One Big Bowl

Just south of Soldotna , at the junction of Echo Lake Road, there is a large log house. Built to sell log home kits, it has been the site of various businesses. This trip I noticed that the satellite dish looked different. 

It is now a place that sells turned wood products, has classes on turning and probably sells turning tools. I didn't have time to go in; maybe next trip. 

Beginning the fun trip home tomorrow, weather should be perfect.

Harvest Done, Home Soon

Woke to two Sandhill cranes this morning. They can be quite loud but they soon settled down and began to patrol the Worsfold estate for whatever bugs they eat. Got in last night from Soldotna where Tony and I had seen Roger off on his way back to Missouri. We each sent back one fish box and have one more for checked baggage. Our FedX boxes made it, always a gamble, we've had problems before. 

This is probably the smallest Red harvest for us in quite a while. Luckily, capt Bill came through on the halibut and we all have our quotas for the year.  

When I left Bill and Shellie's 12 days ago the Fireweed hadn't started yet and now they are about a week from peak color but the change was impressive. 

We had clear, hot days (that is Alaska hot, low 80s) and not even a heavy dew for Roger's whole stay. Then, on the last night, we had the the biggest line of thunder storms I've ever seen on the Kenai peninsula. There were numerous power outages from Clam Gulch up to Anchorage and lots of downpours. No problems for us though. 

Teri is heading to LA in a few days. While she is there I get home and make a quick trip to Portland and back. Then it settles down a bit and it is back to projects. 

Low clouds and mist this morning but forecasted to be perfect soon. 

Stay cool. 

Let The Harvest Begin

Left Homer and the Worsfold's and set up camp in Soldotna. 

Went halibut fishing in the morning and saw what I would consider the perfect motor sailer tied up in the Homer harbor. Then we woke up Jake (who slept through the mornings fishing), had lunch and I set out for Soldotna. 

We are in an RV park right on the river and really like the river access and cleaning tables. However, Tony wanted to show us his favorite part of the river, that part from Bings landing (in Sterling) upstream to Skilak Lake. 

We were quite impressed with the miles of empty bank fishing spots and clear water. Since most of the stretch is above the confluence of the Kenai and Killey (sp?) rivers the water is very clear. About all the Killey contributes to the Kenai is a lot of mud. 

The mouth of the Killey. 

Upstream we could watch the Sockeye go by and catching wasn't too hard. 

We've had two days of 200,000 + fish past the counter so the run is on!

The limit is still three, but it should go up to six soon. Here we still have one to go. As usual, waiting on Roger. He finally got that last fish so we could get on with the day. Total time fishing, about 1-1/2 hrs. 

We went up to the mouth of Skilak Lake and drifted back for a while trying for some rainbows. Tony has a 30" bow but we are still trying to beat a friend of his who has a 34"er. 

No luck on rainbows this time but tomorrow we'll be back and might get more serious. This is our new most favorite part of the river. 

Weather remains ridiculously perfect. 

Hanging in Homer

Made it to Homer without having to spend the night in Anchorage. Shellie and Mom are leaving for Las Vegas tonight; better them than me.

Bill and I are waiting for Jake to get back from dipping with Grandpa Gordon.  Hopefully we will then be occupied filleting, bagging and freezing Reds. 

Went over to a neighbors yesterday where they were in the middle of a five day process of firing pottery in their walk in kiln. 

First they load it with items to be fired.

These are photos of the four rows of pottery. 

Then they build a fire just outside the entrance.  After a day of dehydrating they move the fire inside and brick up the entrance with a door hanging from cables over a hole left for adding wood.

It is a two man job swinging the door aside while the stoker throws the wood in. They were putting in an armful about every four minutes. 

They showed me the stack of wood they would use to finish and the whole job must take several cords. 

They gradually bring the inside temperature up to 1200+ Celsius and hold that for about three days.  

They were in day three of that stage when we stopped in and sleep was becoming something they dreamed about. 

Going for halibut tomorrow then up to Soldotna. 

Weather still perfect 

Gone Fishing

Leaving today; sleeping in ANC airport tonight (unless security says otherwise) and on to Homer tomorrow morning. As promised here are some past due photos of last Portland trip.

We all went to the Children's Museum.

Two renown cat doctors consulted on a tough case.

There was a brief stage production.

There was time to hug your favorite raptor.

We also went to pick berries on Sauvie Island.

 Molly volunteered to be the mule.

Spencer and Nina volunteered to sit in the cart.

 They also volunteered to serve as quality control. There was a lot of tasting.

Amy, Derek and the kids headed out for the drive home.  Spencer was still very upset that he wasn't staying with Grandma and Grandpa. At least Grandma is coming for his birthday.

Back home there was a bike trip to a favorite park.  This was first whole family trip in a while as they often leave one parent home to get things accomplished.

Louis is up for anything.

So, I'm all caught up and will be hunting the elusive wild Alaskan salmon for a bit. 

Teri has Denver and LA trips while I'm gone.  We might end up reuniting in Portland but that end of our trips is not settled yet.

Hope you all have a cool July and I'll try a few posts while I'm gone if I can get back to civilization long enough.

Last check showed weather perfect up there and staying that way.

Finally Back Home

Just got back from the VHPA reunion.  Began my own research into an incident I've been having a hard time remembering.  Got lots of good info from my old buds that were there.  More on that later, but no promises

Here's those of us that showed up this time.  The 4th of July has always been a hard time to assemble the group. Here are 11 Potato Mashers.

I know what you are thinking; "How could we possibly have lost that war with such fine specimens  as these providing the arial support for our troops?"  Our response; "We were winning when we left."

But here are a few of the side trips we took.

The Muir woods looked like they belonged in the "Game of Thrones".

When I saw this burl I felt so guilty.  I really would love to see a 6" horizontal slice.

The Golden Gate from underneath.

 Same with the Bay Bridge.

The America's Cup trials were just starting

These guys have two hydrofoils on each hull.  When they get it trimmed out just right they are not heeled over very much but every bit of both hulls are out of the water.  They out run the chase boats when they get it just right.

Going to go.  Still plan to post some photos of the week before just wanted to get this off for my old stickmates.  Thanks Guys, you are the best!

Weather still perfect here; headed for Alaska this Thursday where I hear it is not.

In San Fran

Looks like I'll be owing you all some photos. Loading my camera's photos to my iPad involves more steps than I'm set up for right now.

We got here Sunday just as the gay pride parade was breaking up. Got no photos of that as we had to drive across town to pick up the Washburne's. We did get to watch as the parade broke up and all the spectators jammed the streets moving on to the next party. Portland thinks it is weird! A far distant second to SF.  We just wish the Washburne's had gotten in sooner. Would have been great to watch them get off the plane from Alabama to San Francisco on national gay pride day. Talk about culture shock.

Spent yesterday at the Muir Woods. GOT fans can find many faces in the trees there. Saw one lad at the gift shop in the uniform of the Death Star commander. No Ewoks though.

Looking for a place to watch the Timbers tomorrow night and Sunday. Might have to settle for streaming in the Hilton lobby.

Already running into old friends from B/227 and the reunion doesn't start until tonight. My mission this week is to piece together one event that continues to elude recollection. Hopefully, I'll get pieced back together.

Been in the high 70's here.  Don't imagine it's been the same for the rest of you. Have a safe 4th; keep hydrated!