Day 358. July 30, 2014. Valdez Tough

LOCATION:  Valdez, Alaska in south central Alaska

WEATHER:  Cloudy, high around 60

Valdez's motto is Valdez Tough. They indeed have been through a lot.  The world's second largest earthquake hit Alaska 50 years ago on Good Friday.  Valdez, as some other coastal towns, was destroyed.  Many people died during the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis.  "Old Town" was condemned, and residents created "New Town" Valdez.  We went on a guided tour to learn about the homes and businesses that were relocated.  Very interesting.  Then, exactly 25 years later, eerily also on Good Friday, the Exxon Valdez crashed and spilled its oil here.  On top of that, Valdez receives more snow than any other place -600 inches in one year.  It is a Mecca for extreme skiers, like heli-skiing in  the nearby mountains.

Saw this beautiful planter on the walking tour.

George fished again, this time hoping only for a female for roe.  He caught about five 5-7 pound male pink salmon which he threw back, then caught the female.  

We went to the public fish cleaning area where seagulls hang out to eat the remains....

George removed the roe...

Most fishermen just throw roe away....there were bunches of it in the garbage tray.  Cured roe, however, now called caviar, sells for $100 a small box.

Not sure if we will eat the salmon, but George cut some nice fillets, too.

I chatted with a fisherman who had just come in from fishing in deep waters with a load of rock fish.  He gave me a filet and said it is a juicy, tender white fish.  

When we got back to the camper, I cured the roe for later.  

DINNER:  Since we had been around fish all day, including salmon salad for lunch, I switched to steak for dinner.  We had some grilled meat left from a few days ago. I sliced it thin and sautéed with onions. Side dishes were a baked potato with broccoli in cheese sauce.  Back to fish tomorrow.....