Yesterday we decided to get out and explore Valdez. We are in the new part of Valdez because the old part was destroyed in 1964 by an earthquake and a tsunami. It was the worst earthquake ever in North America. We saw a movie about it in this little store in town. I guess they sell the video there but she had chairs set up and the movie was playing over and over along with the story of the building of the pipeline. Both were very interesting. When the town was declared condemned the people had 2 years to relocate to the new section that had been built.
We went out to find the old part of Valdez. There were signs guiding us so it was easy to find.
Click on the picture to read this sign
Mary Jo is checking out where the Post Office used to be
This was a photo of the Village Morgue bar back then
And here it is today
From there we went to the old cemetery. This has nothing to do with the earthquake or the tsunami. It’s just the cemetery where the townspeople were buried in earlier years.
From there we went to the location where the Pipeline ends. This is where the oil is stored until it is put on the tankers. There were lots of signs telling us we couldn’t go any further.
From there we headed for the Valdez glacier. This is the glacier that the prospectors used to get into Valdez. It’s hard to believe they actually made it down that glacier. What you can’t see in the picture is the other half of it. It turns to the right just below that hill with the trees on it on the left
This is where it ends
The ice looks like crystal and is very fragile
We left there and decided to go to the town dump because that’s usually where the bears hang out. Well, you have to actually schedule a time to use the dump so they can make sure the bears aren’t there when you are. LOL.
It was a very dusty road.
Ed just can’t believe it!!
We ended our evening where we seem to end it every night. At the marina. The boats come in and clean their catch so we always go to see what everybody has caught. Tomorrow it will be our turn to catch some fish. We booked a charter for all day from 6 am (!!!) until 6 pm. OMG, I can’t believe I keep getting up so early for these things. Ed is going on the same charter but Mary Jo gets motion sickness very easily so she’s not going. She’s in charge of breakfast.
We also decided to stay here in Valdez a little longer. We’ve extended our stay until Thursday when we’ll take the ferry over to Whittier and then drive over to Soldotna. The ferry may not save us any time or any money on fuel but it will be an experience that we wouldn’t have had if we drove through Anchorage to Soldotna. There is only one road into Valdez and we’ve been on it. The bad thing is that we have to be at the terminal with our 5th wheel at 7 AM!! Yes, that’s AM!!! Uggghhhh.
5 comments:
you are getting to be a early morning riser. I will be able to call you at 6:00 a.m. and you will have been up for hours lol. Does that mean you are not going to Anchorage?
Have fun fishing
Brenda
What an interesting place and pictures. Thanks.
Oh, Boy! They wouldn't let you go to the end of the pipeline, nor to the dump. So did you ever get to see any bears?
Happy Trails, Penny, TX
Lots of early mornings but you can rest later!! Thanks for the tour and history of Valdez!! Very interesting.
You guys have fun and catch a lot of fish!!
Mike & Gerri (happytrails)
With all that daylight just change your clocks so you think 6AM is 10 and you will feel fine.
Those early mornings are getting to be habit! Have fun! Keep the pictures coming.
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