Showing off Alaska

My parents came to visit the past week and we had a great time! Sadly, the weather wasn't quite as great as when Andy's family came up, but it wasn't all that bad (and pretty typical for Alaska in July).  They spent the week before our visit with my aunt and uncle in Fairbanks where it was in the 90s, so I think the weather was a little bit of a relief for them (dad anyway!).  

We barely let them settle in - the morning after mom and dad arrived, we headed down to Homer right away to go halibut fishing!  On the way down we stopped in Cooper Landing.  Sadly, Andy's color commentary was no match for his mom's.  

The beautiful Kenai River:

Me with mom and dad (and the fishermen in the background!)

A friendly moose even greeted them alongside the road.  How nice!

As we got closer to Homer, we had to make a special stop to take a picture JUST for Peter.  I think the biggest disappointment of his trip up here (aside from the fact that he had to ride in the back of the Subaru with me all the way to Homer) was that we didn't stop to take a picture in the giant chair along the highway.  Here you go, Peter!

As we got to the viewpoint, we saw that the old fog was back in Homer.  I'm beginning to think I'll never see the whole spit from the viewing point.

The view was still pretty awesome, though.

Dad's NRA shirt makes him look like a local. 

 We had to take pictures by the sign.  Andy and I went with a dramatic flair:

Mom and Dad posed like grownups.

By the time we got out to the spit, it was windy and foggy.  I was worried mom and dad wouldn't get to see the view!

One thing we did find was a sweet wood paneled winnebago.  I wonder if we can reserve this place for our next visit?

We also hit up the Salty Dawg and met three very interesting (and very very drunk) gentlemen, one from Alaska and two from Wisconsin.  One of them had some pretty bad jokes that I think he stole from a late night cruise ship comedian, but mom and I thought he was pretty entertaining.

By the time we checked into our hotel room (literally the EXACT SAME room we stayed in with Andy's family), the fog was beginning to clear!

By the time we got out to the deck by the bar, the most beautiful view in Alaska (that I've seen so far anyway) was out in full force.  I will never get tired of this view.

We ordered drinks at the bar.  Andy, secure with his masculinity, ordered a "Kachemak Koolaid."  We made fun of him, but then mom and I ordered one, too, because it was delicious.  I think they gave Andy a tiny sword to make him feel better about his drink order.

This one eagle kept buzzing the beach.  This is my favorite series of pictures (note the photographer):

Sadly the eagle did not actually attack her.

Enjoying the view!

The last time we went to Homer I forgot to post about the otters.  They are EVERYWHERE along the beach.  Some of them swim right up to the shore, just like this one:

CUTE!

After dinner we hit the sack to prepare for our 4:30 a.m. wakeup call to head down to the halibut charter!  More on that tomorrow!