The Homer spit and adventures at the Salty Dawg
When we get close to Homer, we get views of four volcanos – Augustine, Redoubt, Iliamna and Spurr.
The Homer Spit is a 4.5 mile sand and gravel finger that’s 19 feet above sea level, and juts SE midway across Kachemak Bay. It’s a jumping off point for fishing boats, water taxis, etc., gorgeous views, campgrounds, and lots of bars and restaurants.
We decide to camp at the Homer Spit Campground, which sits on the beach with sites looking directly across the water to magnificent snow-capped mountains. This campground is also an easy walk to the bars and restaurants on the spit. There are several campgrounds here, and all would be close enough for walking to establishments, but the spit can be windy so it’s nice to be close. Nearly every establishment comes with a great view, and some of the business titles are
hilarious.
hilarious.
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After settling in, we decide to check out the Salty Dawg Saloon, somewhat of an ‘institution’ on the Homer spit -- one of those spots that you just have to check out as a tourist since it’s listed in all the guidebooks. We discover that it is touristy, as expected, but funky with lots of local color.
The place is packed by the time we arrive, but we notice a picnic table in the bar where only one couple is sitting. Jhan immediately has them scoped out and says, “Let’s go sit with them. They look like interesting people.” The two + hours we spent together proved he’d made a good call. Ron & Julie were seasoned travelers from Great Britain who’d travelled from California by motorhome and were headed to Virginia. Their stories of working in the Middle East, of sailing the Mediterranean and the Caribbean and the motorhome adventures were fascinating. It was a wonderful night, and a grand way to begin our motorhome trip. Ron& Julie may come through Wisconsin on their way back to Virginia. Will they actually stop to see us? When we invite them, they say “You know, we ARE the type of people who’ll actually show up.” We hope they do. (And they did!)
This place reminds us of experiences in New Zealand where certain places attracted tourists from around the world, all looking to meet other travellers and all speaking English, allowing for in-depth conversation and world travel stories. It’s one of our favorite experiences in travel.
Homer, and particularly the spit, is GORGEOUS and is a perfect place to watch the sun go down at about 1 a.m. It didn’t seem so late when we left the bar, but that’s what happens when daylight doesn’t begin to wane til after midnight. I look forward to waking up to look out at these amazing mountains. This will be a wonderful place to spend a few days. Weather’s perfect. Just over 70 degrees, sunny, yet no bugs. We take a walk on the beach and enjoy the long shadows cast by the sun finally beginning to set.
This place reminds us of experiences in New Zealand where certain places attracted tourists from around the world, all looking to meet other travellers and all speaking English, allowing for in-depth conversation and world travel stories. It’s one of our favorite experiences in travel.
Homer, and particularly the spit, is GORGEOUS and is a perfect place to watch the sun go down at about 1 a.m. It didn’t seem so late when we left the bar, but that’s what happens when daylight doesn’t begin to wane til after midnight. I look forward to waking up to look out at these amazing mountains. This will be a wonderful place to spend a few days. Weather’s perfect. Just over 70 degrees, sunny, yet no bugs. We take a walk on the beach and enjoy the long shadows cast by the sun finally beginning to set.
Here’s the first thing I see when I roll over and look out the window this morning – our view from the bed in the motorhome:
