Friday, June 15
We set off this morning, bound for Homer on the southern end
of the Kenai Peninsula. En route, we
stopped to enjoy the spectacular views across the blue waters of the Cook Inlet
to four distant snow-covered volcanoes, Mts. Iliamna, Redoubt, Spurr, and Augustine.
We stopped to explore the old Russian settlement of
Ninilchik, with its church and cemetery on a high bluff overlooking the old
town, its beach, and the Inlet. We also
detoured to Nikolaevsk, a settlement of Russian “Old Believers”, on an isolated
road. The Old Believers still speak
Russian, dress as they did a century ago, but do make use of the conveniences
of the 21st century. A young
man, bearded as is typical of the sect, approached us on an ATV as we stopped
to explore the Church. Though he was
friendly and willingly answered our questions, he advised that we would not be
able to enter the building. Our hopes of seeing a glimpse of this remote way of
life were not realized, as he was the only local we met, or even caught sight
of.
Then it was on to Homer, with its outstanding views of
Kachemak Bay, the volcanoes, and the Kenai Mountains. We drove and walked to the end of the 4.5
mile Homer Spit and were generally unimpressed with everything but its setting. After a picnic lunch with a view of the bay,
we enjoyed both the Islands and Ocean Visitors Center and the Pratt Museum.
After a drive back up the Peninsula, we spent some
less-than-thrilling time at the local Laundromat, enjoyed happy hour on the
porch, followed by salmon that Donna grilled in “our” front yard.
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