another quick trip to Homer and back....

 exhausting really but so worth it.  caught a few beautiful sunsets, the dogs got lots of beach time...as did I. loved this one above at Bishops Beach. 

 the drive home was also beautiful and relaxing.

 timed perfect to hit the sunset in Homer. 

 i stopped on the way down with the dogs at beach in Ninilchik and on the way back at Deep Creek.

 of course, i hit the spit this morning but it was super windy out there.  it was pretty empty...the wind and the season is over.

 the beach always fills my soul. 

 Ivy, i believe, knows the word "beach" now.  she was pretty high energy until we got to a beach.  she knows...that girl knows.  maybe she just knows where we are headed off to.  i really should move to a real beach again..is Ketchikan hiring? 

 brought a mini Skelly along to hang on the rear view mirror...is this legal?  not sure. can i get a Skelly related ticket?

 sunset above is last night, below was tonight.  it's getting earlier.  it's also getting colder out there.

 the gate is up at Hatchers Pass.  there is already snow so they closed it for the year. 

 can you see the little jelly in the picture...?

 on the beach in Ninilchik there was all this busted up sponge stuff.  i went a bit nuts collecting it...not sure what to do with it yet. will have to do a bit of an internet search and figure out how to clean it first off and then find some fun crafts to do with it.

 always up for a challenge

 things are moving along with this trump call.  they released the "transcript".  not exact...and no doubt it's tough for anyone to sort out what he's actually saying half the time.   so i suspect it's much more polished than the real conversation was.  still, when the Ukraine leader mentioned the arms he was hoping for to defend his nation against Put, trump clearly states that he has a favor for the leader to fulfill.

 they are jumping on board the impeachment investigation bus at this point. even the GOP members are muttering...but not actually speaking out at this point.  the faux group is still creating the smoke screen to their loyal listeners...who are buying in easily.  amazing how easy they are to manipulate.  they buy into every conspiracy theory, sans facts. they believe every lie, sans facts. 

 in truth this phone call is no doubt the tip of the melting iceberg of crap that this administration has been up to.  the corruption in this administration will turn out to be like no other ever.  what will be done in the future to protect against this level of treachery? 

 it rained last night and the wind blew in.  lots of wave action down there all day. wasn't too keen on the dogs doing much swimming.  we did go to the other side of the spit and it was a bit less impacted by the ferry dock so the dogs did get to swim a bit. 

 we stopped a lot on the way back  to toss tennis balls and stretch.  i had debated a drive over to Seward but it was looking a bit like dark clouds...the clouds were pretty dark and imposing coming through the Summit Lake area too.

 liked the foam..it was blowing across the spit as i drove out there.  always wild.  i have sand in my hair just from opening the window to take snaps

 needless to say the pups were both tuckered out and are again tonight.

 my condolences to a friend who had to say good bye to her fur...we all know how difficult that is.  they are a part of our every day, they are family, friends, companions.  my heart breaks for her, because i know how my heart has broken for each dog or cat i have had to say good bye to.

 stopped by a usual place to get breakfast.  it was a yard sale inside...they are just packing and selling off everything.  the owners were there, tearful at times, hugs for all.  they made me a quick breakfast...no menu, they moved stuff aside to seat myself and a couple that had wandered in and fed us.  in the confusion i didn't even leave a tip.  i feel bad.  everything was in disarray.  will miss going there.  we always headed there after a paddle out of Homer for the good food.  they opened in 1982...they had been trying to sell the business but were unable to ...so they have found someone to lease the building. 

 more of the sponge material

 the evening stroll. 

 i feel badly for the president of Ukraine.  he's really been put in a terrible position. he needs the help to hold back Put, who is attacking his nation and killing his citizens.  trump ordered a hold on the military aid that congress had promised Ukraine, days before calling him.  it was pretty clear that trump was pressing him to open this investigation in order to attempt to mire the Biden campaign in yet another GOP generated conspiracy theory...already investigated, already concluded...as they love to say, was a "nothing burger".  now doesn't that sound ridiculous. 

 now he is here on a visit while this is all out there...what can he say? fears I'm sure that what he says may cause the military aid to again be held back.  this is abuse of power for his own gain, not for the nations gain but for his own gain. 

 tern lake above.

 below, with rain and wind some times you get a pretty rainbow. 

 i drove a bit down Skilak Lake Rd today.  after just a mile or so i noticed a hot spot from the fires.  smoke and a small flame.  after all that rain, there are still hot spots in there.  so many trees lost. i felt emotional driving through both ways. 

 hoping next summer we do not have these awful fires.  it was a huge impact on the economy on the Kenai I'm sure this summer. 

 that big rock is coal.  the beaches down there have coal all over.  some do collect the coal and use it for their heat source in winters.  seems to be a few stories as to why the coal washes up on the beaches...is there a coal seam under the water that these fall off of or is the coal remnants from old ship wrecks/mining.  i suspect it's from underwater seams of coal. 

 another of Tern lake...this is at the cut off where i chose between heading home and heading to Seward.  Seward was another 30+ minute drive and those are some dark clouds in there

 selfie with a rainbow.

 i stopped in Girdwood on the way out for a walk with the dogs.  i also stopped at the conservation center.

 they are still working on an enclosure that will be escape proof for their new wolverine. not sure where they got their wolverine from.  they are apparently good at escaping though.

 another from Girdwood

 Giuliani seems to be overstepping in this whole Ukraine mess as well....so does Barr.  the whole lot of them are suspect at this point.  if they haven't done the corrupting themselves, they have sat idly by or covered for it.  the party that has played like they were the honorable ones are, surprise, surprise, the least honorable.  those values they seemed to say only they had...they never had.  ethics, gone, morals, gone...game over.  i hope the truth continues to be released and these crooks are shown for what they really are.  a menace to our nation.  greedy and power hungry.

 more foam for my photo's.  below is driving home on the Turnigan.  a few construction delays of course.

 my sweet babou!!

 snow capped mountains.

 it was wonderful to have this rainbow evolve during my walk.  it started at the one end but slowly made its way across the sky.

 there was also a dead octopus on the beach. 

 fairly good size one actually. I'm sure it got washed back out to sea as the tide was coming in.  not many folks out there walking in the wind this morning.

 the planes will soon not be flying over us for take offs...can't wait. it's been so noisy having them fly over at all hours.

 last night and below tonight.  these are all iphone.  it's easy...still will look through the other pics i took with the big camera.  not tonight though.  tired. pay the bills and crash i think. haven't heard much from the pups since we got home.

 gives you more of an idea how big this octopus is...not sure what killed the poor thing.  i do like the octopus though.  cool species.

 so fast but good escape.  back to work tomorrow night for my stretch. 

 will anything make the trump sheep see the light?  it's doubtful.  fox has been busy with the blaming/spinning game.  it's crazy how they have influenced things to benefit this guy...what are they getting out of it? 

 Ivy for some perspective...now it looks smaller. 

thankful for: a.  safe travels  b. fun companions c. beaches, sun, sunset, waves.....it brings me peace.