Alaska Day 16: Anchorage to Tutka Bay

 

Day 16: Anchorage to Tutka Bay Lodge

Weather Report: Overcast in Anchorage, glorious in Tutka Bay

Quote of the Day:  I only know one person in LA…

It’s a Covid world: The other 8 guests and the entire staff at Tutka Bay Lodge are vaccinated. If we asked, they would enforce mask wearing. Having just spent a week on the Safari Explorer in a similar situation, we decide to go mask free.

Lousy breakfast in the Captain Cook. We’re picked up by an arranged shuttle to go from the hotel to a small plane airport right next to the Anchorage International Airport. Fifteen minutes to the airport, piece oh cake. Hmmmmm…not exactly. We take a 2-minute detour to see Earthquake Park, get swarmed on by mosquitos and then come to a standstill while 3 moose cross the street between the shuttle and the airport. Far close to wildlife than at any other time on the trip except when we saw the dead bear up close and personal.

Check-in is filling out a Covid release form, then waiting for our planned departure at 9:30. DB and THB disagree: THB likes that the pilot of our 4-seat seaplane looks about 60. DB was hoping for someone younger who knew the modern intricacies of flying a small plane.

Is Rust's a good name for a small plane service?

DB is the co-pilot, the guy shaking like a leaf in the 2^nd row is THB (also doubling as the flight photographer). One hour and 10 minutes and we’re at Tutka Bay, flying most of the time around 3,000 feet. Not too bad; THB only has 3 more flights like this and one helicopter ride left before being on one of those type planes that actually has a first and coach class. Hopefully he won’t have to use his seat as a toilet, er flotation device, on any of them.

Pics on the way from Anchorage to Tutka Bay (below Homer)

Homer

We are greeted at Tutka Bay Lodge by M. She’s in charge of us for the 3 days. We agree on an agenda: today DB does a massage, we take hike around the property and we show up for drinks, appetizers and dinner. Tomorrow we have an all-day bear watching tour (weather depending) followed by a visit with Rika in Homer and then back for the evening schedule. Tuesday we’re planning a hike/kayak trip, DB has another massage, and usual stuff in the evening.

Everyone else today is out on all-day expeditions: bears or fishing. We have lunch on the deck! Halibut sandwiches, salad, potato chips, ice tea and Arnie Palmer.

Pics of our room at the lodge

Oops, there are steep stairs btwn the bedroom and the bathroom

No bathtub

The main lodge: dining room and kitchen

M explaining the day; our lunch spot

Awesome dessert (apparently they saved a few for us from last night's dinner)

The tide is wayyyyy out

After the massage and blogging, M leads us on an easy hike around the property. She is very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and recognizes all the bird calls. Since THB can’t see the birds, he has to take M’s word for it.

There's a story behind the sign: rather than fund the trust (as specified by law) the state gives the Mental Health trust land. The Trust, instead of the State) then sells off the land to fund their mental health initiatives. And the Trust isn't watching out for environmental concerns, just trying  to raise the big bucks. Now there is development in areas that (if it were the State in charge) that go to the highest bidders. M tells the first half of the story, Rika the 2nd half.

Rocking chairs partway along the hike

Two retirees enjoying the view

An egg in the forest, all by itself? It's a mystery

How small is this world: DB shares a dermatologist with the family of four, they are from Orinda. The other couple lives in Atlanta. He knows one person in LA. The person he knew grew up around the corner from THB and THB knew her brother really well, they played sports in the neighborhood together for many years.

 

Thankfully THB and DB had no connection to the father/daughter combo.

Appetizers include a cheese and prosciutto platter, Hasselback potatoes (above) and mushrooms.

Dinner is easily the best of the trip…easily might make the followers say: that’s a low bar to get over. THB will rephrase: Dinner is terrific, easily within reach of the better dining spots in the Bay Area. Two of the chefs grew up in Redlands and have worked together for a number of years. The 15-year-old pastry chef turns out a terrific dessert. If she isn’t 15, then why hasn’t her voice changed yet? Why is she only 4’8” tall?

No pics: Just the menu…

The burnt eggplant tortellini was just that: burnt and al dente; best salmon on the trip!