Day 10 - Beaver Creek, YT to Valdez, AK

Good morning from the Yukon!

The plan for today is to head to Valdez. Its one of our longer days but the time zone change works in our favor and we get an extra hour in the day. So we sleep in today and start the ride at 8:00AM. At 8:01AM we stop for breakfast. Hungry already! Breakfast is at Buckshot Betty's.

Beaver Creek is the westernmost town in Canada. We're only 30 miles or so from the border. Its a little confusing so that number may be wrong. The Canadian and US border posts are about 20 miles apart so which is on the border if either is unclear without looking at a map.

Just across the border looks a lot like the Yukon only better. Must be nice to be back in the USA again. I'm thinking about what I could write that is new and am concerned about running out of ideas if the ride looks the same as yesterday.

Curiously the landscape does get looking a little nicer. Near Tok, Alaska the trees are greener and more lush. About 30 miles before Tok I see a big 8'x10' solar panel for electricity. At the driveway that it must belong to I take a quick peek and see a house, a satellite dish, and a flag pole with a big American flag. I think to myself this must be a retired Marine or something. Remember the TV show "Northern Exposure"? (I think that is what it was called. There was an former Marine on that show that this reminds me of.)

We're on the Glenallen Highway now and we hit highway construction again. About 10 miles of it. Fortunately, it is mostly hard packed dirt and gravel. Not like yesterday. We can only go through it at about 20 miles per hour because we're following an RV.

Once we get through we speed up again and head for gas at Gakona. Once again Walt and Don hit the problem of only regular gas. We've been topping off frequently now so they're not mixing in as much regular gas. I haven't heard any complaints from them about the gas so things must be OK. Gakona is a mosquito haven. Got to drink a little water, have a Clif bar for lunch and get moving again.

Soon we start hit the turnoff to Valdez. I'd heard this leg was supposed to be nice. WOW! WOW! WOW!!!! It started out a little ordinary but the last 80 to 90 miles before Valdez are spectacular. In my head I was comparing it to see if I would like it as much as the ride to Prince Rupert. It actually starts off looking a bit the same. Lush green. Heading for a range of snow capped mountains. This time instead of riding along the base of the range we're heading straight for it.

Getting to the mountain is very pretty and I've already rated it better than the Prince Rupert ride. Once we hit the mountains the WOW! starts coming. We pass a couple glaciers and then over a mountain pass. The mountains here are amazing at this time. With the amount of snow left on them and the cracks and crevices the mountainside looks zebra-ish. Hard to describe (pictures will come below).

It is actually good thing that Don, Walt, and I did a test ride in the Sierras in April. It is pretty cold up here with the snow still here.

The totally unexpected part is what happens going down from the pass. We hit a canyon with steep rock walls and waterfalls. All wrapped in lush green vegetation. Truly a beautiful sight. Its going to be hard to find a ride more varied, striking, and beautiful than this one.

We checked in at the hotel and asked for recommendations for dinner. Fresh Halibut fish and chips seems to be the choice of this group and that's where we head. The dinner was good. Might have this tomorrow too.

After dinner we head to Bad-Ass Coffee Company. Get some coffee, tea (and a brownie for me), and check in with the world via internet.

Tomorrow is a sightseeing day here in Valdez. No riding.

We're now start a little slower pace in the trip. Average riding days will be 200 miles or so instead of the 300-400 it has been. We also have some days with no riding for sightseeing.

Couple of tips we have to remember. The border guard in the US told us he was stationed at a crossing in Montana. Says it is a great ride. Walt and Don will have to find it on the map. I had my earplugs in.

Also, Fairbanks has a "Salmon-fest" at noon and 5. Some big salmon cook/feed for the tourists. We're planning that into our day that passes through Fairbanks.

Good night. All is well. Going to do some laundry, read, relax, and sleep.