Homer & Seldovia, Alaska

This is the second new Alaskan port-of-call for us on this trip.  Homer has been long known as the "Halibut  Fishing Capital of the World".  Our ship is docked at the end of the Homer Spit (a narrow 4.5 mile long gravel bar that extends into the bay where Homer Harbor is located). 

Homer Spit

 

We disembark the ship and walk down a long pier to the shore.  We continue walking to another gangway and a second pier where our boat - the Discovery (operated by Alaska Coastal Marine) is waiting for us.  

 

The Discovery cruises across Kachemak Bay to Gull Island – home to 8 different bird species. 

 

 

Gull Island             

After we leave Gull Island, the Discovery sails to the remote coastal village of Seldovia.  Along the way, we spot numerous sea otters floating in the water and an interesting rock formation that resembles an elephant.  At one point, it looks like its trunk is in the water and a few minutes later; it looks like its trunk is up in the air. 

         

            Sea Otters

      

  Elephant Rock Formation – Trunk Down & Trunk Up

 

It takes us 2.5 hours of scenic cruising to reach Seldovia.  This tiny town is steeped in Russian-American history and was one of the earliest settlements in the Cook Inlet region. 

 

           

                              Russian Orthodox Church                       

          

   Historic Boardwalk                        Stilted Buildings

 

We have two hours to explore the town.  We walk the historic boardwalk, photograph the stilted buildings along the river, and visit the Russian Orthodox Church.  By 3:15pm, we board the Discovery for our 1.25 hour return trip (about 13-14 miles) across Kachemak Bay to Homer where our ship is waiting for us.


For more information about Seldovia, please visit the following website:
Seldovia Alaska