Bear Tracks

While in Homer, we decided we were going to go on a hike (yet again). We headed out to the Homer Homestead hike which was supposed to be around 8 miles long. Well...we got lost so we forged our own way! As we are crossing this mud creek (which I fell in), we see these.

Bear tracks! So we continued on our way, because it seemed like the smart thing to do. We hiked for perhaps another mile and realized we had been following not a human trail, but an animal trail. Fantastic. So we turned around all the while calling "Hey Bear!" and making Kathryn tell us stories. We reached another starting point in the hike and since we didn't get eaten (too bad right?), we wanted to hike around more. We found another (real) trail and turned and headed down that. We were again not far into our hike when we heard a motor. And boom!! This guy rode up on an ATV with his dog running along side him. He stopped, probably a little bit shocked to see 3 girls hiking around, and said "you guys hiking through?" We responded, "yes." Now I am sure there was a little bit of a conversation but I was totally distracted by the pistol and machete hanging out on either hip. All I was thinking was "gun, gun, gun, machete, gun." Now being from Illinois, here are our gun laws:

It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm in any vehicle or concealed on or about the person, except on one's land or or fixed place of business.

It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm on any public street or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village, or incorporated town, except when: an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of the display of firearms or the lawful commerce in firearms.

Yes, so I am a little naive when it comes to firearms. I am still totally shocked to see people just hanging out with them and not in a crime-related sort of way. Anyway, I come back to the conversation when Gruff McGee goes "there are bear back there." We say we figured and he asks "do you have bear spray or any other...protection?" We reply in a drawn out response, "Noooooo, we are going to head back home now." He says, "Yeah, you probably should" and drives his ATV off into the sunset with his dog following. Ok not really, he didn't 100 yards before he ran into another group of hikers. But the encounter with the real life Bear Grylls went well I thought. I felt a real connection. 

We did make it back to our car and in time to see Oregon lose to LSU! GRRRR!! We met up the Oregon kid, Max, we met at the bar the night before. 

Surprisingly or not so, there were like 20 people wearing Ducks gear! We owned the bar. I mean what are the odds that we ran into the Oregon/Homer crew? 

Upon them losing, all I was thinking about was beer and ice cream. Those bear tracks had me all sorts of riled up for...

OH and...

http://www.moosetracks.com/flavors/detail/12

Clearly not the adrenaline rush I should have felt. 

Home Sweet Homer

The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and bring forth words which were better unspoken.
                             - Homer, The Odyssey  


For our last weekend in Alaska (which was a three day weekend), we decided to yet again pack up the Alaska Stallion and head on down to Homer, Alaska. Homer is again a fishing town and home to the Time Bandit on Deadliest Catch. Yes, I know. I stalked out the Time Bandit store in hopes of running into one of the Hillstrand brothers so that they could get me in touch with Capt. Sig Hansen.

No dice. Anyway though here is the Time Bandit store...

With a huge crab pot! I was standing in it and let me tell you monstrous! I have a new appreciation for a 1/2 full crab pot! 

Ok but before I delve too deeply into the Homer weekend, let me describe to you all the journey down. We stopped at a Fred Meyer in Soldotna, a town about an hour from Homer. I, being myself, went the alcohol section to gather up the other supplies we needed for the weekend. This is where I met Scott. I am standing in line with a case of Alaskan White and he goes "where's the party at?" I respond, "Homer Spit." Then seeing his case of Bud Light I say, "I would ask you the same question but you have a case of Bud Light." Well this apparently meant he can have a conversation with me about how he just flew into Anchorage in the morning after passing rigorous tests, etc, etc. I was not listening. When my senses picked up again, Kathryn was with me and he said "hold on let me move my chew so I can talk to you better." Yup, my attention averted again to I don't know the paint drying the wall next to me. So I pay for my beer and go "have a good weekend" and walk out. We leave the store and he is sitting in his car outside! He goes "HEY! Want to see the other Kenai Peninsula?" (Ok insert, Homer is located on the Kenai Peninsula as is Seward - see map above) I laugh. I mean that was ballsy - pun intended - so I saw something like "no, we are in a rush. We are late already." He replies, "Give me your number." In my head I keep replaying, "hell no, hell no, hell no," but I respond "give me yours." Anyway that was the end of that. But I knew this was going to be a good weekend with that pick up line. 

After that scenario, we made it to Homer. It was supposed to be terrible weather! Just miserable! Rainy, cold, windy, and what was it like for us? Basically the opposite. It was a tad bit chilly but it rocked. 

We camped on the Homer Spit. 

In our tent held down by rocks. 

With our sectional seating fire pit! 

Which people loved (correct, no one is sitting on the logs). 

With waves like this crashing shore...it was great to listen to at night. 

And we had visitors like this. Don't worry he supplied music that honed in on our Labor Day festivities (National Anthem, God Bless America, etc)...

We also had sunsets like this! 

But when the lights go down, things get crazy, especially at the Salty Dawg! We had a blast at this joint! We lit it up both Friday and Saturday night. We made friends too! Here is the infamous Salty Dawg!

Inside is straight class!

Dollar, dollar bills ya'll!

Some friends left to right! The fisherman who is biting Kathryn's arm (not funny, she was bruised), then there is Shawn (soul mate), and Shawn's uncle (DRUNK). 

So we basically owned this bar for two nights. The first night I walked in by myself ahead of the group (they were taking their sweet time). Upon entering, there was a kid wearing an U of Oregon hat! So we started talking and he was originally from Homer and still attends U of O. We chatted for a while and he tells me of the hang out for the game the next day (against LSU, still bitter). The others walked in and we decided we are going to meet him there. I mean what are the odds? His name was Max. There was also a group of French men who hardly spoken English. It was so funny. They somehow thought Shawn and I were engaged. You would never have imagined how funny it is to say "no not engaged, just met!" The French guys also enjoyed sticking their tongues to their nose like it was a feat of impressiveness (ok it was). The drunk uncle kept getting them to sing like their national anthem which none of us knew but sure did try to sing along! The next night we strolled in there again and started playing pool with a guy from Vegas and a guy from Montana. The Montana guy kept calling us "babydoll" and buying drinks. He also started showing us pool trick shots. It was great. He was up there for fishing. He wore a BIG OLE belt buckle, which is described as a "tombstone for dead peckers." The Vegas guy (also the age of Montana Cowboy, probably 60s) told us he comes up there for another relief: Marijuana. It was all unbelievably too funny. Anyway we owned the juke box. And our friend Vanessa played straight 90s. Everyone was so annoyed with our choices except for us (of course) and Shawn. Oh and Vanessa was on some sort of adrenaline high and she was busting out push ups. I was tired from watching her! Actually, I looked at her and chugged a beer as a result. So we rocked the bar until about 4am Saturday night. I am telling you, I LOVE Homer. It was like a mini Milwaukee in a bar. You never knew what you were going to see next! 

I am still curious though as to what the other Kenai Peninsula really looked like. My bets are it didn't stand a chance to Homer. 

The Anchorage Zoo

Anchorage, Alaska is pretty surprising. Surprising in the sense it is much more cosmopolitan than Eugene and yet it is virtually a zoo! Here are some sights we saw in Anchorage, just outside of Anchorage, and well one video that was actually taken in a conservation center but is pretty funny all the same.

Moose Crossing sign needed. We were going to pick up a friend in a residential neighborhood. Nothing unusual there.  

Right outside our car! Meese! 

Courtesy of Kathleen Phelps in a park. Creeping up on some moose. 

Then on our way to Homer, AK, which will be discussed at length in the next couple of posts, we see this! 

Grizzly Bear in the flesh! So we see this from the car, well actually I thought it was garbage can (yes, my Illinois roots came out). Anyway, we pulled over and soon tons of cars had pulled over wondering what three girls were doing running to the edge of the river with cameras in hand. It was probably 200 yards away from us and on the other side of the river so we weren't too crazy. Plus we knew what to do in case we ever had a run in with a bear. And we were close to running in with a bear. It will be discussed later. 

Good thing we know the procedures. Thank you National Park Service. 

Now this next video was witnessed at the rehabilitation center in Seward. I must admit I was shocked while observing this. I never knew how seals moved or demanded attention. I have a whole new appreciation! 

We weren't sure why the seal was clapping its side, but it became the greeting and farewelling motion for Kathryn, Kathleen, and I. So funny. 

Here are some other creatures captured via camera in Alaska. 

The very (not-so) elusive photo-bomber. 

The great pumpkin that Linus was searching for. And Charlie Brown didn't believe, fool. 

Yup, that is the weight of that big guy. 859 lbs.

Enough bacon to probably fill even my belly!

Ok I feel a tad bit bad about the bacon comment. They were very cute, VERY large pigs. I did want to snuggle if I wasn't fearful of being suffocated. Also, the weight is labeled there.

Oh and captured here is the mermaid of Homer on land. 

Lastly, I somehow was able to catch Medusa. Luckily her back was turned or else I would have turned to stone! 

The Anchorage (ok, ok Alaska) Zoo was definitely worth a visit. Free admission as long as you get here, and you are GUARANTEED to see something exciting! Even if it is just a girl dressed up in a chicken costume. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Shannon Arms!!!! Whooo hooo!! Miller Lite headband is ready for our epic b-day bash take 2. 

Pony Up

On Sunday, Kathryn and I, with the inclusion of my cousin, decided to go to the fair again! It was rodeo time! Kathryn stated, "I haven't been to a good rodeo yet this year." To which I said, "I haven't been to a good rodeo ever." And my cousin Val replied, "I haven't been to a good rodeo sober." Oh the differences between Montana and Illinois. :) So we packed up and headed out to round two of the State Fair. Now, I realize the rodeo is supposed to display skill, but I will display the nitty gritty.

Here are some of the bull riders. Cream of the crop.

Boom, boom....clap. 

Get this man a shot of whiskey with a side of pride. 

Perhaps the belt buckle weighed him down a bit. 

Now the bull did not crush him but it was close. This cowboy definitely knew the tuck and roll technique and thank goodness he did! 

But it wasn't all an epic fail. I did get to see Black Beauty. 

And....my team! 

After the rodeo (and one large bag of kettle corn later), we stumbled upon hula-hoop girl. She was actually quite amazing! I unfortunately caught this little clip of her but I swear she was working up a sweat. 

Let me set the stage. She was hula-hooping on top of a cookie stand named I believe hula-hoop cookies. It was hot this day and she was working that thing in ways I have never seen! Now if you all remember, I am quite impressed with people who can shake their hips because apparently I am one rotation and done. 

After stuffing our faces with cookies, we went to watch the Shanghai Acrobats...meaning they don't have an ounce of fat on them. Pure muscle. It is pretty ridiculous and it made us wish we didn't gorge on cookies, salmon/reindeer sausage quesadillas, ice cream, cream puffs, pizza, and yes the large bag of popcorn. 

Fun with hats!

Brick master!

Incredible!!

Now this guy (without a jumping aid) somehow jumped through those hoops. *Disclaimer: The pictures are in the correct order. Check it. 

I was very sad to leave the fair. I wish I could express the beauty that surrounded the grounds. Yes, around the grounds, in the grounds not so much. Oh we even had a fair scavenger hunt! The list included: People praying over food; children over the age of 7 being pulled in a radio flyer; 3 things that looked like vomit but were not; 3 actual vomit piles; someone using something other than a bathroom as a bathroom; a shirt that is comparable to a sausage casing; and yes the list goes on. We found a good portion of them multiple times over. 

So we said goodbye to the fair and the beautiful Sunday! 

The only thing I was somewhat disappointed about with the fair was the stamina of the cowboys on the bulls. Now I have been bull riding and believe me, I lasted longer than 8 seconds. Take that how you will but the proof is here. 

I didn't even have on a big old belt buckle...which as will be explained later, was described to Kathryn and I as "a tombstone for a dead pecker." That might explain it.