World United States Alaska Valdez

Winging it to Alaska - the Sorenson saga

Valdez Jul 6, 2010

Ok, so the TV says this has been much colder than normal. Oh really??? Rode to Valdez and back today, much of it in a drizzle and fog. High was 54 degrees today with it dropping to 46 degrees both times we went over Thompson Pass getting into and out of Valdez. I hate to admit it but I really like the heated seats on the Wing! That bit of warmth down the backside of the thighs really helps keep you warm even in the 40's. What a beautiful road this is from Copper Center to Valdez. Being a born and bred ND plains boy I really enjoy the rugged mountains and even more so, the harbors of AK. I love looking at all the boats from the small pleasure craft to the huge tankers. Thompson Pass into Valdez is absolutely awesome. The road cuts through deep canyons right along the fast moving mountain stream. I could explore here for weeks. The best riding yet despite the cold and rain. You can leave all the salmon fisherman and the tourists wearing 'I love AK' t-shirts in the Kenai Peninsula and give me Valdez. My next trip will be centered out of Valdez/Copper Center with a few days back in Denali to explore that more as well. I know I am being a bit sarcastic but the more I am around the general public the less I like them! Really enjoyed the Valdez Museum. Very nice for such a small place. Interesting exhibits about the lack of a railroad due to a dispute over who would own it which ultimately resulted in a gun battle with someone actually getting killed! So Valdez, the highest northern ice free port is not the city it could have been. Thank goodness! The Princess Lodge here in Copper Center is full of active people. No pool, no hot tub, just a huge great room where everyone is playing cards, sitting by the fire telling stories, sharing photos, taking walks. Everyone here is a fisherman, hiker, rafter, etc. so it is so vibrant. Stange description for a hotel I know but it is a really cool place. Hiked the Worthington Glacier as well. Karen says they all start looking the same but I can't help but stop and look at each of them. And yes, there really are ice worms that live in the glacier. I didn't believe you mother but apparently it is true. Glad I didn't take a chunk of the glacier ice in my drink on the boat a couple of days ago. We seem to be the only ones leaving AK. We meet constant vehicles towing either a trailer of 4 wheelers or river rafts. You can tell the salmon are starting to run and they all are coming to catch them. This is our last night in AK. It has been all and more than what I expected. 3,500 miles on the bike so far, about the same to go to get home. AK does such a great job marking their roads when there are frost breaks or frost heaves. Thumbs up to the AK road crews for those little orange flags that slow me down and help keep my feet on the pegs. Still can't get our photos loaded so we will load them up on the appropriate days when we get back to our place on the 15th.

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