Day 42- Valdez

 July 23

Yesterday but have wore us out cause we all slept in again.  Although that seems to be the theme of multi day stops.  

After lunch we finally started our day.  There is alot to do in Valdez, but also there isn't.  All depends on what you can or want to do.  There is kayaking at a glacier lake that would have been fun, but I doubt the kids would have been up to it.  Not to mention the cost.  I'm kind of tapped out on paying for trips and excursions.  

We did have several things planned for the day though.  First stop was the Valdez museum.  I think we might be museum'ed out.  It was very well done but in every museum half is dedicated to the native people.  I have seen the same seal intestine rain suit at all of them.  

They did have a nice display on the Exxon Valdez accident.  Also there was a separate display in another building about the 1964 earthquake that leveled the town.  

After the museum we headed out to take a closer look at the waterfalls on the way into Valdez.  We sight see'ed and took photo's. 

After we weren't back to the camper.  Everyone was starving.  I made chicken fried rice.  The girls then made a fire while I got my fishing stuff together.  I bought a new rod and reel at Walmart but I didn't think I needed to spend $100 for just one evening of fishing.  Hopefully I can return the pole and reel when I get home.

I had a walleye pole that had broken its tip.  I also used the reel from my spare pole.  I had it since I was a teenager.  I bought some heavier line so I restrung it.   I drove about a 1/4 mile down the road to another parking area with an easy path down to the beach.  The salmon had been running since we got to Valdez. 

I was getting a salmon every few casts.  It was awesome.  I ended up keeping 3.  Two pinks and a silver.  

After about an hour and a half the fish stopped biting.  The tide was coming back up so maybe that was why.  I cleaned the fish right on the beach.   I thought a seaweed covered bolder would be a good spot.  Not so much.  But it was the best I had.  I still got 6 decent filet's. 

 

P.S. The infamous furred fish.  Alaska's version of the jackalope.