Summit Lake Lodge Dining Review

Summit Lake Restaurant Entrance

I thought this post published months ago, so I apologize for the delay!  Summer season took over!! I’m getting ready to publish a post about the Humpback whales that have been frequenting Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords; and as a byproduct discovered several unpublished articles!

Back on May 25, 2010 my husband and I made a quick trip to Anchorage. As we passed through Summit, we noticed that Summit Lake Lodge was open and sporting a “New Menu” sign. We wondered if that meant the lodge, which has been for sale for a number of years, had finally gotten some new owners. (We’ve since asked around and have been told that no, it’s still same owners.)

When, on our return trip, it timed out well for us to stop for lunch on the way home, we paused to debate our options. We were hungry, but as my husband pointed out, if we waited another 45 minutes, we could eat at the Smoke Shack – hands down, the BEST meals in Seward or maybe anywhere (see my review in an earlier post).

Wanting to give Summit Lake Lodge a chance, knowing that no matter what, it would be good fodder for a blog post we stopped.

We were seated in the “lower” dining room, at a window table (where we enjoyed watching the swallows who were numerous, and busy nest building.) The dining room had a clean feel (unlike a greasy spoon in Soldotna that I once ate ate, where the hanging lamps were dust encrusted.) This was a pleasant environment, and the setting outside by the lake is charming.

I’d neglected to bring my Blackberry so I didn’t get any photos of our meals. They were pretty enough, and arrived quickly (too quickly). Sadly, neither was good, and both had been pre-made. My husband had the
Club sandwich, which was made with three thick slices of bread and little else. My husband loves bread and eats quite a bit each day, but it was too much for him even – overpowering; he ended up pulling the middle layer out. My Black and Blue salad sounded great in the description, but failed to live up to the menu in ingredients and preparation. The blackened chicken wasn’t blackened (it was spiced in some way), and it hadn’t been cooked recently. The blue cheese and other ingredients, tomatoes, crumbled bacon, were conspicuously missing. There were maybe 3 flakes of diced tomato on this salad, and I had to look hard to find them.

We saw some other meals go by. The fish and chips looked good but a small portion of fish. The cole slaw looked like it might have been ok (but not homemade).

It is a lovely setting, and if it’s a nice day, don’t stop for a meal, but instead, visit their out building (not pictured) where they serve coffee and ice cream. Ice cream is always is a good choice.

Summit Lake as seen from the Lodge parking area

You can’t go wrong with ice cream Save your money for a meal at the Smoke Shack (see previous post) or Salmon Bake (review forthcoming).

 

Lowell Point Road Is OPEN!

Phase 1 of the City of Seward’s Lowell Point Electrical Upgrade project is now complete, so the daily road closures are over! Phases 2 and 3 of this project remain, but impact on road traffic will be (better be!) minimal from here on out.

Last post about this project I called it “Classic” and it has lived up to that title thus far. First, the notice announced work would begin on Monday 3/29/10 at 8am. Residents were quite angry to discover, after making arrangements to deal with a closed road – Monday 3/29 was an Alaska State Holiday, so of course no City work would be conducted. Tuesday, 3/30 crews started promptly at 8am. Since we were promised passage when they were working in a wide section of the road, and they were working in a wide section, residents were further angered when traffic was not allowed to pass. When I called to find out what was going on, and pointed out that it was only the 1st or 2nd day and “it’s already getting ugly,” I was met with agreement and promised a phone call once the problem was identified.

The follow-up call marked the beginning of a month-long series of conversations that would include “Welllllll, we can’t let traffic by because _________” (fill in the blank). They may have put in writing that they would accommodate traffic whenever they could – but in reality, they never would, even when they could! (It didn’t help that at some point during the project, rather early on, someone (a local, most likely a neighbor) pushed too hard to get by, thereby ruining all chances for accommodation, for everyone.)

Work continued that first week till the excavator broke. That repair took a day and a half, so we lucked out and the road was passable while we waited. Several times that first week I went to “get in line” at 4:45pm to go to town only to discover the crews were already gone. How frustrating that was to have postponed errands and appointments and then to discover that the road had been passable! For how long, we had no clue.

At the end of the first week they were proud of their work – all 2 1/2 days worth. The second week they ran out of parts, so work ceased. Then, on Good Friday, parts in hand, when the rest of our country has knocked off at noon, these folks worked right up to and even a few minutes after 5pm. They worked 3 1/2 days the second week.

So the project went. Locals and visitors, customers and residents all put up with the disruption, every day watching them move closer to what was clearly the wide section, looking forward to them keeping their word of allowing passage.

At the end of the 3rd week they’d almost reached the indisputably “wide” section of the road, and they’d be out of the City limits, so out of their jurisdiction. Everyone expected some accommodation of traffic.  When I called to discuss the coming week’s schedule because of our busy customer schedule, I heard the most infernal and annoying “Weeellllll we can’t because ______”  list of excuses. I’m sure the guy has been to a seminar on “How to Blow Off the Public in 3 Easy Lessons.” Ironically, the next day they had to quit work for the day (week) because they ran into “a problem.”

We want to thank all our customers who, all with great cheer, accommodated the recent treatment of the City of Seward Electric Department.  We had customers forced to leave at 8am because they did not have the liberty of staying till Noon (we offered).  We had others, who were road weary and anxious to arrive, only to discover they could not check in at 4pm as planned. Stay-over guests had to adapt their schedules, going to town at Noon and then having to rush to get back by 1pm or being forced to stay in town till 5pm.

We were to be “in the know” but after the first two weeks communication was rare and the last week, non-existent. We pleaded on behalf of all our customers for a 10am opening that last week. We were ignored.  We’re thankful that this phase of the project is over.

The remaining phases involve pulling the wire though the cable and vaults they just buried, then connecting the new wire to power. Both phases are delayed till further notice as they wait for the wire.  Once the wire arrives, the pulling of the wire will involve opening up each of the 8 vaults that they buried, which may (will) involve some road work.  Given that we are almost into peak Visitor Season, there is every expectation that traffic will have to be accommodated and allowed to pass in some kind of intervals. Once that part of the project is complete we will have to brace ourselves for power outages; we’re hopeful that will be insignificantly disruptive.

Thank you Dear Reader, till next time!

P.s. We welcome your comments and questions (the link is at the top)

 

Lowell Point’s “Classic” Electrical Project

Road Closed Sign at City end of Lowell Point Road

The City of Seward’s Electrical Department is desperate to replace the underground cable that feeds Lowell Point its power. Currently, there is a single 3-wire line feeding power to Lowell Point; only 1 of the 3 legs of that wire is working. Should that last wire fail, all power to Lowell Point would be lost. At first blush, to hear the folks from the Electric Dept. speak of their high level of concern, one might think of them as altruistic, caring so about the power failing for the residents and businesses of Lowell Point. The way the City of Seward has treated us though, begs the question-who are they really doing this for? We all understand how important this project is, but the wanton disregard for the residents, customers, service providers, and vendors of Lowell Point in the planning and scheduling of the project has been a slap in the face. The Public Notice about the Road Closure is anything but considerate or caring, of anyone but themselves. No consideration was given to the elderly resident requiring a constant supply of  oxygen, to the school children, to trash collection, or the requirements of several businesses, ours included, that rely on Lowell Point Road for access. As one outraged neighbor pointed out, their interest in getting the job done is more likely self-serving: The City of Seward’s septic pond sits on Lowell Point.

Excavator and other City Equipment

In any event, this work is now being tackled by the City’s Electrical Department. The Public Notice  (and small white signs on the Road Closed sign) states that Lowell Point Road will be closed Mon through Sat from 8:00 am to Noon and from 1:00 to 5:00pm. It goes on to state that the work will continue for as long as 2 months and will also include power outages.

Since the Public Notice was first issued we have received some concessions. If the City keeps its word, all things considered, these concessions should keep the project from having much impact on visitors to Lowell Point, and Angels Rest on Resurrection Bay, LLC customers.

According to the head of the department, the only time the road closure will really be restricted to 8-12 and 1-5 are the times when the crew is working in a narrow section of the road. There are several spots that are really one lane, but the majority of Lowell Point Road is 2 lanes, and we’ve been promised that when work is occurring in the wider sections of the road, traffic will be allowed to pass. You may have to wait a few minutes, but a little patience should be all that’s necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: They have not funded a flagger or road crew for this project. So, regardless of where they are working, they are going to have the “Road Closed” signs displayed. Those “in the know” will know whether it’s possible to get past, or if it will be necessary to wait for the Noon opening or end of day.

We hope to be “in the know” at all times, and will keep our Twitter feed (subscribe to receive our tweets), Facebook status feed (become a fan to receive notices), and this Blog up to date (search for Travel Alerts to find the most recent post or subscribe to be notified of new posts). We’re also normally just a phone call away.

After the first week, “Classic” is a fitting word to describe the project. They said work would begin on Monday 3/29; but that was an Alaska holiday, so they didn’t work. Tuesday they were not in a narrow section of the road, so many were surprised to discover they could not pass. Crews were trenching across the road, and had failed to mention that as another reason to restrict traffic flow. Wednesday they didn’t work at all because the “vaults” they are installing hadn’t arrived. Thursday they worked part of the day, till the excavator broke down. Friday they started late because they had to repair the excavator. Then, even though it was Good Friday, they worked till end of day.

Looking North at the excavator and other equipment

Crews are not working Saturdays at this time. They’ve asked to reserve the last 2 Saturdays in April as possible work days, but we won’t know about that till we’re closer in time. If they’re not in a narrow part of the road there should be little impact, even on Saturdays.

There are numerous other options in place to make getting back and forth to town easier should folks need them. There is free parking at the North end of Lowell Point Road and also in the boat harbor. Folks can leave their cars and walk or water taxi, or bike. Although the City has been asked to fund water taxis, at this time all they’ve agreed to do is waive the $3.50 port fee.

We’re hopeful this project will proceed smoothly and disruption to our guests will be minimal. We’re monitoring the situation daily and will help our guests in whatever ways we can to minimize the disruption of schedules. For example, on a day where the closure will be strict, we’ll extend check-out times till Noon. We will also allow early check-ins if possible (this is only possible if the unit was unoccupied the night before).

Regarding the days with power outages, at this time those days are not scheduled. We’ve been told the disruptions will be minimal. We’re hopeful that’s accurate.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this work by the City of Seward may cause our guests, visitors, staff, suppliers, and vendors. Please don’t hesitate contacting us for up to date information!

 

Gatehouse Cabin gets Headboard!

Gatehouse Cabin Headboard

Paul built the long-awaited headboard for the Gatehouse Cabin this winter.  It’s funny how some things take so long to get done, even though they are at the top of the list! LOL

Close up of Angel Wing and Jewel

I’ve been hearing about this headboard for a long time, so I was so excited to have it “unveiled to me!”  Paul never ceases to amaze me with his crafty designs.

I love the little details he added to this headboard, like the Angel wings and small embedded jewels.

Whales Dance Across the Headboard

This headboard was built entirely by hand in Paul’s studio.

Whales dance across the headboard as the sun rises with angels watching.

Wintertime View from Gatehouse Bed

No matter what time of year, the view from bed is stunning.

 

Best Place to Eat in Seward Alaska! Restaurant Review

Smoke Shack Staff Attentive & Helpful

“Life’s too short to eat boring food” is the motto of the best year-round restaurant in Seward, Alaska. Owned by people who really care about the food they serve, the unique Smoke Shack, in an old Alaska Railroad car, at the corner of Port and 4th Avenues is a gem. With just 6 tables inside, their freshly prepared meals will light up your taste buds. During summer months the Smoke Shack serves all three meals; in the off-season/winter they reduce their offerings to just a breakfast and lunch menu and close by 3pm.

Eggs Benedict with pan potatoes

This not your run of the mill fare! Hamburgers are handmade and thick, served with coleslaw and a side of beans. No french fries here. The coleslaw is fresh and unique; the beans are red or baked beans. They use good bread.

Special attention is paid to all the meats they serve, hence the name “Smoke Shack.” You won’t find many seafood dishes on the menu, but often there’s a shellfish dish, like snow crab eggs Benedict. There are plenty of places in Seward to eat fish (Salmon Bake being the #1 place in the summer), but the Smoke Shack is the only place to get freshly smoked meats, fresh corned beef hash, or the best Ruben sandwich on the planet. Portion sizes are generous, and although they have raised their prices, the meals are still a good value.

I asked for "extra crispy" is why so browned

For Valentine’s Day this year (sorry it’s taken so long to post this!) we went out to breakfast at the Smoke Shack and we were not disappointed! The eggs Benedict had thick slices of delicious lightly smoked ham; the corned beef hash was fresh and fantastic, and there was more than I could finish!

Inside the Smoke Shack Railcar

The little Toyo heater keeps the rail-car comfortable in the winter; in the summer there’s plenty of covered outdoor seating. This little eatery is truly a unique dining experience year round. We hope everyone gives it a try!

 

March in Alaska, There’s No Predicting!

View on 3/4 of Resurrection Bay Overlooking Our Waterfront Cabins

 

View of our waterfront cabins on March 4, 2010 

Mother Nature can be a fickle girl, so if you’re planning a visit to Angels Rest on Resurrection Bay in March, it’s best to be flexible! March for us is traditionally the month that Alaskans start traveling again after winter, taking weekends off to visit our wonderful location and scenic part of the State. This weekend we were looking forward to catching up with some long time customers from Soldotna; and welcoming some new guests who have never stayed with us before. 

Imagine my dismay as I called them both this morning, warning of blizzard conditions, high winds and avalanche danger! I was lucky to catch everyone before they got on the road, although the family from Anchorage were all loaded into the car  

The safety and comfort of our guests are most important, and this time of year Mother Nature is completely unpredictable, as exhibited in these photos taken a day apart! 

So, plan ahead, so you can be sure to get the cabin of your choice; but be prepared to be flexible! We’ll hope to see you soon! 

Thank You Dear Reader,
Namaste` 

View on 3/5 of Resurrection Bay Overlooking Our Waterfront Cabins

 

View of our waterfront cabins on March 5, 2010

 

Sea Kayaking Alaska in February

Mt. Alice, Resurrection Mountain Range

Mt.Alice, Resurrection Bay and Mountains Seward Alaska

 

It was a beautiful day out today (2/13), depending on which way you looked, that is. Overhead, north and east were clear and beautiful in the morning at least. Our drive to town in glorious sunshine, 34 degrees. Once we turned around though, and headed home, we could see darkness engulfing the mouth of the bay, working its way north (it never stormed though, just got cloudy). 

How tempting that sunshine was to some though! After all, the days are getting longer, the sun is really up by 8, or at least it’s light out; by 10 the sun is high enough that it could be classified as warm. So it should not have been that much of a surprise, I suppose, that we should pass 4 people sea-kayaking, on our way back from town a little after 11. 

2 of the 4 kayakers we saw on 2/13/2010

 

Spring will be here very soon if this is any indication. Perhaps we’ll see a humpback whale soon! On a business note, Angels Rest will be re-opening for the season in March and we hope to start seeing all our Alaskan customers again then.  

Thank you Dear Reader,
Namaste

 

Hello Dear Reader!

Welcome to our new blog! We’re just getting everything set-up. We’ve transferred our articles from our blogspot.com. Stay tuned as I continue to get this blog up and rolling! Thanks for visiting!

 

Putting Palin’s Popularity in Perspective

During this summer of of 2009, Bed and Breakfast owners and Innkeepers across Alaska have been spending their time gritting their teeth, biting their tongues, smiling politely, and changing the subject!.

When Sarah Palin was thrust into the National spotlight as McCain’s VP running mate, one of the explanations as to her selection for that position was her 80% approval rating with Alaskans. What many don’t understand is why she was so popular (or the fact that the entire sum of that popularity involved some 520,000 people, a number smaller than the populations of most major U.S. cities). Many, perhaps most, make the erroneous assumption that her approval rating was a result of her actions. In fact, Palin’s popularity, for the most part, came simply from what she was not.

Alaska IS the last frontier. While we are the largest state in physical area, we have the smallest population; smaller than most cities in the U.S., with approximately 650,000 people in the entire State. With such a small population; and with 60% or more of that population located in remote areas and villages, most of which can only be reached by plane or boat, it’s easy to understand how a handful of people could come to hold all the power.

As has been in the news in the past few years, Alaska’s politicians and legislators are riddled with corruption and self-serving power. Our last Governor, Frank Markowitz (prior to Pain) and his cronies, were so brazen in their power and corruption, that they had T-shirts made – “The Corrupt Bastards Club” – and wore them proudly. (I am not joking!) Frank’s grandest gesture of “good old boys club” mentality I think, was when he appointed his own daughter to fill his Senate seat, when he, as our Governor, was elected to serve as our Senator. Seems like a person couldn’t do that, but the law allowed it.

So, when Ms. Palin arrived on the scene all bright and chipper, with claims she would “clean up” Alaska politics, and promises of “open and transparent government,” she became wildly popular. Anyone would have.

She sold the jet, one of Frank’s luxuries, pushed for the Alaska gas pipeline, and would do things like drive herself 150 miles for some public appearance on the weekend, saving the State money. Alaskans were happy and we thought she was doing a reasonable job.

Then, Palin’s actions involving Walt Monehan, a beloved Alaskan public servant, came under close scrutiny when she suddenly removed his appointment. As I recall, this was the beginning of her fall from grace with Alaskans. When Walt suddenly fell out of favor with the Governor, everyone wanted to know why. When she appointed a known sex offender to fill Walt’s position there was huge public outcry (and of course that appointment did not hold – but suddenly her judgment seemed off). I’m not sure we ever got the entire truth about the whole “Troopergate” mess, but what did seem to be true is that Walt fell out of favor because there was someone that the Palin family wanted fired, and Walt would not comply. It was a whole “family affair” with her husband Todd, and other members of the family involved.

Suddenly Palin didn’t seem so perfect, her office not so “open and transparent.,” her actions less than honorable. She revealed her secretive side when we discovered she was about to have a baby – something she managed to keep hidden till the very end; and there were even rumors that her son’s military service was court ordered because he committed vandalism as a juvenile. As a State population we’d been told we would know what was going on, but instead we found ourselves quite confused and in the dark, in what seemed like every arena. Then, suddenly, she was on the National stage, and we watched with dismay as Alaska’s day to day business was forgotten, neglected, then eventually abandoned entirely.

We’ll never know if she would have done a good job; if she was in fact worthy of the popularity. She wasn’t Governor long enough before the Republican’s debacle choice of her for VP. She hasn’t governed since, and now she’s resigned to pursue fame and fortune! (She’s a real Alaska girl for sure – a gold digger!) Her legal troubles will follow her for years though, especially in light of the fact that her personal legal defense fund may turn out to be an abuse of power and a version of corruptness all its own; last week’s breaking news.

After she announced her plans to resign, but before she had, rumors swirled about her plans on the National stage. During this past week however, the bulk of the national attention she’s received has been from comedians. The only speaking engagement, for the NRA at a gathering in Anchorage, pretty darn close to home….

If she ever lands on the National stage; if our country ever sinks to the level of stupidity again as it did with GWBush I fear the world will turn on us like a hungry pack of hyenas. We must demand better! We must demand honesty. We must demand intelligence and education. We must demand that “the common good” prevails.

As a country we have some incredible obstacles to overcome – and some serious business at hand, if we are to become again a country worthy of the world’s respect and admiration – let us not be distracted by this x-beauty queen hockey mom, ever again.

Thank you dear reader,
Namaste`

 

Where Greed Has Gotten Us

For the past 15 years I’ve been saying “we’ve gone from being ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’ to being ‘the land of the free to rip you off and the home of the bravely corrupt’.”

Any way you look at it, it is what we have been reduced to! Free enterprise at the cost of ALL else has become the norm. It’s no wonder we find ourselves in the midst of both a financial and moral crisis unlike any other. Yet we’re so “civilized” that we simply let some of the most corrupt live at home in their laps of luxury; others serve a little time and go right back to their celebrity lives. How quickly we forget; and how easy it is for some to buy forgiveness!

Federal prosecutors got so excited about the huge bed of corruption in the legislature of Alaska, that they sacrificed ethics for convictions; now those crooks are walking around free again, while others escaped serving any time, and others escaped conviction all together. Pharmaceutical companies are getting rich while we’re bombarded by the media with ads for pills to fix everything that’s wrong with us, and other pills to fix the things that the first pills either miss or create, all the while these drug companies are making their millions while others are dying from these same pills. We sell our garbage to China, they sell it back to us as products that at a minimum are of junk quality, and in the worst case are things that kill. We pay through the nose for fossil fuels while oil companies rake in billions in profits and are excused from paying fines and penalties. Not a day goes by that we don’t all get some rip-off email offer, some untrue inheritance claim or other sham offer.

Greedy, greedier, greediest, that’s what the last 3 decades have been. The Savings & Loans and Junk Bonds, Enron & WorldComm, now, what seems like ALL the banks, credit card companies, investment firms, insurance AND car companies. Generations have had their retirements shattered, while a small handful of folks have cornered the cash. Madoff, made off!

It’s as if life has become one huge rip-off, Ponzi scheme, and we’ve lost our moral compass – as a planet.

Years ago when I was planning my move to Alaska a friend of mine asked me what I was afraid of, as if it was fear that was motivating my move. It wasn’t, it was a dream …but if there had been something I was trying to get away from, if my dream was in part, a reaction to what I saw around me, it was this – the decay of society we find ourselves in now. Have we become a modern day Atlantis? Only time will tell.