Our trip to Whittier was an adventure. We drove South from Anchorage on Highway #1 along Cook Inlet, also called Seward Highway, until we reached Portage at the end of Turnagain Arm. Take a left and follow the road through two tunnels and there you are. Whittier welcomes you with a sign.
Along the way, we stopped in at the Begich-Boggs Visitor center for some flyers about the area. As luck would have it, we were just in time for “Alaska Nellie‘s” story about her adventure of working the railroad and persistence on coming to Alaska. She was born in St Louis at an early age (lol) and had wanted to come to Alaska ever since her teacher told the class about it. After she worked her way to Alaska, her life’s ambition was full filled. Nellie, we wish you the very best of life to come. Keep the faith
Alaska Nellie & Nita
The Visitor Center is is a mini museum on Portage Lake. It is about the area and as if on cue, they had a mini iceburg on the lake just outside the big picture window. 
A small Burgy Bit
One of the tunnel’s is called the Anton Anderson tunnel. It is a miraculous work of professionals . It is 2.5 miles long and one lane wide. It has a railroad track in the middle so you have to straddle it, and it isn’t much wider than the Boomer Bus and a train certainly fills it up with little room to spare. It originally was built for trains in 1942 to haul supplies that were brought in to the newly built pier at Passage Canal on Prince William Sound to the mainland to support the war effort. In 1992 it was reconstructed to accommodate autos and trucks. It was the first time that you could travel to Whittier by automobile.
We took a campsite behind a huge parking lot along the Wittier Creek. It is complete with a gravel path (road), fire pit, no water or electricity (which is OK) and all the mosquitoes you can swat (free of course-just like elsewhere), but only a short distance from the center of town--wherever that is. We can hear the creek rushing by and it is a pleasant sound. Otherwise, it is quiet and peaceful.
Our first outing was to secure tickets for a glacier cruise. We were told about Major Marine Tours so we called them (after calling a competitor by mistake) and arranged one for Tuesday. We chose them because they had a Prime Rib and Baked Salmon Buffet and a Park Ranger on board each cruise.
We spotted the Wild Catch Café and decided to have some fish & chips and Reindeer Chili. UUMM. The Halibut was delicious and the chili was spicey just like it should be. Must go there again
Wild Catch Cafe
Isabelle, our waitress from Florida, working the Alaska summer. She said the Alaskans are so "real" compared to Miami people. Down to earth, no artificial "put on", no designer clothing, etc.
Tuesday, 8 July
Oh my GOD, what a most wonderful and gorgeous day. Clear skies and warm, around 65 degrees. Coffee at the Wild Catch Café and then off to the Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise on the Major Marine Fair Weather Express Catamaran. The boat was not as large as their competitors. Theirs had seating for 300 and ours only had seating for 143. We only had less than half that aboard. What a blessing not to be crowded together and not have to stand in long lines. And the crew has time to interact with the passengers. Thank you Major Marine Co.
We were greeted by a pair of Eagles dining on fish
State Flag and my honey
We had Captain Laura, piloting, crew members Josh, Edwin, Erin and Oscar (I think first mate) servicing the passengers. WOW! What a crew. The nicest young people you could ever want. Every need or want was immediately provided with a warm smile. They went out of their way to ensure we were enjoying the cruise.
(photos of all)
Captain Laura--Young intelligent gal who got her Coast Guard License in only four years. Superb ship handling. Friendly and outgoing. thank you for a great cruise.
Erin-our photographer. She claimed to have used more cameras than I've taken pictures. Yeah, I believe her.
Ethan--With Josh's help, hooked up Nita's phone for charging and sent me copies of his whale video's. Thanks, Ethan
Oscar--First Mate got some training in the Captains Steering House.
Josh- found an empty receptacle
under the bar to plug in my phone charger.
Surprise Glacier
Seals and Sea Otters
Calving
Sea Otters floating on their back's
Every direction we looked while cruising there were glaciers. There are about 12,000 glaciers in Alaska. Most of them don't have a name. If you screw up on one of them, they will name it after you.
We were blessed when a krill-Baleen Whale appeared close to the boat and put on a terrific show. You would have thought it was trained to do the rolls, slapping the water, lunging up in the air and diving that it did. Park Ranger Jim said the behavior was very unusual, that they normally feed, that's it, they eat. They feed primarily on krill, small shrimp like crustaceans, zoo-plankton and small fishes. They can consume up to 8,000 lbs a day. They feed with their mouth open into swarms of krill. The water filters through the baleen and traps the food inside the mouth.
Our next stop was at a seal rock where several seals were basking in the warm sun. We couldn't get too close, just like the whale, park rules prohibit. They can come to you but you can't go to them..We could see that some of them obviously were males since they can grow to around 2,000 lbs. I was able to photo one just as he climbed out of the water. He appears to be huge. Thank goodness for zoom lens's.
Jim Sumner--Park Ranger Extraordinaire.
During the cruise he would have the Jr Rangers bring around samples of subjects he talked about. One was a sample baleen and a vial with krill to show how small they are. The baleen is a close network of stiff hairs that allow the water to go through and trap the krill, it is the whale's "tooth".
Our next event was to go into close waters with a hatchery. I think they specialize in Pink Salmon. Anyway, the fishermen come out and stay for two-four days while the salmon are running, after the hatchery gives the ok. All use gill nets, just like the southern states uses gill nets for Mullet Fish. Here, because there's so many jelly fish they have to spray them out of the nets before hauling them in. Like the South, they circle their fish and splat the water inside the circle to scare the fish into the nets or string them in a line where they suspect they will be running. The hatchery has (tries) to clear all out if they can before releasing the new fry so they can migrate to the rearing areas and become smolts to adapt for salt water life. Gosh, that really an amazing cycle they go through.
The hatchery
A potty in the Wild.
Here are some stages salmon roe (eggs) go through to incubate and become alevins
Again Jim, thank you so much for what you do.
Last but not least, we stopped and watched thousands of sea gulls(mews-I think) nestling on the side of a mountain. I kept looking for the Puffins.
What-no Puffins. No, all Mews
Hazy photo--stare at it. White dots are birds
Waterfalls are everywhere
Sadly enough, the cruise had to end, but on a gracious and happy note. We were really blessed by GOD to give us such a gorgeous day, wonderful cruise captain and crew, Jim, and a fantastic buffet of all you could eat, prime rib, baked salmon, salad, rice pilaf and topped off with cheese cake and chocolate brownie for desert.The prime rib was the best and tenderest I've had in a long time and the salmon was just perfect.
Today was a blessing that's unforgettable. GOD Bless all of you and "fair winds and following seas" to all.
After the cruise, we felt it was time to explore this wonderfully small city and learn more about what makes it important. So, off we go and we'll tell you about it tomorrow. Ciao!
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