ALASKA – VALDEZ Day Two

July 16 Monday Beautiful sunny morning! We headed to the Valdez Museum. Took a walking tour with a guide, Faith, who just moved here from central NY 10 months ago! Small world, she grew up in Corning! The tour was of the houses and business buildings that were moved from the original Valdez location to the current location after the 1964 earthquake. We had lunch at the Harbor Cafe and got some pictures of the harbor. So pretty in the sunlight! The mountains surrounding Valdez are absolutely beautiful. 

Valdez harbor

Another view of Valdez from across the bay

Thompson Pass early 1900s

We toured both museums, the Valdez Museum and the old Valdez Museum. Thought this picture of Thompson Pass in the early 1900's was interesting.   It was hard enough to drive through it in the fog in our RV...can't imagine traveling through it like this!









We decided to head for the salmon hatchery a little earlier tonight to see if we could catch the bears eating dinner. They were there!  I guess it is pretty unusual to see a bear with 4 cubs.  She gave the cubs a couple of salmon which they fought over, and then she got some for herself.  When it was time to leave, she didn't seem concerned at all by the crowd that had gathered.  Gary got some good pictures!

Mama bear and her four cubs (notice the sea lion in the background)

Mama has her dinner

Mama and cubs heading back home after dinner