Lumpy-Alaska Highway-2004 Thumbnails

On the M/V Aurora,
Enroute to Whittier, AK: Aug 21

Subject: Valdez, AK to Whittier, AK

Comments: Today we checked out of our motel in Valdez early in the morning and headed for the Marine Highway Terminal. It took some time to load this ship because we had a couple of tour buses to be loaded, along with many cars and pickup pulling a horse trailer (with horse inside) and finally my motorcycle. I think I was one of the last to board. This ferry trip would be a short one...only 5 hours.

Enroute to Whittier we went through an area of ice flows, close to the location that the Exxon Valdez ran aground a few years back. The ice breaks off the glaciers that flow into the ocean, and floats out to sea.

In the last pictures you see our approach to Whittier and a cruise ship docked there.

Upon arrival at Whittier, we would go through the Whittier Tunnel and then ride about 60 miles along Turnagain Arm to get to Anchorage. My travelling partner, John, hitched a ride to Anchorage with a friendly oceanographer that had been on the Aurora with us, and he met me later in Anchorage after picking up a rental car (see earlier story about John's motorcycle having been stolen before the trip began).

The third picture on this page was taken as we passed by the Alaska Pipeline Terminal in Valdez.