Valdez, AK (Day 7) - Watching BearsAug 8, 2011
|
|
This immature bald eagle was also down by the stream fishing. Note...
The eagle left right after we stopped so we didn't get to...
We watched this black bear for several minutes behind this grassy ridge...
(Elena Writing) - We had a very leisurely morning. Once again, I made waffles topped with fresh sliced peaches, homemade raspberry sauce, and whipped cream.
Ron called the post office in town to inquire if our box came in and, to our surprise, it did! After breakfast we drove to the post office but were sidetracked for about 1/2-hour beside a roadside stream. There were two black bears having a salmon feast and it was interesting to watch them fish among the seagulls.
Ron dropped me off at Safeway while he went to the post office. The prices on produce were much higher than I expected. Per pound, the Roma tomatoes were $3.99; tomatoes on-the-vine $5.49, and celery and broccoli were $1.99. At $2.79/bunch for green onion, I decided I didn't need them after all. I ended up purchasing red potatoes for 99 cents/#; normally $1.99. This makes Hawaii prices seem very reasonable; today's gas at Costco on Kauai is $4.19/gal compared to Tesoro's $4.26/gal here in Valdez.
After lunch Ron installed our toilet - out with the old and in with the new - and it's 2" higher than the old one. I had been complaining about the height for a few years and I'm so glad Ron ordered the right toilet which turned out better than we thought it was going to. We thought the extra height was going to prevent us from opening one of the drawers in the bathroom all the way but it still clears the top of the toilet. Well done, hubby! Sure doesn't take much to make me happy nowadays!
Since it's about time to restock our cookie supply, I mixed up a couple batches of chocolate chip and a new oatmeal raisin recipe. It's being chilled in the fridge for baking tomorrow.
I bought several pounds of frozen/cooked crab legs a couple days ago, shelled them last night, and made easy and delicious crab cakes for tonight's dinner. I whipped up two egg whites and stirred in about 1/2-cup crushed oyster crackers and a couple tablespoons of minced dill. Then I added about 13 ounces of fresh crab, breaking them up as I blended the meat into the mixture. I browned the cakes using a little canola oil in the pan over medium-low heat just to brown and heat the cakes. I reheated some leftover roasted veggies to accompany the cakes. The fresh taste of crab was delicious. Try it; you'll like it! Thanks Gisela for teaching me how to make crab cakes!
Weather: Overnight low was 44°. Cloudy with periods of rain throughout the day. High in the low 50’s.
Critters: Two black bears fishing. A sea otter in the bay behind our campsite. Two bald eagles.
Tonight’s stop: Allison Point CG in Valdez, AK.