Valdez and Cruise around Prince William Sound

August 1, Friday

   Lin and Paul out fishing today on the river here in Valdez.  Got pinks and some more Halibut that was given to them.  So we are grilling this tonight for dinner to see how they did.  These pics of the waterfall and the mountains are of the drive around Valdez. 

 The harbor and boats in Valdez.  I can believe the beauty of the mountains. 

 We ate the Pink Salmon and Halibut that was given to us.  We liked the Halibut, but the Pinks were not very flavorful.  Learned that as the Salmon come into the rivers to Spawn, they don't eat, they are intent on the swimming.  As they come into the river, they don't eat, they swim with their mouths open and you just catch them as they swim by, just happening to catch them in the mouth.  If you don't catch them in the mouth, you have to throw them back!!  Love their rules here. I think these rules only apply to the people that are non-residents.  The natives don't have the same rules about any fishing or hunting.  As the salmon are swimming up to spawn, their bodies are deteriorating, so if you catch them too far upstream, they meat is not good anymore.  We think that is what happened with these?   This is our boat that we will be on tomorrow for our Prince William Sound Cruise. The LuLu Belle.

 August 2, Saturday

    Cruising out to Prince William Sound today…so excited to see more wildlife.  Preparing myself to not get seasick…you know the story of me watching the movie, Titanic, and getting seasick during the movie.  Lin won’t let me forget that one!  Have my electrical stimulator band on my wrist, and took meds, I’m ready!! 

   LuLu Belle boat is ready and waiting for us.  Captain Fred gives us the safely speech and a running commentary of all the wildlife we will see, history of the area and some of the industry that is in the area. 

  Sea Otters are the first sea life we come upon.  What cuties!  We can’t see enough or take enough pics of them.  They are just so darn cute. I don't get tired of watching them at all.

 Waterfalls, a Minky Whale ( she was super shy and only able to get a few pics of her) then playing porpoises that just loved the front of the ship, playing with each other and it looked like they were playing with the boat. .

This is the Minky Whale, of course as she comes up, I snap the pic, but she is just too fast for me to get her full picture. Course, I could tell you this is anything and you wouldn't know...lol..

 We didn't see any Humpback whales. Captain Fred says they are much more playful and not shy of the boats. 

 Then we saw sea lions, barking was so loud, you could hardly hear over them.  Captain Fred is telling us they don’t like the sea lions as they eat all the salmon in the harbors.  

Then he took us into a cave like area where the Puffins hide and nest.  Lots were nesting but a bit hard to get good pics it is so dark in the cave.  We had to look for their white on the face to see them.  We had to play the Titanic pic on the front of the boat, then we were at the Columbia Glacier.  Stayed there for over an hour watching all the calving of the Glacier.  The thunder it sounds before the ice falls is amazing. 

Enjoying a few pics of all of us together on the front of the boat. 

As we headed back into Valdez port, we saw the boat, “Cornella Maria” which is on the show, Deadliest catch. 

Lin has met the crew before when he was in Alaska, but we didn’t see anyone on this trip.  Oscar the sea otter was in the port when we arrived and was waiting for us to give him some food.  A great day, long, but so wonderful and so many animals.  I loved all of it, can’t think any was more favorite than another.

August 3, Sunday

   Valdez Gold Rush Celebration weekend.  Tent city with everyone bringing their food and crafts to sell then the parade down the main street.  Lots of candy being thrown, fun cars and everyone having a great time.