Valdez Catch up

We were able to head out one night to try our hand at the silver salmon.  That particular day was clear and sunny...and windy.  The waves were very choppy and I think it affected the fish, though we saw them jumping everywhere!  We were unlucky in our catching, but we had a lovely time out on the ocean in the bay.  It was beautiful!

The next morning, I headed out to a historical cemetery.  It was used only until 1915 or so when they moved to where the current cemetery is located.  This one had been renovated and reclaimed several times, and there are still missing "headstones."  Apparently, the markers are all made of wood and have not stood the test of time.  These re-done markers were fascinating to me and the one below is of a woman of mixed race who was not allowed to be buried within the gates.  I found that odd, since they did allow a Japanese man to be buried there with all Buddhist rites, but not a woman who was half white, half black.  I thought it was sad.

I drove on into the mountains and stopped at Horsetail falls (above) and Bridalveil falls (below).  There are very pretty falls, just off the highway.

Beside one of the falls parking lots, I took a "Goat Trail" up a little over a mile, one way.  It seemed to be a lovely trail with the trees just shading the walk.  That is, until the photo below which made me a bit uncertain.  It looked dark inside that tunnel of trees! (I'm thinking bears hiding out, eating berries!)

I was completely alone on the trail, so I had to try and remember if it was, in fact, this trail that had remnants of the telegraph lines visible.  I saw these and had to conclude that it was so.  I could be wrong.  No one was there to dispute me.
I was correct in my assumptions that the berries would be ripe and ready.  These are actually Salmonberries.  They look like giant raspberries or even strawberries that are hanging from raspberry canes.  These were quite tasty, though still not as flavorful as a raspberry.

The trail was lovely, just enough shade to keep me cool, and the end came as a washed out bridge!  It seems that prior to a 2006 spring, this bridge allowed one to continue on the trail that had historically been used for wagons and carriages from Valdez to Fairbanks.  This particular spot is called Snowslide Gulch, and it appears that this spring flooding has a long history of removing bridges, and the DOT is not inclined to give it another one to demolish.

I finished my outing with a view of the never-used railroad tunnel.  It seems that there had been a rush to get a railroad made from the coast up to the mines, but after a shootout, Cordova was the desired route.

It was an interesting and lovely day.  I'll have to take some pictures of the real purpose of my visit.  I just didn't think photos of camping, cooking, and laundry were all that interesting!  As I'm preparing to leave tomorrow, I'm feeling quite sad.  I really enjoy taking care of Pat and helping him here.  I wish I could stay until he comes home, but it won't be too long!