One of the things I wanted to do in Alaska was catch a salmon. We were lucky enough to have some friends, Wes and Dorinda Van der Martin [if it's not Dutch, it's not much] that own a Chalet motor home and together we went to Valdez to do some fishing.
We wandered all over East/Central Alaska going from Anchorage to Valdez, a 6+ hour drive. We had gorgeous, sunny, autumn weather. The trees were beginning to change colors-mostly yellows but a few reds. We hiked up to the Worthington Glacier, touched the glacier, got our picture taken under a cave built between the rock and the glacier (an "n-flow"?). You could hear rocks falling, water dripping and never knew if it was going to collapse on you. The path to the cave was definitely not a groomed National Forest path...as there was none.
We saw Bald Eagles, bear cubs, Dall sheep, spawning salmon, jumping salmon, sea lions, and did you catch bear cubs [as in plural]? Valdez has a fenced, viewing area where the salmon spawn and in the evening we saw one cub on Saturday and TWO cubs on Sunday evening. I got pictures but haven't downloaded them yet. They are bigger than dots but...not too clear as I'm not patient when taking night pictures. But, Mother, you can tell they are bears!
As to the fishing... I'm left wondering why the people on our left caught some, the people on our right caught some. We were using the same type of lures. We got a couple of look, see, bites but we didn't catch any. Wes caught two nice sized silvers (which he gave us, aren't we lucky?)and a few carcasses (lots of dead salmon in the water) and even a small halibut that looked like it was too sad to eat and was thrown back in to the water. But nothing for Kent and I (nor Dorinda or Missy their BYU-ID daughter). But the sun was on our back, the high tide took the dead fish smell away and we were in a little bit of heaven. The Van der Martins stayed at a campsite and we had wonderful campfires and food. Kent and I stayed at L & L Bed and Breakfast. The Van der Martins took us back and forth.
Great weekend even if we didn't catch any fish! I'm left wondering if life could get better?
I'm jealous! Sounds like fun and relaxing and BEAUTIFUL!!!! sorry you didn't catch any fish.. maybe you should have used marshmellows :)
ReplyDeleteSounds idyllic. Fall color even - does that mean fall will eventually find its way to San Antonio?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time you had! Bear cubs even. I still can taste the delicious fresh caught salmon we baked in Anchorage. Sorry you didn't catch one - next time! Fall colors, glaciers, mountains, hiking sounds idyllic to me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhile you will have great bear pictures, I doubt they will be remembered as long as my two which were taken in 1970!"