we had the great days in Homer.  fog rolled in the last day.  drives were easy both ways.  a few moose sightings, no bears.  no bears out at yurt either though we did hear of one up the trail a bit. we all got a wee bit of sun.

 when i returned Tusker made the leap into the new papason and i think he liked it. 

 today, we headed out to Hatchers Pass and did part of Gold Mint Trail.  i was planning on going out to mile 3 i think for a total of 6 miles, but there is still a big snow field just a bit after the 2 mile in mark.  looks like people are getting over it, but it seemed like a good time to turn around.  the sun was out but there were some dark clouds coming in the other way. 

 these are beaver ponds.  Arch Angel Road still blocked off, though folks were walking out.  the road past the Hatchers Pass Lodge is also blocked still.  Independence Mine is still coated in deep snow and the road higher up is shut as well.  still lots of green popping through at Gold Mint Trail

 one flower from my pots on the deck.

 the trail today was more like a stream at times.  the dogs loved it and i wore my xtra tuffs so i was fine as well.  there were a zillion kids at the trailhead when i returned so i left at the right time.  kids are getting carted all over for camps and stuff i think. there were several at this beaver pond location on the way in.  when i returned they were gone but there was scraps of food all over and there had been a dog and they had apparently opted to feed the dog there and so they had dumped food on the ground...a cup or more was still scattered all over...not too bright considering this is all  bear country.

 there are a few big patches of dandelions.  really our first flower so when they first crop up i think I'm  just happy to see flowers.  they are pretty cool really though.  SH now knows that dandelions close up at nights...or as i say, they go to bed.  I'm still searching for mama's and baby moose to photograph....no luck. i cruised a ways up Arctic Valley which is where these rocks were and then later i did a little loop in Baxter Bog...sans dogs. nada.  even the geese and ducks were turned in for the night.

 yesterday i met with a friend at we did a big loop in Kincaid from the Jodphur Trailhead.  the pups had been nuts to see me so i figured a nice long walk with lots of hills was in order.

 the guy was here working on my fence so it's all done. yippee! bought more paint for the shed as well.  tried to unload all the old paint cans but the recycling place said that if they are empty they don't really take them...i don't know.  anyway.

 haven't gotten much really accomplished this week i think.  guess it always feels like that.  was looking at hoods as i may go that way in the kitchen.  see what is available, what would look good. 

 these are of us pulling out of the harbor on our water taxi.  same guy picked us up and dropped us off, he was really great.  he tossed nearly all our gear on a rolling thingee and hauled it all up the steep ramp from the docks as it was low tide. WOW...going above and beyond for sure!

 i had rented my kayak from Maco's.  that water taxi place has been around for years.  some of their gear has as well.  the lady was busy talking on her phone and just pointed us towards the rack of boats. then she started to just walk away, i called over, "just take any of them?"...she nodded yes. 

 mine was the red one.  i decided we were patriotic paddlers, red, white and blue.

 the second day we did an all day paddle.  i actually opted to just return to the beach as the rest of them explored a few more islands. it was a pretty day and my pleuritic pain has still been there. didn't really want to push it and then have to work through big waves or something.  the paddling had been amazing all day so figured I'd enjoy beach time and not strain myself.  the wind did start to pick up after a bit so it was probably good.

 unloading kayaks and gear, then we haul it over the rocks over to the yurt.

 when i arrived at the beach it turns out there were some co-workers that i knew from the ER at Prov.  Alaska is like one humongous small town some days.  they helped me haul up my kayak...thanks! we sat talking and enjoying the day.  soon a couple comes off the trail behind us.  the woman starts walking right over to me, clearly i know her...where from?  then i dawns on me.  she was the one who had been on the phone and waved us off when i asked about the kayaks. 

 turns out the one I'd taken had a flag on it for repairs on the rudder.  i was done for the day and we were gonna get picked up the next day.  mostly the rudder was a bit sticky and i couldn't get it to come up for landings.  as long as the boat wasn't taking on water i was okay really.  a discount or refund would not have been too hard to accept though, but none was offered.

 our water taxi out wasn't until 4 pm...we actually planned our arrival just perfect  checked in, paid and off we went.  i ran over to get the kayak and we were gone.  we did do a short evening paddle..the water was pretty sweet so we headed just a bit into Tutka Bay. these are from that paddle

 always just relaxing being out on the water, off the grid. 

 bald eagles all over.  we saw load driving back. 

 the iitoo and his band of swamp dwellers have continued on with the destruction of our nations ideals and common sense.  Devos was creating some sort of committee to discuss school safely yet somehow there was to be no discussion about guns in the committee.  that woman just sounds like she's from another planet.  why she is in charge of anything education related is a continued mystery.

 Manaford may have to wait in jail as he apparently is now accused of meddling with witnesses. 

 Pruitt, an ethical nightmare, has apparently been using his office and staff to try to get a his wife a chick a filet job or franchaise?  he also was trying to get an aide to purchase an old mattress from a trump hotel?  why? what? 

 the UN has come down on the US for this new cruel and crazy policy of deterring people from crossing into the US from Mexico or seeking asylum by separating them from their children.  now they have more children than they know what to do with and they just keep taking them.  pictures of children in cages...that's great PR.  well done. the UN is calling it a human rights violation. 

 meanwhile the iitoo has disinvited the winner of the super bowl team over the anthem protest of kneeling.  he's suddenly a fan of Rosie though.  the most ridiculous part of that is that he doesn't even know the words to our anthem and my guess is if he ever went to a football game he was in the booths for the rich and it's doubtful they interrupt their pre-game festivities long enough to even notice the anthem is playing.  lets not even go with he's tearing down our justice department and the FBI and our war hero's and gold star families...patriotism for some is only about symbolism while for others it's actual sacrifice. that seems to have been forgotten.

 here i am, happy in the sunshine.

 the volcano in Hawaii is still erupting the volcano in Guatemala had a second big eruption.  lives are being lost in Guatemala.

 some guy led our police on a chase and ultimately he strangled and hung a dog on a fence.  the dog was rescued and the man is in custody.  these people do not get enough time for cruelty cases.  this administration has also made it more difficult to track cases of cruelty.  thank you again.

 rock hanging in a hole. 

 there were even some flowers out down there in the Homer area.  the flowers will start going nuts all over soon. 

 a humpback whale was found on a beach in Southeast AK.  a necropsy was done and it appears it was the hit by a cruise ship or other large vessel.  fractures skull, under 5 years.

 50 years ago today was Bobby Kennedy was shot.  things have been bad in the past and they are bad now, but hopefully, we will be able to rise again.  common sense and kindness will hopefully bubble up from  where it is hiding currently. 

 the iitoo claims he has total power to pardon himself. the GOP remains mostly silent. still chasing conspiracy theories, still trying to lock up the Clintons.  20 years of trying without success. it's time to stop chasing fireflies and turn around and face the dragon that is the current swamp holder.  conspiracy theories are fun to float around, but eventually you need facts and proof to make the leap from theory to conviction. 

 marijuana taxes over 1 million/month the last 2 months.  figure we may as well make money on this to help our state run.

 love watching the reflections dancing on the water.

 we were all enjoying the sunshine.  soak it in. our days are super long .

 solstice is looming in a few weeks though.  so sad. we all do what we can to enjoy the longer days as long as they last though.  nothing stays the same here.

 changes happen rapidly...especially this time of year.  place greens up, flowers pop out all over, then the mushrooms, then the trees start to turn for fall and then...boom it's winter again.

 we returned to the beach and made a little campfire and just enjoyed the views until the sun had set well after 11 pm.  below one of the state ferries passes by

 no whale sightings but otters were spotted for sure.

 it was beautiful of course.  i think Kayak beach yurt is all of our favorites. 

 below in the distance you can see some Fata Morgana, an optical illusion that makes the mountains appear boxy

 to the left below is Mount Augustine.  there are 3 active volcano's in view from here.  Augustine, Iliamna and Redoubt.

 on day two we would paddle around those little islands out there.

 only one tent camper the first night. the second night there were my friends from ER and looks like a few more kayakers down the beach even further.

 our yurt is off the beach over the rocks. there is another yurt on the other side of us, more in the other bay. well, i should head off to bed.  not sure what the weather is doing tomorrow.  one more day then i head back to work. 

grateful for A.  sunsets B. going off the grid for a weekend, always good for us all i think C.  great walks, great paddles