Thursday, 23 May 2019
Cooper Landing, Alaska, USA
Three hour drive down to the halibut capital of the world.
Homer.
A fishing port at the end of the Kenai Peninsula. There’s not much to see enroute apart from trees. Lots and lots of trees. Reminds me of Siberia. And northern Scandinavia.
And lots of roadworks. Told there are two seasons in Alaska. Winter. And construction.
A few towns along the way appear non-descript. You would probably only visit if you like hunting, shooting and fishing. Getting ready for the salmon season starting in a few weeks.
Homer’s small fishing port is at the end of a 4.5mile spit jutting out into Kachemak Bay. It’s where fishing boats from the TV programme, ‘Deadliest Catch’ sail from.
What else to have for lunch in the halibut capital of the world.
Halibut, of course.
With chips.
Very English seaside.
The spit houses a number of art galleries, craft studios and boutique shops. Well known local landmark, the Salty Dog Saloon dates back to 1897. There’s a cold bite in the air though, so not wanting to linger.
Stopping off at Soldotna on the way back, see some women wearing what appears to religious dress, bit like nuns. Long dress and a head covering. Realise they are part of the Russian Old Believer society that live in the region. Russia, obviously, being not too far away.
Also reminds me that it’s about nine years to the day that I was married to a Swiss girl of my acquaintance, in the Russian Old Believer’s traditional way, in the Buryat Republic in Siberia. You’ll have to wait for the retrospective blog on that trip. I know one of you reading this was witness to this unforgettable occasion.
Ah, the memories.
