Valdez, Alaska August 6, 2013

Tuesday we had a Columbia Glacier cruise scheduled. We left at noon for what was scheduled for  the next 6 1/2 hours.











 As we left the boat harbor in Valdez, we got another view of the pump station and tanks at the end of the Alaska pipeline. There was one tanker filling up as we went past. The captain told us that all oil from the pipeline goes to US refineries. Part of the agreement to build the pipeline was that all oil had to go to the USA. The pipeline was original built with a life expectancy of 20 years. It is still going strong after almost 30 years and it is expected to last another 10 to 50 years depending on who you talk to.

Out in the bay the captain spotted a large group of Sea Otters floating along together. We made a circle around them so we could get pictures of them.

Harbor Seals on the bouy.

As we continued on, we soon came to where we could see the Anderson Glacier and the Anderson Waterfall coming off it. This glacier is up in the mountains.






We followed the coast for a while and saw salmon jumping and a lot of small fishing boats. Cindy got some pictures of Bald Eagles in the trees.






We went around Glacier Island so we could see a large group of Sea Lions on a beach at the end of the island.Then we turned around and went into the Columbia Bay headed for the Columbia Glacier. We started to see ice bergs and the further we went into the bay, the more there were. The captain took us a lot closer to the face of the Glacier than any of us thought he would. We got to see the Glacier calving, that is large pieces of ice falling off the glacier into the water. I thought it was interesting that the captain told us that there were 3 different glaciers in the area that all have the same amount of snow and the same weather conditions, but one is growing, one is staying the same, and the Columbia Glacier is receding. The Columbia Glacier was the last one of the 3 to recede and that during the summer as much water comes out from it as all the water in the Mississippi River. The face of the Glacier is about 10 miles across, and as soon as it recedes enough, the different parts will be renamed. The captain told us that the growing and receding is a cycle, and has nothing to do with so called global warming.

A Puffin taking off.

When we went to leave the face of the glacier, the ice had rearrange enough that the path we came in on was blocked with small ice bergs. The captain had to pick our way out through the ice, and some times we could hear ice hitting the boat.

This was our way out of the Bay.

On the way back we had a group of Dall's Porpoise play around the  boat. The captain said that they were the fastest animal in the ocean and they could swim faster than the boat.







It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get back to Valdez and was an interesting day. Cindy's back was bothering her by the time we got back, but she is still glad we went. Thanks for visiting.

Valdez, Alaska August 5, 2013

Today we went to the hatchery to see the salmon trying.There were thousands of fish trying to go up stream.

The fish were milling around trying to go up a very small stream.

The fish have their eggs fertilized. I think they try to go to this stream because they are hatched at the hatchery. We were told that after the eggs and sperm are taken from the fish The fish are processed for the meat. If they were allowed to breed naturally the fish would soon die.

All the ripples are the salmon.

We even saw some fish trying to go up this small water fall. After the small pool, the water falls straight down the mountain, so the fish couldn't go any further.

A little way from the hatchery we saw this bear fishing. This is the first bear we have seen in Alaska. We watched him catch 3 fish and only eat one.

After we saw the bear, we saw fishermen fishing from the shore. I decided to get my pole and see if I could catch any. When we came back it was really easy to catch the salmon, and I soon caught my limit of six. Yes,Sandie, we found room in the freezer. They are a different breed of salmon than at the Kenai River and are smaller.

Wile I was fishing, Cindy saw this sea otter.

Every once in a while we could see what looked like every fish swimming around in a large school. They acted like the had been frightened.

Cindy also saw this Bald Eagle.

My last fish.

Thanks for visiting.

Valdez, Alaska August 4, 2013 continued

When we got to Valdez, we went into the Visitor Center. We found out that we had got here in time for Gold Rush Days. There was to be a parade at 3:00. We got set up in the campground by 2:00 and decided to go get a place where we could park the truck to see the parade. We had almost an hour till it started, so we went across the street to a gift shop. At the gift shop they played a video about the 1964 earthquake and the resulting tsunami that followed the quake and all the destruction in Alaska following them. Valdez was wiped out by the tsunami, as was part of Anchorage. It told about the fires and deaths in Alaska. It must have been very devastating.

Cindy had to take a picture of my haul.

We then went back to our truck to see the parade. Throughout the parade, people were throwing candy for the kids, who had all brought bags to get candy. I guess I’m just an older kid at heart, because I got my haul of candy.

Part of the entertainment.

After the parade, there was a free fish fry down by the ferry terminal. When we got there a line was already formed and we had to wait a while, but the fish was very good, and well worth the wait. There was as much fish and hot dogs as you could eat. While we ate, we were entertained by an Elvis impersonator. He did a very good job.

Pretty good Elvis music.

The end of the Alaska pipeline.

After the meal, there was what they called a float or sink boat race. The boats were all made from cardboard and duct tape, which were part of the rules. The first groups of kids to go were the younger ones and they only had to go half-way on the pond and then come into the bank. Some of them did quite well, while others didn't do so well. None of them got wet, but some took a long time to get to shore.

This little girl looks very worried but they made it.

Oops, Ellie didn't make it.

This little boy really moved fast.

She made it with a little help.

The next groups of kids had to go all the way across the pond, and we wondered why they waited so long to get going. We finally found out that they were waiting for two coast guard men and their kayaks to come and watch the kids, so nothing happened to them. Some of the boats didn't even get off the starting line before they sunk, getting the older kids wet. The coast guard men had to rescue quite a few of the kids and take them to shore. They all were wearing life jackets so they wouldn't drown. One little girl was taking so long that one of the coast guard men helped push her into the shore. It was a lot of fun to watch and hear the crowd cheer on the kids. One of the boats had a little girl in front to watch, while an older girl paddled. I felt sorry for the littlest girl because she acted scared to death the whole way, but they made it OK. The fastest one was made to look like a canoe and the boy really knew how to use the paddle.

  

We enjoyed our afternoon. Thanks for visiting.