Healy was begging us to leave on August 29.  It was rainy and cold with “termination dust” snow on all of the peaks around us.  Water was rushing across the road as we drove it for the last time. 

The weather became worse as we drove the Parks Highway through the edge of Denali National Park and then Denali State Park, with plenty of snow hitting the windshield. 

Fortunately, Anchorage welcomed us with sunny skies and our first ever Beluga Whales!  We saw at least 3 belugas from the viewpoint at Ship Creek Small Boat Harbor.   Some were a pure, startling white, while others were gray.  Kudos to C for insisting we take the time to look on a hectic day.

We spent the night in Whittier,  where I took the Alaska Railroad  Glacier Discovery Train the next day.  The trip is through a partnership with the Chugach National Forest and included interpretive information and a guided hike.  My next post will have lots of glacier photos – I have seen so many gorgeous glaciers lately!

C fished with some success while I was on the train.

The next morning, we were  woken by a phone call from the Alaska Marine Highway letting us know that our ferry to Cordova that day was canceled. As many times as we have used the AMHS, it is amazing this is our first major delay. Fortunately, the Anchor Inn in Whittier was able to move things around to let us stay in our room 2 more days.  It was too late to adjust our cabin rental in Cordova,  so it would sit empty until we could get there.

Once the ferry was fixed, we made the journey through Prince William Sound to Cordova and then drove to our USFS cabin at mile 21 on the Copper River Highway. We had stayed here last year as well and knew exactly what to bring for a comfortable stay.  The canopy was great when it rained.  We brought firewood for the wood stove, and some bright battery lights for the inside.  Six gallons of water was plenty for drinking and meals.  In the photo above the bright pink is salmon roe that C is curing for bait.  

There are lots of mushrooms,  fish, and pretty scenery in easy walking distance,  though we drove at least 3 miles every day.

Last year we made friends with a local couple who were happy to take as many salmon as we wanted to share.  When their schedule allowed, they even drove the 20 miles out the bumpy gravel road to pick the fish up.

While we were at the cabin we didn’t have cell service.   Now that we are at an AirBNB in the town of Cordova, I can catch up with the blog (and showers and laundry!)  Wednesday we will take the ferry to Valdez.