After getting out of the army in 2018, I felt a little uneasy. The structure and day-to-day routine suddenly ended after I left. I had picked up a retail job selling car parts in Fairbanks. I hadn’t thought of school- and I was living in a small dry cabin out in the Goldstream Valley for $300 a month.
I didn’t really have plans. I knew I wanted to stay in Alaska- there was even more time to explore the state now that the military didn’t dictate all aspects of my life.
I recall one day in October of 2018 (the 6th to be exact,) I was sitting in my cabin and bored out of my mind. I did not have a whole lot going on around that time- and even contemplated joining the military again (admittedly, I felt a little lost- like a lot of veterans- after I got out of the service.) I was talking with a recruiter and close to singing the paperwork to rejoin.
After getting tired of sitting around, I loaded up my beat-up Pontiac Grand Prix and hit the road. I knew that I wanted to travel South, towards Valdez. I had only been there once before, and it was such a special place. I’ve always described Valdez as something out of a J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Valdez had this alluring effect on me- I mean the place was really something. In all the chaos of early adulthood, it was a place that I felt at home the most- even though it was 6 hours away from my cabin in Fairbanks.
I arrived late in Valdez that evening, greeted with a breathtaking view of the harbor basking in the evening golden hour. The photo at the very beginning of this post speaks for itself- I was struck by the beauty of this small harbor town (and jealous of those who called it home.)
Once I settled in for the night, I headed to the harbor to snap more photos.
I also stopped in at the local bar- which features a panoramic window looking over the harbor. What better a backdrop than that to have a cold IPA with?
And that’s the story of Valdez, Alaska. After 7 years of living in the state, Valdez is my all-time favorite spot. You’d have to visit to understand the gravity of its beauty. It is a place that is truly out of some fantasy novel.
I would go back to Valdez over the years- my last time being in August of 2022. I hope to return one day, but for now, I have the memories- and photos- to cherish.
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