Alaska: Week of August 20-26

Well..... we are in our final week of our stay here in Valdez. Still NO Silver Salmon, now we're thinking it probably won't get any better by the time we leave next weekend. So many disappointed and patient, fishermen. The hatchery is closed until the silvers show up..., they expected the silvers in by now.

This past Tuesday we left at 5 am from Valdez and headed for Anchorage for the 'Celebration of Life' for my 2nd cousin, Cathy Powell. Wish our visit would have been under better circumstances. She was a friend to many...as shown by the large turnout of friends. It was a six hour drive to get there, we did have a little extra time to buy a few groceries before arriving at the celebration for Cathy, then a 6 hr drive back to Valdez, arriving home at 10:00 p.m. It was nice to get away from the rain here in Valdez for a day. On our drive we did spot 2 moose, and 1 baby moose, I wasn't quick enough to get a picture though.

Here's a few pictures on our trip up to Anchorage.....

Views of the Alaskan pipeline that runs along the road, and under it, in some instances....

One of the places along the pipeline that goes underground.

Mount Sanford (taken in Glenallyn AK) a HUGE mountain, usually covered in clouds.

This the Matanuska Glacier.

Now back to Valdez:

Since the weather didn't cooperate very well this week, we didn't take as many pictures this week, but I do have some photos to share with you anyway.(Some taken when we first arrived here 6 weeks ago.)

These signs are on the roadway along the road to Allison Point......

Then...there were times when additional 'NO STOPPING WITHIN 1500 FT' signs were posted so people wouldn't stop and harrass the bears...but do you think people obeyed the signs...Of course not. Its at the point now, that when we go over to Allison Point we don't even stop to watch the bears..we drive right past. But plenty of drivers are still stopping. I've seen enough bears...well...with one EXCEPTION... the Mama Grizzly and her 4 cubs that have eluded us...

This is a wood carving structure in downtown Valdez that is one of the '101 Things to Do or See in Valdez'. Soooo here it is: and below it is a picture of the plaque that explains a little about the artist.

Another day, and another 'Trumpeter Swan'...they are so beautiful. We've only seen about 6 but I love them...(hate the seagulls...they are so noisey and annoying!)

We watch these cute little Sea Otters nearly everyday ...there are a lot of Sea Otter families here in Prince William Sound..and we watch them float on their backs and eat...then dive down and find something more to eat.....if its clams that they are eating they lay the clams on their tummys and use a rock to crack the shells open so they can eat them. If its a salmon they are eating they use both paws to hold and eat it....they are just so cute.