Good By Valdez

 

We are leaving Valdez tomorrow, after spending a very relaxing week here. There is not much to this small village, two museums, one of which was about the town before and after the earthquake of 64.

Because the town had been built on very unstable ground, when the ground began shaking, the water front basically liquefied and disappeared into the ocean. Then the tsunami took out some more of the town.  Most of what was left had been heavily damaged and rebuilding in the same area seemed foolish. 

They moved the town about two miles away, and it is built on very solid ground.  What was not moved to the new town was burnt to the ground.  My parents still lived in Alaska when the earthquake hit, and I remember it was days before we knew their condition.  And then only because a post card arrived. The time before all the technology is hard to visualize today.
Chucks fishing did not result in any pictures, matter of fact, he ended up with only one pitiful fish fry dinner, but he enjoyed getting his line wet.  He didn’t try any of the charters, waiting to get to Homer and Seward for that.

We are heading to Chugiak, and my bothers back yard.  Spend a few days there, and we will see what plans we can come up with.  Know that they all have some ideas of things  to do.  Excited to see everyone, it has been way too long.      

VALDEZ

 

Chuck got his eye appointment taken care of and we were “on the road again”.  Headed  to Valdez, to get some fishing in.  We have never been to this area and decided that we would never get the chance again.  Even though it caused us to back track a hundred miles it was totally worth it.  We actually thought about stopping at Cooper River and join in a little combat fishing, but realized that we were past that age.  We did this the very first time we came to Alaska in ‘72, and my dad was a great teacher.  In this area you are allowed to snag  salmon, BUT they must be hooked in the mouth. Mission impossible, how fast can you get that hook in the mouth after landing it is the name of the game.  They fish very close and when one get hooked they “holler fish on” and everyone tries to get their lines out of the way. 

The first day out we saw a big bull moose, no pic.  Little horns only, early.

Seemed like we had mountains on one side or the other.  Stopped for lunch and our view was overlooking a half dozen lakes.

We spent the night at a pull out along the road, along with  a few other RV’ers.  Chris and others had left the day before us and were in the area, but they were planning to spend the day at a lake near by, and we decided to go on in to Valdez.  The scenery from there on is was some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

The mountains, the snow, around every turn it just got more and more breathtaking.  And then we came to the pass and all the waterfalls running into the river that was flowing right by the road. 

Pictures can not begin to show the splendor, but they will have to do.

We plan on staying here for a week, it is a very small fishing village, not commercialized in the least.  Not sure if Chuck will be going out on any fishing charters.  They have changed the rules again on halibut, you now are allowed a big one and one weighing no more than 10 pounds.  They say the hard part is getting the little one.  Ten pounds is almost the head and tail.  Today we seen a moose and calf, again no picture.  They don’t seem to want to hang around and pose, camera shy, evidently.  Hopefully the next post will contain pictures of a huge halibut!  To heck with the little one.

WATSON LAKE TO FAIRBANKS

 

 

These sure do look like Texas blue bonnets.

We arrived in Watson Lake and got settled in the Downtown campground, which basically was the only one in operation.  Let me tell you with 14 rigs pulling in the laundry room did one fine business.  And they are not cheap, think it would almost be more economically to buy new.  Sign post city can only be experienced by actually seeing it. There are one hecka lot of signs.  Escapee Mark had made one up for the group and we had a blast seeing all our names immortalized.        

           

When we were gathering who should pull in but ……..

they had caught us.  We went back to the campground and spent the night with them, and the next day traveled to Whitehorse.  Most everyone went on the bus to ride the train at Skagway, but having done it before, we decided not to.  Spent some time seeing the town and having dinner the last night at

                      

now this place wasn’t much to look at, but the food was outstanding. From there we took in the Follies. Entertaining, but not worth the admission.  The threesome took off early in the morning and Chuck and I stayed behind.  With my foot giving me all that trouble I feel that I’m more of a party pooper than anything and just don’t want to be a drag on anyone.  So we left with some other fellow travelers and made our way up the road heading for Tok.  The scenery was spectacular,

         

and every once in a while would see something totally different.  The largest gold pan. 

Burls made into caricatures', sure hate to meet that mosquito!

   

Spent one night in a lovely park where we all fit together, had a huge campfire,(they furnished fire wood free) in the morning, breakfast outside, where Dan cooked  by telling us women how to do it.  He even got a picture to prove it.

And then there we were here!  Traveling this highway has given me me a totally new found respect for my parents.  They moved to Alaska in 49, made that trip with 3 small kids, on a road that had been built only a few years before, and all their possessions in the car. Can’t even imagine what it was like. Know there is no way on God’s green earth that I could have done it that way today. I complained over not have cell service!  Now the roads are all paved and in really good shape, the only real pain was at the pump.  But the good news is it makes 4 dollars a gallon seem down right cheap. 

We made our way into Tok and settled in a campground and almost trampled each other on our way to the infamous Fast Eddies restaurant for lunner, aka as lunch/dinner.  The fried mushrooms are wonderful, but an order easily feeds 4.  At the campground we came across Dennis and a few others of the Loosey Goosey gang.  They had had a breakdown in their group, so there was a delay before they continued on to Chicken.  Another tourist attraction we are passing on.  On to the

                                  

where we seen                   

                     

We are now awaiting our mail to catch up with us and then we will be leaving the area.  Heading down here there is family.  Chuck is anxious to get some fishing in, and also to see everyone.  Have a bother and nieces and nephews still in the area around Palmer, Wasilla and Chugiak.