Serenading Nature

Day 25
Drove from Homer to Palmer just east of Anchorage. 257 miles
Stopped to help some people whose camper the ignition wouldn't work--called for help for them once we got into a telephone area. They didn't get help for 8 hours. We saw some more moose along the road, but we have stopped counting. I guess we now think of them as almost rabbits.
Palmer campground not too clean but a place to sleep. Lots of bugs. good night

Day 26
Drove 259 miles to Valdez. What a view all the way. The most beautiful drive so far. Thompson Pass, and Keystone Canyon great. On the drive we had to stop for 20 minutes for road construction and we all stood on the highway. Met a lady that was heading up to Chicken. She was an author of a supplement book to "Tisha" about a Chicken teacher. Tisha was her husband's grandmother. I bought the book on the highway.

We also spelled out my name on the hillside with rocks. They do that up here. Karen started it--she started mine instead of her's because Gary didn't want her to do it. With my name it was harder for him to stop her. Passed beautiful falls and glaciers going down to Valdez. Settled into the campground right on the bay across from the pipeline terminal. What a view. In town we saw many eagles flying trying to get food from some people. Got some great photos. It is illegal to feed them. But, I'm glad they did it until someone called them on it. Found a great fish shop and had wonderful cod.

Day 27
Stayed put for another day. Gary took us out on a rough road to a falls. Talk about holes in the road--but again beautiful. Drove to pipeline but it is closed to people. Gary thought he saw a huge eagle, but it truned out to be a worker with a white hardhat on. We had a great laugh. Gary didn't laugh as hard as we did. The Valdez mountains almost look like green velvet. They get over 300" of snow a year. Like a rain forest.

In the afternoon we went to 2 museums and saw 3 films about the area. Long busy days. Went back for more fish. Valdez is my favorite place so far. I should say one of 2 because I fell in love with Denali.

Day 28
Drove 251 miles from Valdez to Tok--basically on the way home now but with stops to make. At the 5000 mile mark. Before we left Valdez we went to old city Valdez that was destroyed from the 64' earthquake. As we are at the water's edge Gary saw a black bear. It was between us and the vehicle. With Shirley being by the truck. We got some pictures. Then I sang to scare it off. It ran very fast. Gary wasn't happy because he wanted to get a closer shot, but his camera was in the truck.

Just outside of Valdez in Worthington Glacier. We stopped and got some shots and rocks. We arrived in Tok at 5 pm. Got my window fixed. Damage from a flying rock on the way up. Went to a singing program at the campground and finally got some rain.