Valdez

May 13, 2007 Mother’s Day

A very lazy day today. We got a late start. Doug took me out for a very nice Mother’s Day dinner and then we drove around. We were trying to find where people live. We don’t see very many houses, so went on the dirt roads. There is so much land around here the houses are built quite a ways off the road and they are difficult to see. It is truly a different lifestyle up here.

Will leave tomorrow and head toward Anchorage. We have so much time we will just stop along the way as we get the urge!!! Weather is still cold and overcast. I am trying to think ‘warm’!!


May 14, 2007

Well the temp was 42 degrees when we got up today - getting warmer!!! We left the campground and headed for Anchorage. Don’t know how far we will go, depends on what we see on the way. There are a couple of little Indian villages that I would like to stop at if I can get Doug to do it.

Got to Glenallan, about halfway between Tok and Anchorage. Not a whole lot to see, the road was fair. Went to the visitors center that is not officially opened yet!! Not much here in town, but Valdez looks interesting. There is only one road to Valdez and it is 117 miles. Thought we would leave the RV here and take TT, since we have to come back this way.

May 15, 2007

Left for Valdez early, thinking of taking a glacier cruise while there. See what the weather is like. It is over cast and cold right now.

The ride was absolutely wonderful. There was not that much in Valdez, but the trip was more than worth it. We are also glad we left the RV here as the parks there are not as nice as this one.

We could not get a tour of the oil terminal. They used to give them, but after 9/11 they stopped. It would have been interesting. We did go to the museum there and learned more about the 1964 earthquake. The woman that worked at the museum said she was here during it and it sounds like being in a devastating hurricane, only they had no warning!!

We stopped at the Worthington Glacier. It was right alongside the road. Doug hiked up, but I decided we were not equipped to do it. It wasn’t far, but there was snow and we did not have walking sticks. Between the gravel and snow I felt insecure. When Doug got down he asked me why he had done that - he could have gotten pictures just as good from where we were!!!!

We passed the most wonderful waterfall. They are all over the mountains and one of the things Doug really loves. He keeps saying “if we were only younger!!” This has been an amazing time for us. We have spent so much time talking about our life together-talk about a bonding experience!!! We stopped at St. Elias National Park and talked to one of the rangers. She asked about our trip and when we told her we had left April 16th she was shocked and said “and you are both smiling and getting along!” God does work in mysterious ways!!!

Tomorrow we will continue on to Anchorage, don’t know if we will make it or not, depends what we see on the way!!