July 15th
Writing while Vicky gets her solo time with Amelia, this morning, to keep the balance between
the grand-girls. Lyra, Greta and Amelia leave for Anchorage this morning, (Rob flew out
Monday night) and I'll leave tomorrow. Mark sounded as though he was enjoying his time at
Deep Creek Beach, joining up with three gals he has been in email-RV clubbing contact with,
but never met until yesterday. They were close by, and surprised him with a visit and they all
happy houred together with potluck snacks. On speaker phone last night, he asked if I was
jealous, and I reassured I was not, as long as he was having "healthy fun." The women liked
that, I could hear their chuckling. He's been doing "M" and trailer light projects, scored with
eagles and portraits of them, as well.
the grand-girls. Lyra, Greta and Amelia leave for Anchorage this morning, (Rob flew out
Monday night) and I'll leave tomorrow. Mark sounded as though he was enjoying his time at
Deep Creek Beach, joining up with three gals he has been in email-RV clubbing contact with,
but never met until yesterday. They were close by, and surprised him with a visit and they all
happy houred together with potluck snacks. On speaker phone last night, he asked if I was
jealous, and I reassured I was not, as long as he was having "healthy fun." The women liked
that, I could hear their chuckling. He's been doing "M" and trailer light projects, scored with
eagles and portraits of them, as well.
Monday was my b'day gift from the Bocheneks', Lael and Vick (Mark also left that day to give
me and Vicky time) for a kayak tour at Yukon Island. It was a drizzly, then rainy day for the last
leg of our paddle, which felt wonderful on my face, then drying up, in time for our hot cocoa
served by our guide Aidan, on the stony, black sanded beach. Aidan will be a junior at Boden
(?) College in Maine, majoring in marine biology, and what an articulate, engaging and
wonderful teacher he was to Greta, who tandemed with him. He is a local Homer boy, and
Vicky knew of his family, his father being an author about the sport arena, and Aidan is the
oldest with three sisters.
me and Vicky time) for a kayak tour at Yukon Island. It was a drizzly, then rainy day for the last
leg of our paddle, which felt wonderful on my face, then drying up, in time for our hot cocoa
served by our guide Aidan, on the stony, black sanded beach. Aidan will be a junior at Boden
(?) College in Maine, majoring in marine biology, and what an articulate, engaging and
wonderful teacher he was to Greta, who tandemed with him. He is a local Homer boy, and
Vicky knew of his family, his father being an author about the sport arena, and Aidan is the
oldest with three sisters.
He was very interested in Rob and Lyra's company, Axiom, after I asked Rob to describe it,
knowing them both being scientists would spark the young man's curiosity. Axiom takes
research results by the federal government, much concerning the environment, and different
companies contract with them to siphon and package all of the much unused information into a
coherent, readable product. Evidently, they are doing very well, with seventeen employees now.
Lyra is the operations manager, and Rob the founder, an aerospace engineer. Lyra is a talented
artist, photographer, graphics artist, and created their lyrical logo, a nautilus, website and other
graphic needs.
knowing them both being scientists would spark the young man's curiosity. Axiom takes
research results by the federal government, much concerning the environment, and different
companies contract with them to siphon and package all of the much unused information into a
coherent, readable product. Evidently, they are doing very well, with seventeen employees now.
Lyra is the operations manager, and Rob the founder, an aerospace engineer. Lyra is a talented
artist, photographer, graphics artist, and created their lyrical logo, a nautilus, website and other
graphic needs.
Rounding Yukon Island, which was a 25 minute boat ride from the spit harbor, saw us paddling
until 5. Lyra, Rob and Amelia tandemed, and Vick and I did, too. We saw a nearby school of
small, compact porpoises arching and dipping, several adorable back-floating otters, and distant
seals or sea lions. Lots of cormorants and a couple bald eagles past Elephant Rock, which
looked undeniably so, and Greta informed us it used to be a ceremonial place for natives, that
they had to defend from other tribes. By a bay of caves, we rafted the three boats, to get
snacks of smoked salmon, trail bars and dried fruit to appease our bellies before heading back
to the pick-up spot.
until 5. Lyra, Rob and Amelia tandemed, and Vick and I did, too. We saw a nearby school of
small, compact porpoises arching and dipping, several adorable back-floating otters, and distant
seals or sea lions. Lots of cormorants and a couple bald eagles past Elephant Rock, which
looked undeniably so, and Greta informed us it used to be a ceremonial place for natives, that
they had to defend from other tribes. By a bay of caves, we rafted the three boats, to get
snacks of smoked salmon, trail bars and dried fruit to appease our bellies before heading back
to the pick-up spot.
The female owner, Elissa (?), someone Vick has known from the community for years, and the
owner of this North Kayak Tours, captained the boat this time (her partner brought us over), with
another one of their cute mixed terrier dogs the girls fawned over. Aidan was tipped generously
and appreciatively for doting on and doing an excellent lesson with Greta, and being a gracious
host to us all. Vicky and I talked about how hopeful we felt knowing there are such quality
young adults as him in this world.
owner of this North Kayak Tours, captained the boat this time (her partner brought us over), with
another one of their cute mixed terrier dogs the girls fawned over. Aidan was tipped generously
and appreciatively for doting on and doing an excellent lesson with Greta, and being a gracious
host to us all. Vicky and I talked about how hopeful we felt knowing there are such quality
young adults as him in this world.
Tuesday was spent with all the girls over to Vick's, who have transferred around the corner to
Pod 3, Vicky's ex-partner, Michael's two-story building that had housed Lyra and Lael's school
many years ago. Bill, the owner of the wonderful Gjorsund Road property we were all staying
at, came home Monday, from fishing, so we all shifted: me to Vick's, Mark away, and the
Bocheneks to Pod 3, where they can conveniently have their nearby space, and walk around
the block to Vicky's. We breakfasted, chatted, and Lyra wanted to take the girls to their second
"dock tour" at the Homer Spit, and I went along. Vick was too tired, and opted to rest and read.
many years ago. Bill, the owner of the wonderful Gjorsund Road property we were all staying
at, came home Monday, from fishing, so we all shifted: me to Vick's, Mark away, and the
Bocheneks to Pod 3, where they can conveniently have their nearby space, and walk around
the block to Vicky's. We breakfasted, chatted, and Lyra wanted to take the girls to their second
"dock tour" at the Homer Spit, and I went along. Vick was too tired, and opted to rest and read.
The yurt office next door to our kayak tour company, was on the harbor docks, and led by a
young woman, who distributed marine life cards on string necklaces, and foam pads for laying
on. There were we four, and a fun family of three generations, with two school-aged boy and
girl, and one somewhat bored teen girl. Our guide was very informative, and determined to find
us a starfish to examine. We would get on our bellies to peer over the dock edges, where
dense communities of tide-pool life resided. It was cool. Anemones were gently touched,
squeezing our fingers gently, and other larger, white cauliflowered ones were hanging upside
down. The father of the other family, was super and determined to pull up the giant true starfish
sited by the guide, Greta and Amelia. His wife and I held onto his ankles while he leaned way
over the dock to retrieve the largest true starfish the guide had ever seen: at least two feet
wide. She showed and educated us how it would suck up our skin and hair on our arms, and
how it contained no blood, only water, so was not a preferred food source for most fish, but were
dined upon by other true starfish, interestingly. It ended up being a grand, fun tour for both
adults and kiddos.
young woman, who distributed marine life cards on string necklaces, and foam pads for laying
on. There were we four, and a fun family of three generations, with two school-aged boy and
girl, and one somewhat bored teen girl. Our guide was very informative, and determined to find
us a starfish to examine. We would get on our bellies to peer over the dock edges, where
dense communities of tide-pool life resided. It was cool. Anemones were gently touched,
squeezing our fingers gently, and other larger, white cauliflowered ones were hanging upside
down. The father of the other family, was super and determined to pull up the giant true starfish
sited by the guide, Greta and Amelia. His wife and I held onto his ankles while he leaned way
over the dock to retrieve the largest true starfish the guide had ever seen: at least two feet
wide. She showed and educated us how it would suck up our skin and hair on our arms, and
how it contained no blood, only water, so was not a preferred food source for most fish, but were
dined upon by other true starfish, interestingly. It ended up being a grand, fun tour for both
adults and kiddos.
The four of us then treated ourselves to ice cream, sitting outside at a table top with a checker
board square painted, and a cloth bag filled with rounded stones-checkers, painted with either
crabs or a seascape. Lyra and Gret played a game, which was pretty fun to watch and all were
light and cheerful. We then strolled through some of the spit shops, which Lyra had not done for
years. The girls were great, well-behaved, and enjoyed looking for their own treats to purchase:
Greta loving her two tiny stuffed bears, dubbed Ezzy and Rye. Amelia handled the lack of time
to find hers, fairly well, I thought and appreciated. For Lyra's social coordinating of us all week, I
treated her to a salmon filleting poster she wanted and deserved. The spit fun concluded with
listening to an older, dressed up street musician with his guitar, who mimicked Willie Nelson,
with a clothes pin on his nose, for that nasal drone. Amelia was given some moola from both
Lyra and me, to place in his hat.
board square painted, and a cloth bag filled with rounded stones-checkers, painted with either
crabs or a seascape. Lyra and Gret played a game, which was pretty fun to watch and all were
light and cheerful. We then strolled through some of the spit shops, which Lyra had not done for
years. The girls were great, well-behaved, and enjoyed looking for their own treats to purchase:
Greta loving her two tiny stuffed bears, dubbed Ezzy and Rye. Amelia handled the lack of time
to find hers, fairly well, I thought and appreciated. For Lyra's social coordinating of us all week, I
treated her to a salmon filleting poster she wanted and deserved. The spit fun concluded with
listening to an older, dressed up street musician with his guitar, who mimicked Willie Nelson,
with a clothes pin on his nose, for that nasal drone. Amelia was given some moola from both
Lyra and me, to place in his hat.
Me, the package, was dropped off at Vick's, where I dropped into a nap, and the girls returned
later for a simple yet delicious smorgasbord dinner of fresh salad greens, tomatoes, pumpkin
seeds, avocado, Vick's sauerkraut, Lyra's veggie soup, cheesy grilled salmon open-faced
sandwiches, pasta with sausage. I've missed a variety of fresh veggies, since the motorhome
can house few of them for a long time, so spinach, broccoli and canned or frozen suffice. So,
having Vicky's and Lyra's garden cornucopia has been heaven!
later for a simple yet delicious smorgasbord dinner of fresh salad greens, tomatoes, pumpkin
seeds, avocado, Vick's sauerkraut, Lyra's veggie soup, cheesy grilled salmon open-faced
sandwiches, pasta with sausage. I've missed a variety of fresh veggies, since the motorhome
can house few of them for a long time, so spinach, broccoli and canned or frozen suffice. So,
having Vicky's and Lyra's garden cornucopia has been heaven!
Gret asked me to play a cooperative game with her, that Granny Vick has, evolving around
herbs and helping eachother heal ailments, like nosebleeds, bumps and bruises, hunger,
stomach aches. It was fun, and we were all enjoying the calm and good cheer this evening
presented. Early to bed for Vicky, so Lyra and the girls went back to Pod 3, Vick and I visited for
a bit, and I read on the sofa and appreciating the view from it of Kachemak Bay and the
mountain beyond.
herbs and helping eachother heal ailments, like nosebleeds, bumps and bruises, hunger,
stomach aches. It was fun, and we were all enjoying the calm and good cheer this evening
presented. Early to bed for Vicky, so Lyra and the girls went back to Pod 3, Vick and I visited for
a bit, and I read on the sofa and appreciating the view from it of Kachemak Bay and the
mountain beyond.
Today, Wednesday, after Lyra and gals took off for home, Vicky and I settled in for talk, and then
lunched at the spit at Bailene's, a place Lyra recommended, watering our mouts with a salmon
bowl with rice and roasted root vegetables. Homer does have some super restaurants, and the
Bocheneks think there are more good ones here than in Anchorage. So, third day in a row to
the spit, and a terrific shared meal of a crab cake sandwich with melted cheddar on top of a soft
roll stuffed with real crab meat, with the seafood chowder made with smoked salmon, and the
salmon bowl, which did live-up to LJ's (Lyra Joy) praise. Boy, I sure did want the entire dining
experience today, and we did the bread pudding for dessert, made with zucchini bread, dried
cherries and macadamia nuts, with whipped cream blessing the top!
lunched at the spit at Bailene's, a place Lyra recommended, watering our mouts with a salmon
bowl with rice and roasted root vegetables. Homer does have some super restaurants, and the
Bocheneks think there are more good ones here than in Anchorage. So, third day in a row to
the spit, and a terrific shared meal of a crab cake sandwich with melted cheddar on top of a soft
roll stuffed with real crab meat, with the seafood chowder made with smoked salmon, and the
salmon bowl, which did live-up to LJ's (Lyra Joy) praise. Boy, I sure did want the entire dining
experience today, and we did the bread pudding for dessert, made with zucchini bread, dried
cherries and macadamia nuts, with whipped cream blessing the top!
It was get through Vick's door and straight for a 4 p.m. nap for an hour. Love this
retirement...We then took another hour walk through the forest trail I remembered doing last trip,
four years ago, with her, Greta and Lucy. This was preceded by Vicky's home garden tour,
sitting a spell in her smaller garden honored for her deceased father, Bob Palmer, whom I had
the pleasure of knowing and appreciating in our younger years. He was a pediatrician in San
Mateo, CA, and a gentle soul of a man. Vick's office is housed in Pod 2, on her double lot,
where she does bodywork and counseling. I forgot the light, airiness and tranquility the space
holds, and it's secure and healing ambiance she has created for her clients and herself---I am
proud of her.
retirement...We then took another hour walk through the forest trail I remembered doing last trip,
four years ago, with her, Greta and Lucy. This was preceded by Vicky's home garden tour,
sitting a spell in her smaller garden honored for her deceased father, Bob Palmer, whom I had
the pleasure of knowing and appreciating in our younger years. He was a pediatrician in San
Mateo, CA, and a gentle soul of a man. Vick's office is housed in Pod 2, on her double lot,
where she does bodywork and counseling. I forgot the light, airiness and tranquility the space
holds, and it's secure and healing ambiance she has created for her clients and herself---I am
proud of her.
Mark shifted to a campsite on the spit today, and got to ride his road bike back and forth, twice,
on the trail there, about 20 miles total. He found where the three gals from Des Moines, Iowa,
Wanda, Brenda and Mary landed, further down the spit, and rode over to photograph them for
the blog, I assume. They have been traveling in separate RVs about the same time we have.
The boy dined at one of the fish and chips restaurants on the spit, and said the cod was the
largest piece ever, about half the size of the Hillary Clinton hard-cover book I have, so he
couldn't finish it. Hopefully, Vicky will feel well enough to have breakfast with us tomorrow,
before we head for Seward.
on the trail there, about 20 miles total. He found where the three gals from Des Moines, Iowa,
Wanda, Brenda and Mary landed, further down the spit, and rode over to photograph them for
the blog, I assume. They have been traveling in separate RVs about the same time we have.
The boy dined at one of the fish and chips restaurants on the spit, and said the cod was the
largest piece ever, about half the size of the Hillary Clinton hard-cover book I have, so he
couldn't finish it. Hopefully, Vicky will feel well enough to have breakfast with us tomorrow,
before we head for Seward.
It is another early to bed for her, with her nightly regimen of stretches and meditation, and I
luxuriate in writing and reading I am Malala, on her sofa with her view and the nine o'clock
muted sunlight, with the blanket of light grey clouds that are now presenting a veil over the
mountain.
luxuriate in writing and reading I am Malala, on her sofa with her view and the nine o'clock
muted sunlight, with the blanket of light grey clouds that are now presenting a veil over the
mountain.
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