forever to get up here on my own.  We've had a great adventure that I'll never forget. Hopefully he feels the same.

On that subject - I need someone to fly up here, hang out with me for a week (or whatever), and then help me drive home. Any takers??? I'm serious... think about it.

Meese? Mooses?

These things are all over the place, but out in the country, they are pretty wary. They usually run when they hear you vehicle approaching. But the ones in town don't give a rip about people. The cows move into peoples yards and do their calving this time of year.  Everwhere we go, there are tracks, and moose dodo - literally within feet of houses, businesses, etc. We've had to slow down so as to let them cross the road and not hit them numerous times. I guess hundreds of them are hit on the Kenai Peninsula every year. Well, they should let people like me thin them out, but apparently they are heavily protected. PJ has a friend in Soldotna and these friends used to live in Brainerd. We were making the rounds seeing all of his kids, and one of the daughters (Suzanne) had a cow moose die in her yard while laboring to give birth. It went on for three days, and she finally croaked. I guess she needed emergency C-section - and they missed the opportunity to help her out. Now they've got a huge moose carcass in their yard beginning to rot, and AK fish and game won't come and get it. It's up to the home owner. Life is sure different up here...

I few days ago, we were visiting Sam (Steve's son) and there was a pile of moose dung next to the house. Moose dung is about the size of a quarter or fifty-cent piece. When it dries out, it's no big deal. Doesn't stink. Doesn't get on your hands. Heck, even Uncle Bob Evans ate one once, and said it wasn't bad. Anyway, I reached down and grabbed a handful, and held them out to PJ like I was offering him a hand of M&M's. Of course, he reached out his hand and took them innocently, and then looked at me with disgust. But, you have no idea how many times I have done this to him with deer turds and he still fell for the trick. Helps to have the elder out of his element :-)

Glacier

Between Glenallen and Anchorage is this glacier that is some complicated name that I can't remember (starts with an M). Celine took this with my camera out her window while we were driving down the mountain switchbacks. There are a bunch of glaciers across Katchemak Bay within sight of Homer. Someday I may drive over there and check them out. What we are finding is that it is really expensive to do stuff around here. Mainly gas and food. Two days ago, PJ and I saddled up the boat with all of our gear and went exploring. I don't know how many miles we drove - maybe 75-100 miles. It is so big up here, it just takes a lot of gas to get wherever you want to go. We checked Sadie Cove, Tanka Bay, Jakalof Bay, and the town of Seldovia. That took us two days, but it was amazing scenery and it's great getting to know the country. I've got tons of stories of things we have done and seen, but we are sitting at the cafe, done eating breakfast, and this is PJ's last day, so I am not going to keep him waiting. I'll have lots more pictures and stories coming up...

A real stud...

This bear was a monster - the biggest we saw out of maybe 20 specimens. I bet he was 400 pounds or more. PJ and I need to get going, so I will post more later. Last night, we stayed at Majestic View Bed and Breakfast with Maria. We had an absolutely amazing view of Katchemak Bay, Homer, the Homer Spit, and the Kenai Mountains in the background. The B&B is set way up on a high bluff and is probably the best view around. Maria owns the B&B, and has four elderly people living in the downstairs level (assisted living). All of this keeps her really busy. She's been super helpful for us as she's lived here for 30 years - so she knows many locals and has lots of connections.

Yesterday I bought a month pass to use the landing and dock my boat in the harbor out on the Homer Spit.  PJ and I spent some time talking to the locals about the ocean, tides, fishing, and bear hunting. Last night, we got out on the ocean for the first time. The salmon are just starting to show up, so it will get better and better as the summer progresses. Last night we looked for King Salmon and Halibut, but we have a lot to learn. All we caught were gray cod - which were a lot like our eelpout or burbot back home. But we were sure dialed in on them. Could have caught hundreds if we wanted...

Today we head out across Katchemak bay, behind Yukon Island and into the Fjords. If you look on a map, you sill see Sadie Cove and Tutka Bay. We are going to take the binoculars and view Mountain Goats and Bear. If we can find one like the stud above, we will do a stalk and see if we can harvest it. Ok, Kill it. This will be a cast and blast for two or three days. We will camp on a beach somewhere, or sleep in the boat. Whatever works.

Stay tuned. More progress and pictures in a few days when I have more time!

Thinking of you Robin. Hope you are recovering fast.

Congrats on your wedding Cousin. I will get there if I can, but at this time, it looks doubtful. Me must go fishing and bowhunting when I get back!

Wild Buffalo in northern BC rockies

Up close and personal, EH???