A visit to Valdez , August 14, 08
Last weekend, Colleen and I spent a nice weekend with the Church group in Valdez. Calvin and Sherrie Miller, friends from Vancouver, WA, were visiting so, when Colleen got off work from her job as a Nurse Case Manager, we drove the spectacular six hour trip from Anchorage. Valdez is a small town at the end of a beautiful fiord on Prince William sound, that is best known for it great fishing and it's incredible snowfall in the winter.
We stayed at Glen and Sharon Mills lovely B&B and after a rather short night, went to church.
Valdez church averages about 8-12 in attendance, but everyone is so friendly and hospitable. It is a challenge being faithful in such a small church, however everyone gets very close, and there is a real sense of caring and community there. Calvin gave an excellent Sabbath School lesson and then I had the Divine Service. God blessed our little service and we all had great fellowship.

After a nice fellowship dinner we walked with a group to Debbie's cabin. She lives on a beautiful peninsula perched on a private beach. Her cabin is about 16x20 ft. and has no electricity or water. In the winter she heats with a tiny wood stove, and doesn't linger in her decorated outhouse. Her biggest problem is with bears that bother her. She carries a bell and Bear spray when she walks to work every morning at 4:30 am.
We went for a drive around the bay to the Valdez Oil terminal, where the supertankers are loaded from the Alaska Pipeline. While there we watched the end of the Chum Salmon run and a couple of bears feasting on their favorite food.
Sabbath Evening we had a nice Vesper Service and then walked down to see the end of the Women's Salmon derby. The women had their ocean fresh catches weighed in for size.
Sunday morning we had a breakfast with the church members and after some lovely fellowship, set off for the ferry terminal to catch the fast ferry back to Whittier. We watched a Supertanker loated with Alaskan oil leave the harbour and head for the lower 48 states. Those super ships are almost 1000 feet long and hold 400,000 tone. I'm not sure how much oil that is, but it's a lot.

The ferry travels at 35 knots and is in Whittier in an easy three hours. The trip is unsurpassed in beauty as we passed icebergs, freshly calved from glaciers.
Stopped in Whittier for some lunch and then quickly left to catch the tunnel. The tunnel is only one lane and is designed for the train. In recent years, it has been opened up for vehicle traffic with each way on the hour. You have to hit it just right or wait for the next opening going your way. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to drive through the tunnel. Portage Glacier greets you at the north end, so after a brief tour of the Portage Interpretive center, we hiked up Byron Glacier. It's an energizing hike and a great view from the Glacier. Played in the snow for a bit before heading home.