Taking the Long Way
Today we started our journey from Whittier to Valdez. We could have taken a ferry directly across Prince William Sound, but we took the long way driving, with a stop partway there. First up, we had to return through the tunnel from Whittier. We drove through familiar territory all the way to Anchorage.
On the way, we stopped at the Indian Valley Mine, a historic gold mine and very unique place. There was a family panning for gold, and Carrie helped them get a picture taken. The proprietor had a rescue duckling that was hilarious. We walked through the displays and saw the remains of the mine. We saw a demonstration of gold panning, and got back on the road.
After we made it through Anchorage, we were back in new territory. We were planning on stopping at a reindeer farm, but with the Covid restrictions, they were out of reservations. So, we went to a MuskOx Farm. They are working hard at domesticating the animals to be a good source for the valuable wool, called qiviut. We walked around the animal pens and got some great photos.
We left there to head towards our lodging for the night. We are staying at the Majestic Valley Wilderness Lodge near Matanuska Glacier. On the way we saw some differing landscapes, and some actual sunshine. We had a nice journey and added to our log of photos.
We checked in our cabin, and some rested, some went for a walk, and I snoozed in a hammock - restful until a mosquito snacked on my face. Dinner for tonight was at the lodge. It was a really nice meal, and it was super nice not to have to drive anywhere. After dinner, we settled in for the evening routines. We just have one night here, but it was nice not to have to drive the entire way to Valdez in one day.
