Homer

April 29 Homer, AK

It's been said that Homer is a "quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem." It's also said that "to live here you can't be all there." It's also known as a "cosmic hamlet by the sea." I agree with all the above. I bought a car and have been making a few trips into town. It's an older Saturn wagon, not a Subaru (which seems to be the car of choice around here) but with enough mud splashed on it I think hardly anyone will notice the difference. The folks here are quite... shall we say... eclectic, hippie-ish even. Like the gentleman who sat down beside me at a local watering hole Wednesday evening, where I went to watch an open mic night, and promptly asked me if I new about the New World Order, or the HAARP conspiracy, and started to list the reasons why we should impeach the president - my kinda people! He was wearing a tie-dyed poncho and a felt hat that resembled something worn by Buck and Roy on Hee-Haw, or maybe the Beverly Hillbillies. He was smoking a pipe and drinking a glass of wine... which seemed oddly out of place, and later got up with his guitar and did a mean version of Bongo Band. Or the gal I danced with at a contra dance last weekend - with her spiked hair, knee-length skirt over tights, and a tattoo of Joan of Arc in flames on her arm. With my untrimmed beard, sock cap, and flannel shirt I feel I am fitting in rather well. If only I had a pair of corduroy pants and a wool pullover sweater, like the kind you find at a thrift store, I would be accepted without question. Hey, I already eat organic food and make my own tea from tree fungus.

The snowshoe hares are starting to turn brown, could that be a sign that spring is on the way?

I also came across this wolf, who graciously stopped and posed for me on my walk in to the cabin today. Perhaps he was looking for a snowshoe hare too.

Beach Time

April 15

Homer, AK

Not too much going on here, just tending to the daily chores at the homestead. I have been exploring a couple of employment opportunities though. I've also been searching for a car. I could have driven up but the 4200 mile trip might have been a bit much. I've caught a ride to town a few times with Patrick, and I have the farm Suburban available when not in use, but with gas prices at $4.34 a gallon here I need something more economical. I did go to the beach on Sunday. It wasn't quite the same as the sunny FL beaches I remember. I was hoping to check out the latest swimwear fashions for the summer but I didn't see any, that is unless you count the newest in The North Face fleece jackets, or Carhart knit caps. I did have the beach pretty much to myself, except for a few folks walking their dogs. I also stopped at another beach while I was in town on Wednesday, hence the sunny picture.

North To Alaska

April 3

Homer. AK

Arrived in Alaska at 1:15 local time on Thursday. I must admit I got some satisfaction flying across Canadian airspace. My wwoof host Paula picked me up at the Anchorage airport and we began the scenic 3 or 4 hour drive down the Sterling Highway to Homer. We spotted several moose and bald eagles along the way. Getting to the homestead at this time of year proves to be much of a challenge. A paved road winds it's way uphill out of Homer about 10 miles before turning to gravel. A little ways and the gravel turns to a dirt road, or should I say snow road. At this point the pick-up truck is parked at a neighbors house and the final mile is driven in on a snow machine (or as they're known in other parts of the country a snowmobile.) This will last until the snow melts, which will probably be within a few weeks, and then the snow road will turn to a mud road and the only means of transport will be foot power. I share a small cabin with fellow wwoofer Patrick, a MN native. Paula and Jon and their two children live in the main house which is off the grid, using solar and wind power and back-up generator for electricity. Our cabin has no such amenities, but quite a view. On the farm there are 3 milk goats, 2 horses, some chickens, and a pair of geese. Our first major task will be to bear-proof the fences. Hibernation is coming to an end and the bruins are sure to be hungry.