We celebrated the summer solstice with our friends, Jerry and Steph who we had not seen for 20 years. We originally met them at Starisky Campground outside of Anchor Point in the summer of 1973. Both had been drug counselors in Chicago and were in the process of building a log house about 15 miles outside of Anchor Point. We walked the 4 miles through muskeg flats to see what they were doing and immediately fell in love with the place. It was then that Michael and I decided that this is where we wanted to be.

August 1976 at Starisky Campground.

Here we are today.

Once we moved here, Jerry and Steph became our closest and dearest friends. For the 2 1/2 years we lived in Anchor Point the 4 of us and David and Mark shared so many incredible experiences–the building of our homes, the moose hunt, the cabin fire, the rigors of living in Alaska, the crazy things we did. It’s impossible to explain how intertwined our lives were.

Our visit to their home on the bluff in Homer–15 miles outside the town near the head of Katchemak Bay was exhilarating. We shared memories, laughed at our exploits as we read through my old journals and my mother’s letters and kept saying–“We must have been crazy!” The house that they built over a period of the last 20 years is beautiful with a spectacular view of the glaciers and mountains across the bay. We watched a pair of eagles cavort near their nest and followed the clouds as they moved across the mountains. We were so tempted to move back. I even started to think  that I could put up with Homer if I had a view like this.We dined on Jerry’s smoked salmon and grilled salmon and just reminisced. What a great way to celebrate the solstice.

View from Jerry & Steph's house

Eagle seen from Jerry & Steph's house

On the way back to the campground we saw 5 moose. A mother and twin calves were just outside our site–so close to us we could almost touch them. We sat in the Tracker and just watched them.  The photo was taken at 11 pm without a flash. At 11:30 pm I stood on the hill overlooking the Cook Inlet and watched the sun not set. What a day!

Mama Moose & twin calves

Yesterday Lily & I walked down to the beach along the Inlet and watched the eagles and sea gulls fighting over halibut carcasses. I plan to go back there this afternoon. It was a photographer’s field day. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching eagles (or moose).

Eagle being chased by gull

Eagle & gull

Seagulls on Cook Inlet

Tomorrow Michael and I will be taking a float plane to Katmai to view the brown bears and whatever else is roaming around there. We will be there overnight. I am so excited. Lily will be kenneled for this trip. Until then….