DAYS 56-58: PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND

DAY 56: Sunday July 17, 2011:  It was 56 degrees and cloudy this morning when we left for the Valdez First Baptist Church where we were warmly greeted. There were probably about 100 in attendance and the music was inspiring and the minister, who was obviously from the south, presented a thought provoking message.  

After lunch we explored Valdez.  Valdez was named by Spanish explorers, was deliberately not pronounced in the Spanish manner by american gold miners arriving in 1898, the same year as the Spanish-American War. American miners felt it was more patriotic to ignore the linguistic ties to the enemy.  So they dubbed the area "Val-deez."  The original town was four miles from Valdez's current location, an it's buildings were much older than the ones here today.  In 1964, the Great Alaska Earthquake, and the accompanying tidal wave, destroyed Valdez.  The US Army Corps of Engineers condemned the site and the town was moved to a new and safer location.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VALDEZ

SIGN OT THE ENTRANCE TO THE SMALL BOAT HARBOR

DAY 57:  Monday, July 18, 2011:  It rained all night and we were worried that we wouldn't be able to enjoy the "Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruise" we'd booked for today.   However, the rain stopped and it was 56 degrees when we boarded the "Valdez Spirit" at 9:30 a.m. for the 9 hour cruise.  The boat is licensed for 149 passengers, but we were happy when we learned that our cruise would have only 68; so everyone had lots of room and it made for a very pleasant and enjoyable cruise.

SEA OTTERS FLOAT IN BAY, SEA OTTERS ARE THE LARGEST MEMBERS OF THE WEASEL FAMILY AND MALES CAN WEIGH UP TO 100 LBS.  THEY ARE NICKNAMED "OLD MAN OF THE SEA."

YOUNG STELLER SEA LIONS PLAY BESIDE OUR BOAT

HUMPBACK WHALE

NANCY WITH MEARES GLACIER IN BACKGROUND.  MEARES GLACIER IS 1/2 MILE WIDE, 9 MILES LONG AND 200 FT. HIGH AND IS AN ADVANCING GLACIER, WHICH MEANS IT IS GROWING LARGER EACH YEAR.

THIS HUMPBACK WHALE SLAPS IT'S PECTORAL FIN ON WATER TO SCARE SMALL FISH INTO A SCHOOL.  IT WILL THEN SWIM THROUGH THE SCHOOLED FISH  WITH IT'S MOUTH OPEN CATCHING THE FISH AND ALSO TAKING IN ABOUT 150 GALLONS OF WATER WHICH IT EXPELS.

WE WATCHED THIS BLACK BEAR ON THE SHORE

HARBOR SEALS RESTING ON GLACIER ICE 

ICE WHICH HAS CAVED FROM THE COLUMBIA GLACIER, ONLY 10% OF THE ICE IS VISIBLE ABOVE THE WATER, THE BLUE COLORED ICE IS BECAUSE THE ICE IS SO TIGHTLY COMPRESSED THAT ALL COLORS EXCEPT BLUE ARE FILTERED OUT THROUGH REFRACTION, AS THE ICE MELTS AND SOFTENS IT TURNS CLEAR AND THEN WHITE

TWO BALD EAGLES

Tuesday July 19, 2011: Today we moved to the Bayside RV Park in Valdez.  In Valdez is the terminus of the Alaskan Pipeline where there is a 1,000 acre facility which stores the pipeline oil and pumps it into tanker ships.  Currently the pipeline carries 640,000 gal. of heavy crude per day.  Contrary to what I've always heard, ALL of the crude oil goes to american refineries, most located on the west coast.  I also learned that once the pipeline is no longer used, the oil companies are required to dismantle and remove all trace of the pipeline, pump stations and the Valdez facility.

SOME OF THE 183 FISHING BOATS WHICH OPERATE OUT OF THE PORT OF VALDEZ, THERE WERE 185, BUT 2 SANK DURING THE LAST MONTH.

OIL STORAGE FACILITY AT VALDEZ

INCOMING EMPTY TANKER-NOTE THE RED LINE

OUTGOING LOADED TANKER-NOTE THE RED IS BELOW THE WATERLINE, THIS TANKER HOLDS 1.4 MILLION GALLONS OF CRUDE OIL.

LOADED TANKER WITH ONE OF IT'S TWO ESCORT TUG BOATS WHICH ARE REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL, ONE TUG IS CONNECTED BY A LINE TO THE STERN OF THE TANKER TO ASSIST WITH STEERING OR IN CASE OF PROPULSION FAILURE AS INSURANCE TO PREVENT THE TANKER GOING AGROUND, THE SECOND TUG IS ON STANDBY IN CASE IT IS NEEDED.