- Drive to Whittier
- Loading onto the Alaskan Marine Highway System ferry
- Overcast ferry ride across Prince William Sound to Valdez
- Dinner out in Valdez
So today we leave the Kenai Peninsula again. We drive north on the Seward Highway until we turn off to Whittier. A beaver crosses the road on the way, otherwise heavy rain sets in. With the combined single-lane train and car tunnel, we then have to wait longer until it is released in our direction. Over in Whittier we shorten the waiting time in a cafe while it's raining cats and dogs outside. Then we can load our camper into the hold of the Alaskan Marine Highway System's medium-sized ferry. Unfortunately, the ride through Prince William Sound is not very exciting in this weather. I update my diary and read about the upcoming destinations in the travel guide. Outside it's all foggy and it rains most of the time. The cold, hurricane-like wind makes staying on the deck for a longer period of time a real test.
Too bad, because Prince William Sound is famous for its species-rich waters and glaciers. Unfortunately, we don't get to see the mighty Columbia Glacier like this. A group of sea lions is lying on a rock. This area was badly affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker accident and the ensuing deadliest oil spill in US history. The sensitive ecosystem has not yet recovered from the toxic oil slag. The herring population, which is important for the entire food chain, is only between 10-20% of the original size. (more on this: The long shadow of an oil spill). A tsunami triggered by the second largest earthquake ever recorded and the resulting landslide completely wiped out Old Valdez in 1964. The new town living off fishing and the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline isn't really worth seeing. But since it is already 8 o'clock in the evening, we look for an RV spot and start looking for a restaurant. We try outrageously expensive but delicious Alaskan King Crab Legs for starters and delicious halibut for mains.
