The Looking Glass

21 July 2017

Yesterday when we went to Homer and spent some time walking down the rocky beach of the Spit. I know, not too surprising, but Ann Marie has this “thing” about looking for and finding “Sea Glass”. She found a piece of green sea glass, and boy, let me tell, that got her “I’m gonna find some more juices” going…..

After hanging some pictures (on our limited wall space), that we have been meaning to do for while, we jumped into the BFT and headed south about 20 miles. We took a beach access road to the right to Stariski SP, right by Ninilchik. A small primitive (parking lot style) campground  on the windy beach of the west side of the peninsula. With the SUN shining, we had some remarkable views of two of the four active volcanoes (Redoubt and Lliamna) in the Alaskan Range and to the south we could just see the Augustin volcano. Thankfully they are not rumbling right now!

This is a popular beach for fishing charters. There is no boat ramp, pier, or dock. A big diesel powered, modified, some type of old mining vehicle, (I’ll call “tractor”) connects to the boat trailer, launches and trailers the boats.

After a boat is launched, the tractor operator places a “number” on the trailer. When the boat returns, the Capt radios the tractor crew with the trailer number, and then the magic happens. It is like clock work. It was amazing to see how fast the boats had to approach the trailer on the beach due to the winds and tide. If only our old pontoon boat could maneuver like those boats!

After walking the beach looking for the ever elusive sea glass, we decided to get in the BFT and head south to another beach. After a few miles, we see a sign that says Whiskey Gulch with beach access. I turn right and we are greeted with another sign that says beware, steep dirt road made for 4×4 vehicles only. Okay, so I hesitated a bit, and then an old chevy 1500 4×4 went down the hill, so I said to my wife we better go get him, cause he will need to be towed!

Got to the beach, and yep it was a steep hill and I just “pushed” that chevy to the side” lol…..

We walked the beach, I was looking with amazement at the volcanos, while Ann Marie was walking with her head down, looking for “glass”. Kinda of reminded me of Denali, as she had seen “it” enough. So I think there might be some carry over there…….

Saw another boat launch vehicle, this one was red neck for sure. It barely pulled the boat and trailer up the beach, but it did it after may attempts.

We were joined on our walk by a local couple from Sterling. She had a bucket picking up stones to paint, and he had found a hammer.  She is native and  he came here from Minnesota in 1980 to work oil. He works the north slope in Prudoe Bay on one of the oil rigs.  We walked and chatted for about an hour.  He stated they don’t see many “tourists” on this beach because of where it is located. Once again, we don’t “feel” like tourists, we live here (for now).

We enjoyed our visit looking for glass, watching the boats,  and looking at the volcanoes.