< Alaskan Intermezzo | Valdez, AK >
Glennallen, AK
July 14, 2007
Leaving Anchorage I had the incredible good fortune to run into a group of cycle tourists on a ride put on through Adventure Cycling. I spent the next several days comfort cruising with them from Anchorage to Glennallen, where I am now. Tomorrow they head North to the Denali Highway, and I head south to Valdez. I’m going to miss the easy pace and the camaraderie. I remember one day where along a 35 mile stretch of road I stopped and ate at every restaurant with them, some only three miles apart. This evening I saw a pannier transformed into a beer cooler, which I will surely use again once I begin my road hooching (thank you Kelly for that article). I also saw a ladderball performance which will surely be talked about for generations. Wally scored three consecutive three point shots within an inch of each other. I have never seen a truer display of athleticism, and probably never will again. I want to thank Wally, Kelly, Jack, Evan, Cory, Don, Sid, Jessica, Megan, Jeff, Mike, Gerda, and Randy for showing me that bicycle touring is not only about exploration, but about celebration. I want to thank them for their kindness in taking in a dirty solo tourist and making him feel like part of the group. Stay in touch and ride with me in South America!
From Glennallen to Valdez is 115 miles with mountain pass in the middle. The pre-group riding Eric would tackle that in a day and a half, but now I am inclined to take it at a much more civilized pace. From Valdez, I will take a ferry to Juneau by Glacier Bay National Park, and the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountain Range. Mt. St. Elias is an 18,000 ft mountain only 10 miles from the coast. It will be spectacular.