This morning we were looking to set ourselves up for the journey out of Alaska so we went to Safeway and grabbed what we hopped will be our last shop. This also included coffee for us, petrol for Clancy and then off to the museum to get all the background on Valdez.

At the Valdez museum www.valdezmuseum.org/, we finally found a place that would not let you walk through with your coffee. So we finished this outside and then went in for the viewing. The museum was very interesting with a great series of historical displays. This was probably helped by the fact that the city was abandoned and moved to its present location as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.

The museum is in two parts the first is more along the traditional type with displays of history and also coverage of more recent events like the Exxon Valdez accident. The other museum was made up of displays and the history of the town's relocation post earthquake.

Having been through the two museums it was off to catch our plane to McCarthy. The drive out of Valdez was fairly uneventful. Although we did get to once again go past all these amazing glaciers.

Chitna airport, is one of those level gravel strips with a single shed and cars parked around. When we arrived there was nowhere to check in, no baggage screening and nothing to even suggest what needed to be done. So we organised Clancy for our return got our packs ready for the flight and waited.

There were others waiting and still more arrived and still no plane. Then a single engine plane did a big turn and landed. The pilot unloaded the passengers and then came over to check us in and do the baggage handling. Now they do check for Bearspray which is duct taped to the strut of the wing if coming along. Thankfully there was none to worry about.

Then it was up, up and away on our way to McCarthy. Now the pilot gave a running commentary on the scenery we were viewing. He was unable to find us a moose along the way but there were goats and sheep. On the way into the airport to land we were given a fly up and over the two glaciers that lead into the valley.

The landing was uneventful and then it was unloading, no baggage handlers in site! Then onto the bus, the roads in McCarthy/Kennecott are all gravel and potholed so the drive provided quite a bouncing experience. Soon we were at the accommodation and shown to our rooms.

Now McCarthy Lodge & Ma Johnson's http://www.mccarthylodge.com/ is in a very original state, the room doors do not have locks, there are no power outlets, the showers and toilets are shared. But the place is clean and very well maintained for a very old building. So having checked in with time to spare we headed out to see what was happening. First to the glacier tour people to confirm our next morning walk, then it was to find a coffee. Now we found the coffee shop only to find that the only espresso machine in town was broken. So with a drip coffee in hand we proceeded to continue our walk about.

As it got to evening we got back to the hotel, consumed the packed dinners we had bought with us and settled in for our early start the next morning for the glacier walk.

Animals Spotted: sheep and goats from the plane