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DigitalGrin > Vandana  > Photography > Photo-a-day > Daily Photos 2010
5th year of daily photos.. ! To live and remember each day of my life as vividly as possible.. All comments, suggestions and criticisms welcome.

See 2009 daily photos here
See 2011 daily photos here
gallery pages:  <<  <  17  18  19  20  21  22  >  >>
< 172 of 365 >
July 13, 2010. Goodbye Cordova!

Spent the morning hanging out along the lakes by the Copper River Highway when the nonstop rains occasionally paused. Drove back to Cordova at noon, to refuel at the Killer Whale Cafe - a salad and lots of coffee. The M/V Aurora arrived sharp at 3pm and that was that. Goodbye, Cordova! We will miss you.

Aboard the Aurora, most of the evening was spent gazing out at the minimalist expanse and vowing to buy a panoramic lens the next time around. There are vast expanses of snow-clad mountains and numerous waterfalls and it becomes overwhelming after a while! 

Aurora docked at the island of Tatitlek to pick up exactly 1 passenger! Wonder how the AMHS makes ends meet at this rate. We had a quick dinner, then it was time for a showing of "Valentine's Day" in the TV room. By the time the titles rolled, the misty mountains of Valdez were back in full view. Aurora docked in Valdez a full hour early at 10:30pm, and we're back in our tiny cabins at the RV stop now.

Off to Whittier tomorrow in an early morning cruise, abroad the Aurora again!
July 12, 2010. The mute swan.

Two hikes, both cut short due to bad conditions. The first, a 6 mile hike to Sheridan Glacier, was great for perhaps 2 miles, after which the trail got slushy and we noticed the UAS chopping wood and constructing the trail beams right ahead, so we turned back & let them finish. The second hike on the Saddleback Glacier trail through the densely wooded Chugach forests was called off almost at the very end of the trail, after noticing the time was way past 8pm, and realizing it would get dark on the way back. We kept hoping we had finished and we would turn a corner and the icebergs and glacier would show, but the corners kept coming and no iceberg.

Oh well! On the way back to Cordova, spotted this pair of wild mute swans with three baby swans. 

Leaving Cordova tomorrow on the M/V Aurora, back to Valdez and then on to Homer.
July 11, 2010. Childs Glacier
At the end of a 40 mile pot-holed gravel road that is the Copper River Highway lies the magnificent Childs Glacier. It is the largest tidewater glacier that can be seen up close, right across that glacial stream.  On the way to Childs, we spotted two black bear that darted out on the highway. One was quite large and gave us pause, but after a few deep breaths we decided to continue on to the glacier nevertheless.

Cordova itself is a tiny fishing town, and the trip along the unmaintained Copper River Highway feels like Tintin exploring unmarked forests and mountain streams in South America. The road is flanked by incredible mountain ranges and streams, many bald eagles on naked treetops. Childs Glacier arrives quite suddenly and the first view is spectacular, takes your breath away. We also drove on the Million Dollar Bridge nearby where we spotted our second bear.
July 10, 2010 Ships in clouds.

Officially a "rest day", we checked out of the RV stop and spent the morning munching subway sandwiches on the Valdez shores at the Salmon Gulch hatchery. We discovered that the spots from which we shot the eagles and seals yesterday were completely submerged on account of the high tide! Valdez was misty and fogged out, charter boats sailing in and out of the clouds beneath the snow-capped mountains. 

Purchased some tasty salmon packed in their own juices, $7.50 per 4oz,  at the Peter Pan Seafood Market. Then departed to the tiny fishing town of Cordova abroad the M/V Chenega. Got a $100 refund as we pulled in - drivers travel free!!! Chenega is pure luxury - airline seats, restaurant, pizza, icecream, solarium, fully loaded and cruising at 30 knots. 
Reached Cordova in under three hours, presently watching the FIFA finals.
July 9, 2010 - Bald eagle in flight.

We hiked the 5 mile Goat trail, starting at the base of Horsetail Falls and climbing rapidly to the base of a splendid water body. Lunch was had and plenty of photo-ops exploited. However, the highlight of the day was the stopover on the shores of Valdez  at the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery , frequented by bald eagles, juvenile bald eagles, and a ton of seagulls flying against the gorgeous backdrop of snow-crest mountains.
July 8, 2010. Who is X285 ?

So we went on a 9 hour cruise to the Columbia and Meares Glacier arranged by Stan Stephen Cruises
Highly recommended, except for an arbitrary lunch policy - the 12 noon lunch was postponed several times, finally served at 2pm! By that time, the entire ship was ravenously hungry and ready to eat each other. When the captain finally announced "lunch will be served", the entire ship burst into collective applause!

Apart from the icebergs and blue, very large glaciers, we did spot a large number of Orcas, a bald eagle on an iceberg, and this collection of sea lions, one of which (look closely) is actually branded X285 !!!

PS spotty wifi out here, uploading whenever we get a chance.
July 7, 2010. The drive to Valdez.

Drove from Glennallen to Valdez, with stopovers at the Worthington Glacier and the Bridal Veil waterfalls. K scaled the glacier after a strenuous hike on an unused trail, but no one was watching! Well, the memories will still be there. Staying at Valdez for 4 days, at the Eagles Rest RV stop. The tiny log  cabins are perfect!
July 6, 2010 - Food for thought.

Term mom feeds her kids at Potter's marsh along the Seward Highway.

A rather busy day - checked out of the Alyeska resort at Girdwood, drove via Seward Highway to Anchorage to Thunderbird Falls, Hatcher's Pass, Summit Lake, with brief stops at Matanuska Glacier, finally arriving at The Caribou Hotel in Glennallen at 11pm. Hot supper of Pad Thai cooked up by a lady in a trailer "Tok Thai" eaten in the bright sunlight at 11:30 pm before retiring for the night with curtains down.
July 5, 2010 - V at Hope, AK

18 miles detour from the Seward Highway lies Hope, AK - an ancient gold mine town of 140 with the first post office, over 120yrs old, still intact !
July 13, 2010. Goodbye Cordova!

Spent the morning hanging out along the lakes by the Copper River Highway when the nonstop rains occasionally paused. Drove back to Cordova at noon, to refuel at the Killer Whale Cafe - a salad and lots of coffee. The M/V Aurora arrived sharp at 3pm and that was that. Goodbye, Cordova! We will miss you.

Aboard the Aurora, most of the evening was spent gazing out at the minimalist expanse and vowing to buy a panoramic lens the next time around. There are vast expanses of snow-clad mountains and numerous waterfalls and it becomes overwhelming after a while!

Aurora docked at the island of Tatitlek to pick up exactly 1 passenger! Wonder how the AMHS makes ends meet at this rate. We had a quick dinner, then it was time for a showing of "Valentine's Day" in the TV room. By the time the titles rolled, the misty mountains of Valdez were back in full view. Aurora docked in Valdez a full hour early at 10:30pm, and we're back in our tiny cabins at the RV stop now.

Off to Whittier tomorrow in an early morning cruise, abroad the Aurora again!
July 13, 2010. Goodbye Cordova!

Spent the morning hanging out along the lakes by the Copper River Highway when the nonstop rains occasionally paused. Drove back to Cordova at noon, to refuel at the Killer Whale Cafe - a salad and lots of coffee. The M/V Aurora arrived sharp at 3pm and that was that. Goodbye, Cordova! We will miss you.

Aboard the Aurora, most of the evening was spent gazing out at the minimalist expanse and vowing to buy a panoramic lens the next time around. There are vast expanses of snow-clad mountains and numerous waterfalls and it becomes overwhelming after a while! 

Aurora docked at the island of Tatitlek to pick up exactly 1 passenger! Wonder how the AMHS makes ends meet at this rate. We had a quick dinner, then it was time for a showing of "Valentine's Day" in the TV room. By the time the titles rolled, the misty mountains of Valdez were back in full view. Aurora docked in Valdez a full hour early at 10:30pm, and we're back in our tiny cabins at the RV stop now.

Off to Whittier tomorrow in an early morning cruise, abroad the Aurora again!
July 13, 2010. Goodbye Cordova!

Spent the morning hanging out along the lakes by the Copper River Highway when the nonstop rains occasionally paused. Drove back to Cordova at noon, to refuel at the Killer Whale Cafe - a salad and lots of coffee. The M/V Aurora arrived sharp at 3pm and that was that. Goodbye, Cordova! We will miss you.

Aboard the Aurora, most of the evening was spent gazing out at the minimalist expanse and vowing to buy a panoramic lens the next time around. There are vast expanses of snow-clad mountains and numerous waterfalls and it becomes overwhelming after a while!

Aurora docked at the island of Tatitlek to pick up exactly 1 passenger! Wonder how the AMHS makes ends meet at this rate. We had a quick dinner, then it was time for a showing of "Valentine's Day" in the TV room. By the time the titles rolled, the misty mountains of Valdez were back in full view. Aurora docked in Valdez a full hour early at 10:30pm, and we're back in our tiny cabins at the RV stop now.

Off to Whittier tomorrow in an early morning cruise, abroad the Aurora again!
Nikon D300S |
More details: exif |
Original size: 2467x3751 |
Current: 395x600 |
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Keywords: cruise aurora cordova vandana
gallery pages:  <<  <  17  18  19  20  21  22  >  >>
< 172 of 365 >

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