VALDEZ, AK.  Hilly mountain roads for the first half of today's drive, then an area that ended with the worst road conditions and construction seen in weeks.  Beautiful scenery once again shielded from clear view by a wall of white haze.  Finally made it here to a large RV park.  Typical Alaskan park, which means it is rough gravel grounds with tight sites. 

Made it in OK, and tomorrow at 8 am we shall be picked up to be taken to the port for a day-long cruise of Prince William Sound.  It will be cloudy again, so we may have a similar experience as we did in Seward.  They advertise the same wildlife, humpback whales and orcas, otters, sea lions, puffins, etc.  We also shall see Meares Glacier. 

This afternoon we walked around Valdez.  It seems that pet rabbits were set loose years ago and they have been reproducing here ever since.  We saw several hopping around and got one good photo.

One of the Local Bunnies

This is another port where tourists pay to ride a fishing boat to catch large fish.  We snapped a few photos as we walked around Valdez.

Sample of One Fisherman's Catch

A Couple Other Fishermen's Catch

The locals have private pleasure craft of an unusual design.  Everywhere you are near water, you see boats like these that look like they are ready for combat.  The reason for this design is that the water year-round is so cold here that you cannot risk getting splashed with it in the wind as you cruise on.  Everyone must be enclosed in weather-proof and water-proof windows and doors.  The glacier melt that feeds the waterways here is 35 degrees F.  Only three degrees above freezing. 

Example of Pleasure Craft in Valdez Harbor