From Homer to Anchorage - with bear, red salmon, and a moose

02.09.2014 Homer-Skylak Lake-Anchorage-Wasilla

The hairdryer is broken and it's freezing cold outside at 12 degrees with a stiff breeze blowing in from the snow-covered peaks to Homer. It's autumn weather. White-headed eagles are soaring past the balcony again. Nevertheless, we pack our things, it's still early, and jet lag helps with getting up early. By half past eight, we're already sitting in the Duncan House, a quaint restaurant with acceptable breakfast and coffee.

Duncan House / Homer

A short detour to the historic district of Homer and then we take a loop through the so-called Skyline Drive, a road located on a hill above Homer with quite nice houses and often beautiful views of the mountains and the Homer Spit.

View from the Skyline Drive in Homer

But then it's time for the long drive back towards Anchorage. We pass Soldotna again and then follow the highway eastward. A gravel road to Skylak Lake provides a short diversion.

Photos are only possible on pothole-free sections... :-)

The road is mostly full of potholes and driving is difficult because sometimes you can't avoid the holes or you have to drive in a zigzag pattern to avoid them in time. We are compensated by several beautiful lakes and a young black bear that unexpectedly crosses our path. There are some dead red salmon lying on the shores of the lakes, which is not unusual as it is nearing the end of their lives. However, a few fishermen can still be seen in and on the lakes.

Our picnic lunch takes place at a lake. The sun is shining, but there is a strong wind blowing. Beautiful giant mushrooms are standing on the side of the road as if painted.

Before the end of Alaska State Highways 1, before heading north on the Seward Highway, there is a huge lake in yet another breathtaking setting.

We see a few loons (divers), but unfortunately no bears or anything like that. We continue heading north. We pass along the steep coast that runs south of Anchorage along the road, and we search intensively for mountain goats - without success. The search for an outlet, for which there was still information online, is in vain as it has been closed since 2011 and there are only regular supermarkets here. It's slowly getting dark as we drive the last 50 miles out of Anchorage towards Wasilla. It's drizzling now, and shortly before reaching the secluded Select Inn of Wasilla, there is a moose cow not far from the road in a pool, feeding.

So we jump out of the car and arm ourselves with cameras and rain jackets. Soon our fingers are freezing and the light is quickly not sufficient anymore, and drops on the lens don't help either.

The day's yield is a bear and a moose, which is already pretty awesome.

The hotel is strange. At best, it has 10 rooms, located completely off the beaten path, rather in a residential area. The room with great beds has a fully equipped kitchenette, but no table or chairs. So anyone who wants to stay here longer and use the kitchenette will always have to sit on the bed to eat. Since we don't want to do that anyway, we drive to a Brewhouse, which we can't find at first. Seriously, when we order a beer, they ask for our IDs. It's the law, and everything is filmed here, so they have to card everyone. Well then. We only arrived here at 8:30 PM, and they close at 9:00 PM. But you can still eat in peace, and at 9:15 PM we're not the last guests either. After dinner, we briefly go to Fred Meyer, where I find a great Columbia down jacket for only $87.

Daily distance: 265 miles/427 km