Day 38 - Homer, AK

Homer, Alaska

Friday, July 15, 2011 - Day 38

Hello again from the Canucks – EH!

Chris and Mary Pattison, Rig #17

A free day! No, a REST day! After two days of halibut fishing then clam digging and cleaning, all most of us needed was a rest day! How are your arms feeling? My back is killing me! He’s not up at the moment, he’s having a nap! And so began our free day.

We went off to Homer Spit and had a closer look at some of the establishments down there. See photo’s of Mary outside and inside of one of the most famous of the attractions. Many businesses cater to fishermen, it is clear why Homer is called the Halibut capital of the World; however, there are others that should not be missed, like the Bear Creek Winery (where they make wine out of berries other than grapes and they have wine tasting too!) and a delightful bakery called ‘Two Sisters Bakery’ where we purchased a sour dough loaf named something that I cannot remember and nowhere did it have sour dough in the ingredients.

Halibut - you try hauling them up!

Mary at Homer spit landmark!

Mary inside Salty Dawg

While I remember; those who have not seen Cindy’s videos of river rafting and Denali National Park should ask to see them, they are terrific!

Ten of our group went off on a boat trip to Halibut Cove, a small, privately owned island not far from Homer; all agreed that this was a great trip, thanks to Gil for the photos. (It should be noted that all of the participants on this trip did not participate in the Halibut fishing – otherwise they would not have had the energy or enthusiasm to undertake such a trip!)

Most of the Halibut Cove bunch

Halibut Cove

We all finished off the day with another feast prepared by our Leaders. The halibut tasted great, the desert delicious, and there must have been something about the burgers prepared by our Tail Gunner as twenty four of the original requested six were eventually eaten with lineups at the barbecue throughout the meal!

Finally, I take my hat off to Ken and Carol; not only did they both attend the full day Halibut fishing and catch their limit, but they also showed many of us how to clam and then clammed along with us for the best part of three hours with Carol mostly on her knees with her arm down into the hole making sure that wriggly clam did not get away! After that, the clam cleaning took another three hours, again with Carol showing us the way. So, while the rest of us were commiserating about our aches and pains (and telling tall stories of the one that got away), they were busy preparing yet another feast. You have my admiration and thanks!

And so we come to the end of another Adventurous day on this Caravan.

Chris & Mary