v-Whittier

18/08/05 - We eventually arrive in Whittier where my brother waits to meet us from the ferry on this miserable wet afternoon. Our arrival much delayed by the `exercise' being carried out by the Coastguard in the name of `Homeland Security'. As we approach Whittier, after being accompanied from Valdez by a US Coastguard cutter, we are surrounded by armed inflatable boats and several helicopters. Then black clad figures carrying automatic weapons board the ferry. Scary but quite spectacular! My brother waits, watching the show, in the pouring rain.

In Whittier we find a harbour-side cafe and drink tea while we wait for the hour when we can pass through the tunnel and carry on with our journey to Anchorage. There is only one single width tunnel through the mountains that takes both cars and the train. Consequently journeys are scheduled for the hour or half hour depending on whether you are coming into or out of Whittier.