The other day the Betster dared to attempt a left turn on Ocean Drive at mid-day. Holy Gridlock! What happened to our sleepy little town where if you have to wait 10 seconds to turn onto the Sterling Highway from West Hill Road, impatient bush rats start pounding their steering wheels?

Remember how during The February Controversy That Shall Not Be Named, some people said Homer had gotten so much bad publicity it would destroy our fragile tourist economy? And remember how others said President Trump had been so mean to foreigners, no one outside of the US of A would cross our borders? Well, so much for political prognostication, aye? Apparently the 3 gazillion tourists visiting from elsewhere in Alaska, the Lower 49 and way-off distant lands didn’t get the memo.

Have you tried to park on the Spit lately? Drive out to the Spit? Think about driving anywhere? It’s nuts, citizens. If you can find a parking spot, most likely you’re out there at the end of Fish Dock Road in the olfactory heavy zone. We trust our wonderful visitors have been dropping a few dead presidents in our town. The Betster has seen odd looking adventure motorhomes with European Union plates, RVs from all over Outside and swarms of tough motorcyclists with mosquito craters in their cheeks. Campgrounds from Baycrest Hill to Coal Point are jammed. The good news is the weather has been awesome and everyone seems to be having a good time.

Whoa! We haven’t run the numbers yet, but if traffic is a bellwether, this might be an OK season. Stay tuned. We could be wrong and all that traffic just illusory.

What is known and true, though, is that even as the fireweed blooms into fall, there still remains lots of fun stuff to do, like these Best Bets:

BEST BIG FRIDAY BET: Even though summer is winding down, there are some great art shows opening for First Friday. Don’t miss folk artist Walter Hudson’s show at 7 p.m. at the newly remodeled Refuge Chapel on Pioneer Avenue.

BEST BEARS AND TIDES BET: What do changing tides have to do with bears? Good question. Find out at 1 p.m. Friday in “Our Changing Tides,” this week’s Discover Lab at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. It repeats at 1:30 p.m.Wednesday.

BEST BEST OF THE LAST BET: Last week Pier One Theatre showed “The Head That Wouldn’t Die,” an awesome play that came out of the Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez. See other great plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with “Highlights of the Last Frontier Theatre Conference” at Pier One.

BEST CLASSICAL YOU BET BET: The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra returns with its annual summer music festival. This week, catch and Orchestra Chamber Concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church.