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Alaska 2008 Ride Report
Intro   *   Day 1  *   Day 2  *   Day 3  *   Day 4  *   Day 5  *   Day 6  *   Day 7  *   Day 8  *   Day 9  *   Day 10  *   Day 11  *   Day 12  *   Day 13  *   Day 14   *  
Day 15
 *   Day 16  *   Day 17  *   Day 18  *   Day 19  *   Day 20  *   Day 21  *   Day 22  *   Day 23  *   Day 24

Hwy 1 Day 15: North to Alaska

June 26, 2008 - Anchorage to Valdez

Y'all are probably getting tired of hearing this, but it was another fabulous day. A bit cloudy when I left Anchorage, but it cleared up on the way to Palmer. Crystal clear blue sky, temp around 60 and stunning views all the way to Glenallen. Even some nice twisty bits of road to help get the new tires scrubbed in. :)

Hung the right at Glenallen on Hwy 7 to get to Valdez. As expected, it started to get cloudy and cooler. Finally had to stop and put on the electric vest. Got downright cold going over Thompson Pass, but I was comfy. Really great views the last 60 miles or so into Valdez, low clouds hanging on the mountaintops, glaciers and a little canyon section. Valdez itself is nothing special, looks like there wasn't much of anything here until the pipeline was built. The setting is nice though, mountains all around the town and harbor.

One of the things about this part of the world is that, in spite of the size, there's very few roads. So if you see someone headed roughly your direction odds are good you'll run into them again. I talked briefly to three guys back on Day 8, in Watson Lake. An ST1300, BMW RT and a Harley. Not a common mix of bikes, so it stuck. I was getting a room there, they pushed on to Whitehorse. Ran into them again at an overlook between Fairbanks and Anchorage on Day 12, and then (really oddly) they stayed at the same Super 8 as me in Anchorage. Then on the way back north yesterday from Homer they were head south. And today, I'm on 7 headed south and who do you think goes by northbound?? Yep, same three guys. :) They must have taken the ferry from Whittier or Seward to Valdez.

Tried to get crab legs for dinner, but that didn't work, no one seemed to have any. Ended up at Mike's Palace, kind of a local feeling place and had their 'Gold Rush', scallops, salmon, shrimp and halibut all simmered in a white wine sauce. Good, but not incredible. Needed more garlic. :)



Hwy 1
Hwy 1
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Hwy 1
Hwy 1
Hwy 1
Hwy 1
Mt. Sanford
Mt. Sanford
Hwy 7
Hwy 7
Hwy 7
Hwy 7
Valdez
Hwy 7
Valdez
Valdez
Valdez
Valdez
Valdez
Valdez
Dinner
Dinner

Intro   *   Day 1  *   Day 2  *   Day 3  *   Day 4  *   Day 5  *   Day 6  *   Day 7  *   Day 8  *   Day 9  *   Day 10  *   Day 11  *   Day 12  *   Day 13  *   Day 14   *  
Day 15
 *   Day 16  *   Day 17  *   Day 18  *   Day 19  *   Day 20  *   Day 21  *   Day 22  *   Day 23  *   Day 24

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