Yukon and Alaska Bound Part 33. Anchorage to Homer, Alaska

Next morning, July 26th we decided to cut our visit to Anchorage short and head south toward Homer, about 360 km away.

But first we visited Costco across the street from the RV park.  We replenished our supplies with all the big item foods and some wine.

Driving South from Anchorage to Homer, Alaska

Mid-morning it was time to get out of Anchorage. Our goal was to drive south , and explore the Kenai Peninsula.

This is a beautiful drive along the Turnagain Bay of Cooks Inlet: mountains, oceans, and rivers. Even the sun came out in between rain showers.

We stopped at Portage to talk to the information agent there. We were tossing the idea about to drive to Whittier first, but because of the unsettled weather we decided against it.

We continued inland through the Chugach National Forest and mountains. The weather became even more unpredictable. The scenery was beautiful.

River rafting on the Upper Kenai River

The stretch from Cooper Landing to Sterling is just one wonderful playground for fishing, river-rafting, camping, and holidaying. In Cooper Landing we stopped and watched a few rafts drifting down the Kenai River.

Here on the Kenai Peninsula many of the towns, villages and rivers carry Russian names. Old buildings and churches look very Russian. Especially on the stretch from Soltotna and Clam Guich over Ninilchick and Anchor Point to Homer.

On the Sterling Highway from Soldotna to Homer

Remember Alaska belonged to Russia until they sold it to the States in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars. Alaska became a territory only in 1912, and the 49th State of the U.S.A in 1959.

The population of Alaska is about 740,000, of which about 300,000 live in Anchorage. Alaska is the largest state in the U.S.  586,412 square miles ( 1,518,800 km2 ), over twice the size of Texas.

Close to Homer, overlooking Cook Inlet toward the Kenai Mountain

Once we reached Cook Inlet on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula on the way to Homer, the sun was shining and the vista was amazing. We stopped at several viewpoints to look across the inlet to the Chigmic Mountains and the Aleutian Range.

Homer in the Rain

Homer and Homer Spit welcomed us with a torrential downpour.

Homer Spit - Sunshine after a heavy rain

For more pictures of this part of the Yukon and Alaska Trip, check out our album.

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