It Was a Great Trip

Alaska sure is a great place to live and to travel.  There are so many awesome places to see and things to do, even if it is just getting out of the car and walking around looking at rocks and wildflowers.

Come to think of it there are cool rocks all over the world and the beauty of wildflowers is that they grow everywhere!  Get out and see the world ~ even if it is your backyard there are tons of great things to see and do!

Enjoy each day!

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Valdez ~ on the Docks

This photo one is my favorite photos from Valdez!  

It was totally awesome to walk around on the docks and listen and watch the crews working on the fishing boats.

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Alaska Wildlife

Bear photo was taken in Valdez and the eagle photos were taken in Cordova.

I just love my new camera!

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Moose in Chitina

Mr. Moose by the side of the road near 2 Mile Lake in Chitina.

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Road Construction on the Last Leg of the Trip!

Posted for Grandpa Moore ~ Road construction on the Richardson Highway near Sourdough.  Grandpa Moore made his living as a heavy equipment operator building many of the roads in upstate New York!

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Ferry Ride Back to Valdez

The cargo hold for the ferry is quite large and Francesca seemed small next the large road equipment that was being transported back to Valdez.  The grader and loader are property of the Valdez Airport that was loaned to the Cordova Airport for maintenance.  We could only guess that it is cheaper to transport the equipment once or twice a year then to have to purchase more equipment to house in Cordova.

Video from the back of the ferry as we leave Cordova and get up on step and cruise back to Valdez ~ what a great trip!

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A Great Day in Cordova & Childs Glacier

We had such a great time in Cordova ~ Alaska’s best kept secret!  It is a cute little fishing town surrounded by hills and snow covered peaks.  Eyak Lake is full of fish that swim in from the ocean via the Eyak River.  There are glaciers and a large delta teeming with shore birds, eagles, moose and bears.  This is where Eagle Eyes Candee got her name ~ she could spot an eagle from a 100 yards away.  She saw the bear and later the rest of us saw the bear scat and she was the one who spotted the swans nesting when it was just their necks peeking above the grass.

 

I could post a MILLION photos of the Childs Glacier ~ a MILLION!  It was a great afternoon spent watching and listening to the glacier move!  It groaned and cracked sounding like gun fire and rumbling thunder as it caved and fell into the Copper River in chunks the size of semi tractor trailers.  

                   

You could feel the cool breeze off the glacier and watch the waves from the falling ice cross the river and make their way to the other side of the bank ~ the one we were standing on.

All I can say is WOW!  What a great day!

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Ferry Ride to Cordova

 

 Ferry ride on the Alaska Marine Highway system from Valdez to Cordova.

It was a great ride with calm waters and just the right mix of sun and clouds.

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The Perry ~ Valdez Alaska

We were in Valdez on the 4th of July and were there for their 4th celebration parade. It was the best small town parade I have ever had the privilege to be in attendance as a bystander. It started at 12:15 p.m. and every parade participant tossed candy to the crowd. Everyone was smiling, laughing and all the kids were scurrying to pick up a bit of morsel of goodness.

The parade ended at 12:30 p.m.

Short and sweet!

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Old Railroad Tunnel

 

This story reads like any old west story from back in the day.  

Pioneering Alaska was similar to pioneering out West.  

Then again Alaska has not change much in some regards.  

We are still rugged.

We are still very much individuals.

We still have a bit of the crazies that just wont leave.

All reasons why I am glad we live here!

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Worthington Glacier

It was a bit windy and cool when we stopped at Worthington Glacier.  Matanuska Glacier was so far away and melting and even though Worthington Glacier too is receding you are able to be a bit closer to the glacier.

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Chitina & the Copper River

Moose right in the Village/Town of Chitina

Young bull Moose on the side of the road

Copper River

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Lodging at Copper Center

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge ~ great room rates via the web! It was a sunny evening and Mt. Drum was visible in the distance which made a great backdrop for fun photos!  Rooms are nice, the food however is Princess Tours food for the tourist and not the fresh home cooked meals we had at other places.  Breakfast was good ~ hard to goof up omelets!

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Copper Center

We ended up finding a couple of great items at the 

Olde Village Shop in Copper Center.

Great day of sightseeing and visiting!

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Eureka

Yes you are reading correctly ~ it is $4.699 per gallon of gas and $3.25 for a pound of flour in Eureka Alaska.  Neat little village on the high plateau on the Glenn Highway.

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Hatcher Pass & Independence Mine

Rock Hunting at Lower Troublesome Creek

 Great finds Eagle Eyes Candee!

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