Day 11 Valdez, AK to Glacier View, AK, 233 mi.

8 July 2015

This is one more full-on high-quality day in Alaska!  A few pictures are included now, but more will be added later.

The day started out overcast and drizzly, but soon dried out with temps in the mid 70s.  We rode into Valdez to check out the sights w/o the fog of the previous evening.  After checking out the harbor we went back to where the salmon are running.  Again, we saw otters and eagles and the usual fabulous Alaska stuff, but we also saw sea lions and watched the salmon fishermen working their nets.

We saw the fish...

...but not the bears

We the started our trip up out of Valdez (only one way in/out by road).  On route we made slow going due to the fact that we had to keep stopping to take pictures of fabulous glaciers (you know how it is).

Fabulous glacier 

Making our way to Anchorage, we camped at Glacier View where we did, in fact have a lovely view of the Matanuska glacier.  While at this camp site we met a nice couple from Utah on a Large BMW and newer model Triumph twin.  These people travel 'civilized' with such amenities as a large 'stand up in' type tent, cots with air mattresses, fold-up chairs with backs, and even gin and tonics with ice.  Now that is civilized!

We also met a guy who just rode 100+ miles from Anchorage, uphill, on his loaded bicycle.

The cruise control on the Spyder worked only intermittently today (did I mention how much I like cruise control?).  I now believe the clutch switch to be the culprit.  When the cruise control quits, I discovered that I could get it to work again by playing with the clutch switch lever.  Of course it would shut itself off again after a little while, but playing with the clutch switch lever would get it working again.

Day 10, Beaver Creek, YT to Valdez, AK 391.3 miles

7 July 2015

We finally filled bucket 1, immediately by bucket 2.  That is, we reached Alaska via the Alcan highway.  Here is proof:

Buckets 1 & 2

Today we made a spur of the moment decision and decided to bag Fairbanks and go to Valdez.  We had already seen 4 fires this morning, ridden through some serious smoke, and heard that there are a lot more fires in the Denali area.  We can do that later.

The Spyder was getting plastered with bugs, which really stink and attract more bugs.  The radiators were about 1/3d filled with dead locusts and dragon flies (I even removed a dead bird somewhere in BC).  So when we arrived in Tok, AK we found a car wash and and gave the Spyder a little bath.  It wasn't too effective since the water was cold with no soap.

Our bug collection

The spousal unit would like  to make today's post.  But let me just say that we are now actualizing the full-on Alaska experience.

Everyone reading this blog must absolutely stop what you are doing, buy a plane ticket to Anchorage, rent a car or motorcycle (even better for viewing  scenery) and drive to Valdez!!!!It is so breathtaking it will sooo be worth the money spent. There are huge mountains that meet the road, glaciers that  produce waterfalls, rivers from the glaciers, green upon green upon green, steep walls carved out by water and then there's  the ocean which the glaciers flow into with the salmon spawning right now. Sea otters and seagulls and bald eagles are munching away and bears soon to come from what the locals say. The fishermen have their boats all lined up in the bay ready to start on the salmon run when word is given. All this and it is still light out at 11:00

Glacier view on way into Valdez

One of many waterfalls near Valdez

Weir preventing salmon moving upstream

Fishing boats lined up at 11:30 pm

We ran into our first rain today near Valdez and into Valdez and it didn't  matter with such gorgeous scenery. We rented a cabin for the night to dry out a bit. The new rain gear is working great. The Spyder got a bath today. Too many gross bugs and dirt.