6/26/12 VALDEZ, AK

The last 2 days have been heavy overcast, drizzly and in the mid 50’s.  Fog is so thick we can’t see those beautiful mountains all around us.  It looks like the next few days are a repeat.  Apparently the nice 70’s sunshine we had the first 3 days we were here are unusual this time of year.  I’m glad we had those days, they were spectacular.  One woman told us that we are a little early; their tourist season doesn’t really get going good until July.  We have noticed that the rv parks are not filling up.   There are a lot of tourists here in Valdez by seeing all the rv’s but don’t see many out and about.  They may be on fishing excursions or cruises.  We bundle up, put on rain gear and go walk around the harbor each evening to check out the fish people are bringing in. 

Yesterday we toured two museums in town that were very interesting.  In a nutshell the town of Valdez was located 4 miles away from here.  We drove out there the other day, not much left.  The town was destroyed by earthquake and tsunami in 1964. They now refer to it as Old Valdez.  The 800 mile Alaska pipeline ends here in Valdez.  We can see it across the bay from our campsite.  Oil flows at approximately 6 mph from North Alaska and they load it up here in barrels and directly onto a tanker.  We saw the tanker over there the other day when we went out on the cruise.  The captain pointed out how the tanker was lopsided at the time. He said that means they are still filling the tanker and it will level out once filled.  The next day the tanker was gone, just like he said it would be.  I remember doing a book report on the building of the Alaska pipeline in high school back in the 70’s.  Valdez was not a tourist town until the Exxon oil spill back in 1989. That caused an influx of people and became a tourist attraction ever since. 

I bet the older woman that checked us into this rv park has a story to tell.  She’s lived here over 40 years.  She is a tiny, weathered, feisty little woman.  She mentioned that she’s worked on fishing boats and was a pilot.  Yes, I would love to hear her story. 

6/27/12 VALDEZ, AK

Today is a repeat of yesterday’s heavy overcast skies but more rain and 48 degrees.  We leave out of here tomorrow and head for Palmer.  A couple we met back in Watson Lake extended us an invitation to camp at their house on our way through to Anchorage.  We took them up on the offer and do look forward to visiting with them again. They are a fun couple and we enjoyed them during the very short time we had at Watson Lake.  We’ll prowl around Palmer a day or 2 then move on to Anchorage where I’ll meet up with Diane, an old high school classmate that I’ve not seen or heard of since the 70’s.  Gotta love facebook for reuniting with long lost friends.  I can’t wait to hear about her life after high school.   

Yesterday we did laundry.  Today we made a run to the grocery store and filled up with gasoline.  Given the dreary weather we’re having here I’ll be ready to move on.  Although I don’t think the weather is much better where we are heading, or pretty much anywhere in south Alaska.  Just one of those things you got to push through.  I’m so grateful we had the beautiful 70’s sunshine weather we did the first few days we arrived.  Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to see these gorgeous views Valdez has to offer. 

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