heroes become devils and devils are heroes....

 i just returned from a fun few days to Homer.  i should say funnish...there was some drama involved.  above is from today. it was raining in Seward, i returned to pick up the element.  the element opted to holiday in Seward.  i must give credit to the crew at No Swett auto shop.  they took care of me and my element.  thanks guys...totally chill and the car is fixed. 

 the little check engine light was on despite having had the oil topped off and tire pressure checked pre drive.  i figured it must just be because i would be due for a full oil change soon.  above is a a stop at the conservation center. 

 as i got closer to the cut off to Seward, i noticed the battery light came on.  i unplugged and turned off stuff.  a bit later the anti lock braking light came on.  i got the book out and checked it out.  i got the impression i better get somewhere before i turned off the engine as it appeared it would not be starting up again. 

 i attempted google for directions to an auto place in Seward as it was the closest option.  google was less than helpful and i drove around Seward a bit before finally using my brain and calling the third place on the list.  No Swett was open and would help me.  turned out it was the alternator.  as i was driving I'd lost the ability to check my speed and the panel went dark.  i did figure i better turn off my head lights despite the old rule of driving on highways with them on....this did bring back the ability to check the speed. 

 thankfully, i got to Seward before the shop closed and they ordered the parts from Anchorage. they would repair the car the next day.  i had my hotel reservations in Homer and it was too late to cancel without having to pay. so i could either pay for two hotel rooms and stay in Seward or i could try to rent a car and head to Homer as planned. the kind folks at No Swett called the car rental and soon was picked up.  i returned to the shop to move my crap and my dogs to the rental car.  they generally aren't keen on dogs in the car...i tried to keep the car as clean as i could with two big dogs at the beach in the rain at times...

 this was them happy in the car before the car went broke. after i loaded them up i headed to one of the beach access points on the other side of the town to let them run before heading to Homer.

 i stopped in Soldotna to purchase big fluffy blankets to put on the seats in the rental and towels to clean up dogs before putting them in the car. of course, the towels i got were on sale and white.  the first morning at the hotel as they cleaned my room they took all the towels. 

 yesterday was sunny and windy. i think a lot of tours got cancelled.  the dogs didn't care, we were on the beach all day. i did over 8 miles by my fit bit so the dogs ran and swam much more than that. the tides were actually pretty nicely timed and super low yesterday morning. 

 we stopped at Ninilchik before getting to Homer the night before, which i was happy we did. by the time we got to homer it was getting late and the rain had started i think. 

 i got up pretty early both mornings and hit the beach before i ate.  yesterday we were on the beach by 9 am and the tide just kept going out so we walked quite far.  it was totally relaxing.  i later hit the spit, ate, shopped and then back on the beach for the last of the low tide.  i followed this with more shopping(window shopping as my play money just went to car repairs).

 after a short nap attempt i figured it was so pretty out I'd sit on the beach and read.  I've never really been able to accomplish this as the dogs I've always had have continuously dropped sticks or tennis balls at me and then started whining or pawing at me to toss the toy...beach reading and labs are not compatible.

 met up with a friend for dinner.  we worked together in Ketchikan and so it is always great to catch up with Ketchikan friends. the dogs and i crashed hard last night.  great sleep for all.  I'm not sure Tusker moved all night once he was out. 

 had to time my day out today to get to Seward at the right time to return car and pick up my car.  I'd also bought a brush to try to clean out what i could from the car.  only saw a few hairs from Tusker, Ivy sheds more, but still no where near what the labs i had in years past would have shed.  so there i was in Seward in the rain attempting to clear the car so i wouldn't get charged 200 extra....so far I've not been told of any such charge.  fingers crossed. already found it annoying that the car place only allows you to drive 100 miles/day without incurring added fees..really? in Alaska where every town is hundreds of miles apart you have that idiotic rule? 

 it was beautiful and sunny in Homer, but raining in Seward.  we stopped at Deep Creek but no bald eagles were sighted.  did see a cute family of swans on the way out of town at the tern lake.  then i was excited to see lots of beluga's out in the inlet as i drove in towards Anchorage.  always a treat.  pretty tough to photograph. i didn't attempt it.  the dogs were totally settled in so i didn't want to disturb them.  they are both again pretty wiped out.  i think they were happy to get into their own car and then happy to get home.  changing dogs schedules is not an easy thing. it stresses them.

 haven't started looking at all the photos from this fun week.  I'll start to peek after i finish this. 

 listened to various pod casts on the way out.  of course i had to stop as soon as the battery light came on.  i think my favorite was a Preet interview with Steve Schmidt.  he recently quit the GOP.  it was a pretty interesting interview.  i hope more GOP members see the light of the trouble of this current administration. 

 a spending bill was named for McCain but the current iitoo is so petty he announced the bill without mentioning the person the bill was named for. 

 he's so petty and vindictive that he is now removing security clearance to people he feels are his enemies.  he's not even going through proper channels. the DOJ was completely unaware he was doing this.  nothing like using your power and political position to attempt to destroy your enemies. 

 the little man cares only about himself.  these security clearances are left in place for high level personnel so that  if we get into a crisis we have all the most experienced folks in FBI, CIA and such who can come in and be rapidly caught up to speed in order to assist in protecting our nation. this supposed law and order party is going after our law and order...to protect their iitoo.  it is undermining our law and order. it is undermining our nation. 

 he hires only the best people and then fires them and screams they are incompetent if they dare speak out against him. most of them who leave sign documents promising not to speak ill of him and then are given high paying jobs for the re-election campaign. 

 his fellow reality star Omarosa is opting to speak out.  he does the insane thing and tweets all sorts of nastiness.  she claims she has a recording of him using the N word...like we need to hear him actually say that to know he's racist.  the man is totally racist.  i have no idea what other proof needs to be put out there.

 how this man and his incompetent administration are seen as heroes to his base is beyond sense.  he tries to destroy those who have served our nation long.  it's all in the name of the rights conspiracy theory obsession.  they all seem to believe crap that has zero proof, and i mean zero proof.  there is no deep state folks...there never was.  there are men and women working for the CIA and the FBI and so on who love their country and have taken oaths to protect and serve.  who have put their own lives on the line for that oath...instead of granting them respect and allowing them to do their jobs, anyone that speaks ill of this current iitoo is immediately determined to be working in the deep state...

 so convenient...make any one who says anything against you the enemy.  true life heroes become the enemy working for the deep state over night simply because they called crap, crap. 

 the rest of these pictures are from the last of June pics. mostly from the drive back from Valdez.

 flowers were pretty amazing about then.

 saw no moose on this trip back...just the swans and the belugas.  i guess that is enough though. 

 not everyone sees swans and beluga's driving around for a weekend get a way.

 the disappearing Worthington Glacier...no warming here.  don't believe the thousands and thousands of scientists....

 heard today on a podcast or NPR...can't remember. i think it was a tedtalks on NPR....anyway, "knowledge is past, imagination is future".  something like that.  i liked it. 

 saw this little cute porcupine.  they really are adorable.

 sounds like the crew got off of Round Island.  another year under the belt at explore...hope they keep it up.  it really does help the island! thanks crew, thanks explore, thanks to all others who have contributed and helped keep the island staffed.

 loved that he porcupine was by the flowers.  so cute

 i was in my car so no worries about the spines.

 checking me out...

 i also saw many moose on that drive home. i think i counted 15 by the time i got home...this was the first one. 

 looks pretty young. 

 just a little bit of summer left...fall is fast approaching. 

 i was laughing with all this Amarosa drama...wouldn't it be hysterical if this POTUS is brought down by a porn star and a reality tv star?  it's all so embarrassing...how is it we are in this horrible place. 

 the worst though is how many people are still happy with this iitoo.  how many really believe all the deep state mumbo and the lies this administration and faux news shovels out at them every day.

 i still think there will be a few suicides before this is all over....someone will have a conscience and the guilt will drive them to it.  hopefully, they at least leave behind proof of what crazy crap is really going on. 

 just some views along the road on the way.  i stopped a few times coming home but the pups looked so happy i mostly just drove them home...me too. 

 the rental car was nice in that it had the updated features.  easy to connect the phone in and play music and such.  the seat is more comfy...no plans to replace the element....gotta get the kitchen done before i go crazy. 

 the mountains of the Wrangell-St Elias in the background

 Lions Head...a sign that you are getting pretty close to home.

 a few of the many moose i spotted.  no time to stop for most or it got too dark to attempt photos

 a young male

 a mama and her baby

 so cute!

 i better unpack and hit the sack.  I'm tired after driving.  always fun to get to the beach, though after dealing with all the sand i have to wonder how much fun it would be living at a beach with two furry dogs dragging that much sand in every day...I'd still love it though. 

thankful for: A.  that i didn't get stranded in the middle of nowhere B.  that the crew in Seward was able to fix up the element so quickly and efficiently.  C.  beach time, it always fills me.