At 4.30 a.m. in darkness and with it still drizzling rain, we packed up camp which for the first time in our North American travels meant dealing with wet tents!
Having loaded up the bus we drove a short distance from the camp-site to the ferry terminal and joined the passenger queue for the six hour trip round to Whittier on the north-eastern coast of the Kenai Peninsula. Charlie stayed in the bus and drove it onto the ferry whilst the rest of us gathered in the passenger lounge and found seats.
The ferry left Valdez promptly at 7.00 a.m. and headed west and then southwards down the Prince William Sound in a dense fog.
Fleeting glimpses were just possible of the Shoup and Anderson Glaciers with their high melt-waterfalls cascading into the sea close to the ferry’s route.
We passed the now infamous Bligh Reef where the Exxon Valdez experienced its terrible accident.
As we approached Growler Island the fog lifted considerably and dozens of small icebergs became visible, none much bigger than a person although one much larger one was viewed in the distance. Many appeared to be sculpted into appealing shapes and their shades of blue from pale eggshell to azure made for an attractive sight within an otherwise gloomy sea.
After six hours travelling on the ferry we passed between Esther and Culross Islands and after negotiating the narrow Passage Canal we finally arrived at Whittier.
The town scene was bleak with rain pouring down and yet the surrounding mountains were covered with waterfalls, some of which were massive.
We rejoined the bus and commenced our 130 km drive down to Seward (most unfortunately pronounced ‘sewered’!!). At the half-way mark we stopped for refreshments at Moose Pass where the small stream was littered with dying salmon that must have made their way ten or more kilometres upstream from the ocean to spawn.
On arrival at Seward we all made the decision not to camp as the ground was wet and it was still raining. After a number of ‘phone enquiries we split up to have accommodation for the night with some in hostels and others (including us – the Awesome foursome) electing to share a motel room with two double beds.
Our group of fourteen reassembled later in the evening at a local restaurant/boutique brewery for a meal and to sample some of their fine wares.
Plans for tomorrow will have to be altered if this rain continues.
We were informed by a local that this inclement weather is a spinoff from the cyclone that has recently affected the Hawaiian Islands.
So far, we’ve been lucky with the weather having had only three wet days out of twenty with most days being sunny and warmer than expected for these Arctic latitudes.
Sign, Moose Pass
Water wheel, Moose Pass