Rain, rain and more rain

Here we are, back in Anchorage. Twelve days into the trip, and solid rain for ten of them. Was supposed to take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier, then up the Seward Highway today. But on account of the weather, got a standby spot on yesterday's ferry. A word to anyone planning a trip to Alaska: Valdez is not a place to be when it is raining. Particularly during the heaviest rain in 25 years. There is absolutely nothing to do. They don't even have a movie theatrer.

At least I had a book. Jeff Shaara's "To the Last Man", a novel about World War I, is a good read, as are all his books. But I could be doing that at home.

On the one nice day, Monday, I took a sea kayak and a guide up to within two miles of the Columbia Glacier. Since it was the nicest day of the summer, we paddled up five miles closer to the glacier than even the guide had ever been. The Columbia is the second largest tidewater glacier in North America, and is truly a freak of nature, with a 3 mile face that is 300 feet high. We paddled within two miles of the face, which is as close as one wants to be as the glacier is prone to calving stadium-sized chunks of ice from the bottom 1,000 feet below the surface. We did see huge chunks calving off the face. Saw lots of sea otters and seals, including one seal who kept popping up around the kayaks. Afgter a totoal of twnty miles of kayaking, I was completely burnt out by day's end.

Yesterday the weather was nice for the ferry ride and drive up to Anchorage. I even saw a moose. But I awoke to more cold rain this morning. Now I'm just poking around Anchorage, but don't have any interest in being outside in this weather. Too bad, as the Cugach State Park is right outside of town, and there is no end to the great outdoor activities within an hour of here.

Will post pictures when I get home.