bigjohnsd
2021 BMW R1250GSA
"Been there, Done That, Got that Tee-shirt" but you took good pictures!
Road to Alaska
- Thread starter Panman
- Start date
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Panman
Well-known member
Well lets try another installment or should I say re-try as a few days ago I hit the dang back button.
Dalton City to Fairbanks via the Top of the World Hwy.
We got up fairly early loaded up, ate again at the Triple J. The night before while eating four BMW dudes were eating also, two from Anchorage and two from the mid west on rentals. We exchange our ride planes and thoughts and went on or walk around town. As we were leaving they were working on one of the beat up rentals that had a flat they were trying to fix so we bid them farewell and headed for the dock.
We got there and there already was a crowd and didn't think we would make it but they put us on the back of the ferry.
It's a short ride, maybe fifteen minuets.
A side wheeled tour boat on the Dawson side of the river.
When we go off all the rigs in front of us went different directions, G & I had the road to our self's!
You do feel on top of the world!
It was starting to cloud up a bit, dam it started so nice.
George getting artsy.
I'm starting to get cold.
I'm wondering why I'm cold as it's only 1186 ft!? Oh dumb as you have your GPS set to metric stuff, okay it 3891 Ft. Some times I scare myself.
It's starting to sprinkle now so put the old point and shoot away and get back home to the good old US of A.
It felt good getting to Alaska, whats better is we are back to black top, I told you I was cold so it was a relief to be on smooth black top! Them damm Alaskan's anyhow, what a bunch of teasers! The blacktop ended and back to rougher gravel washboard stuff, that's it George lets stop and put on our electrics and warm up.
Warm up we did the drizzling stopped by the time we got to Chicken, shoulders were feeling better. Life is good!
George & I clowning around.
And if you wanted proof you go laid in Chicken the store had two floors of stuff you could but to prove it.
I want me a old shovel!
Heard there was another old digger farther behind the store so went and took a look.
Buckets for the digger.
The ground was so hard when they were mining they would pipe steam down to loosen up the soil!
George had to show off a little!
The ride to Fairbanks was more of the same, good views & vistas. Camera stayed put the rest of the day, was a bit tired and we were trying to make time. We found a Super something or other in a I'm sure the best part of town!
We got cleaned up and walked next door to Denny's and ate dinner. When we came back there were two other S-10's parked out next to ours, we had heard from the S-10 Forum that there were a couple of guys out of Minnesota up there and sure enough it was them. Swapped stories with them for a while and a couple of African Twins pulled in, Father Son Duo some more stories, lies and good times.
The son of the African Twins Duo had brought along a fairly decent drone and showed me footage of his Dad up on the Top of the World Hwy. Pretty dang cool!
I'm starting to like this Alaska travel, I'm trying to figure out how to tell my wife I need six weeks next time!
Coming up Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle. (Or so we Think)
Till next round.
Dalton City to Fairbanks via the Top of the World Hwy.
We got up fairly early loaded up, ate again at the Triple J. The night before while eating four BMW dudes were eating also, two from Anchorage and two from the mid west on rentals. We exchange our ride planes and thoughts and went on or walk around town. As we were leaving they were working on one of the beat up rentals that had a flat they were trying to fix so we bid them farewell and headed for the dock.
We got there and there already was a crowd and didn't think we would make it but they put us on the back of the ferry.
It's a short ride, maybe fifteen minuets.
A side wheeled tour boat on the Dawson side of the river.
When we go off all the rigs in front of us went different directions, G & I had the road to our self's!
You do feel on top of the world!
It was starting to cloud up a bit, dam it started so nice.
George getting artsy.
I'm starting to get cold.
I'm wondering why I'm cold as it's only 1186 ft!? Oh dumb as you have your GPS set to metric stuff, okay it 3891 Ft. Some times I scare myself.
It's starting to sprinkle now so put the old point and shoot away and get back home to the good old US of A.
It felt good getting to Alaska, whats better is we are back to black top, I told you I was cold so it was a relief to be on smooth black top! Them damm Alaskan's anyhow, what a bunch of teasers! The blacktop ended and back to rougher gravel washboard stuff, that's it George lets stop and put on our electrics and warm up.
Warm up we did the drizzling stopped by the time we got to Chicken, shoulders were feeling better. Life is good!
George & I clowning around.
And if you wanted proof you go laid in Chicken the store had two floors of stuff you could but to prove it.
I want me a old shovel!
Heard there was another old digger farther behind the store so went and took a look.
Buckets for the digger.
The ground was so hard when they were mining they would pipe steam down to loosen up the soil!
George had to show off a little!
The ride to Fairbanks was more of the same, good views & vistas. Camera stayed put the rest of the day, was a bit tired and we were trying to make time. We found a Super something or other in a I'm sure the best part of town!
We got cleaned up and walked next door to Denny's and ate dinner. When we came back there were two other S-10's parked out next to ours, we had heard from the S-10 Forum that there were a couple of guys out of Minnesota up there and sure enough it was them. Swapped stories with them for a while and a couple of African Twins pulled in, Father Son Duo some more stories, lies and good times.
The son of the African Twins Duo had brought along a fairly decent drone and showed me footage of his Dad up on the Top of the World Hwy. Pretty dang cool!
I'm starting to like this Alaska travel, I'm trying to figure out how to tell my wife I need six weeks next time!
Coming up Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle. (Or so we Think)
Till next round.
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escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
I can see right now I need to devise a method to post pics here again...damn photobucket anyway.
~G
~G
Panman
Well-known member
George & I had been watching the weather in Deadhorse and it just didn't look to promising! 32 degrees snowing with a wind chill of 19! So we decided to head for the Arctic Circle as the weather down lower looked good even as far as Coldfoot.
I've heard plenty of stories about the Dalton, even had the old fat boy a bit worried!
First sighting of the pipe line
Pretty decent black top for a ways, don't let it fool you.
And now some gavel, not bad stuff really.
Where is that darn happy face!
That's the Yukon river.
To pay for gas at Yukon River Camp you take a photo.
Got to keep pushing north as we are doing an up and back!
Made it with nice weather to boot!
This nice lady took our picture, She stays in a little Cabin down at Yukon River camp with no electricity. Gave us a little paper saying we had made it.
When we get done taking our pictures and talking to the nice lady (Nora, George?) we move the bikes and head for the latrine and start talking about weather we should go all the way back to Fairbanks or just go back to the River Camp as we had been dawdling when this car with three folks in it show up and start talking about Coldfoot & how they stayed at Wiseman and how cool it was.
George and I look at each other and say what the heck, we didn't think much of the Super whatever anyhow.
One thing about the Dalton, you will hit pleasing black top, broken pot holey nasty black top, nice black top and miserable wash board up hill gravel ****.
And lots of beautiful country.
Lots of scrawny trees in BC, Yukon & Alaska.
Well we made Coldfoot.
Gas station, Restaurant & Bar.
$210 a night for a room across the lot.
We meet up with Heidi from Boreal Lodge in Wiseman over at the visitor center, she and her husband Scott own and run the lodge. She told us to go look around and that Scott would meet us later at the lodge.
We went back over to the Coldfoot Restaurant & Bar.Restaurant & Bar and ate dinner and got a call that Scott was back at the lodge so we headed another 18 miles north,
I think George thought he was still camping, the room had two twins and you had to go out to the rest room/shower area. What the heck only $110 for the night.
This place is off the grid, Scott has a $17,000 dollar bank of battery's, three small Diesel gen-sets and some solar panels. Dish something for a few TV stations and another dish for internet (good for e-mail).
We went out for a walk in their hood.
Old Tom or Eight-Ball as he liked to be called had his treasures.
His museum. Told us we could go in but it had a lock on it and didn't want to bother him (Big Boy) mad me look tiny.
More treasures.
George taking it in.
Saw this pretty little bird.
Alaska life style.
It does't get dark much up there that time of year, I noticed that I wasn't sleeping the best, oh well good enough to ride.
Coming up next, even farther North. Atigun Pass.
I've heard plenty of stories about the Dalton, even had the old fat boy a bit worried!
First sighting of the pipe line
Pretty decent black top for a ways, don't let it fool you.
And now some gavel, not bad stuff really.
Where is that darn happy face!
That's the Yukon river.
To pay for gas at Yukon River Camp you take a photo.
Got to keep pushing north as we are doing an up and back!
Made it with nice weather to boot!
This nice lady took our picture, She stays in a little Cabin down at Yukon River camp with no electricity. Gave us a little paper saying we had made it.
When we get done taking our pictures and talking to the nice lady (Nora, George?) we move the bikes and head for the latrine and start talking about weather we should go all the way back to Fairbanks or just go back to the River Camp as we had been dawdling when this car with three folks in it show up and start talking about Coldfoot & how they stayed at Wiseman and how cool it was.
George and I look at each other and say what the heck, we didn't think much of the Super whatever anyhow.
One thing about the Dalton, you will hit pleasing black top, broken pot holey nasty black top, nice black top and miserable wash board up hill gravel ****.
And lots of beautiful country.
Lots of scrawny trees in BC, Yukon & Alaska.
Well we made Coldfoot.
Gas station, Restaurant & Bar.
$210 a night for a room across the lot.
We meet up with Heidi from Boreal Lodge in Wiseman over at the visitor center, she and her husband Scott own and run the lodge. She told us to go look around and that Scott would meet us later at the lodge.
We went back over to the Coldfoot Restaurant & Bar.Restaurant & Bar and ate dinner and got a call that Scott was back at the lodge so we headed another 18 miles north,
I think George thought he was still camping, the room had two twins and you had to go out to the rest room/shower area. What the heck only $110 for the night.
This place is off the grid, Scott has a $17,000 dollar bank of battery's, three small Diesel gen-sets and some solar panels. Dish something for a few TV stations and another dish for internet (good for e-mail).
We went out for a walk in their hood.
Old Tom or Eight-Ball as he liked to be called had his treasures.
His museum. Told us we could go in but it had a lock on it and didn't want to bother him (Big Boy) mad me look tiny.
More treasures.
George taking it in.
Saw this pretty little bird.
Alaska life style.
It does't get dark much up there that time of year, I noticed that I wasn't sleeping the best, oh well good enough to ride.
Coming up next, even farther North. Atigun Pass.
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bigjohnsd
2021 BMW R1250GSA
Amazing that we stayed at the Boreal too.
enumclaw
Member
My son and I stayed at the Boreal lodge as well just about this time 6 years ago. Very cool little area. Another guy staying there who we met in the common area was a contractor for the state DOT. He alerted us to the fact the road would be closed the following day at 7am for construction on a bridge about 10 miles north. As a result, we got out and past the closure point prior, and had the northbound road into Deadhorse largely to ourselves for the run up!
Great pictures.
Great pictures.
juniorfjr
Well-known member
Did your sat navs go out just north of finger mountain?
Panman
Well-known member
Don't think so, I just remember seeing them on the way up and thinking I would remember to take a picture on the way down. Did I? Nope!
juniorfjr
Well-known member
escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
My DumDum continued to work north of Atigun pass. It doesn't know what time it is
...but it still can navigate and go [generally] the right direction.
~G
~G
Panman
Well-known member
Heading north for Atigun Pass isn't much different than heading north from the Arctic Circle, pipeline blacktop and gravel.
I did say nice blacktop?
Rest Stop.
Getting closer now.
George I think we Passed the Circle a bit!
We didn't really know we went over the pass because there wasn't a north bound sign! But we went up and over a big dam hill.
This shot was going down the north bound side.
You can see the big rigs coming.
We stopped here as our fuel window was either try for Deadhorse or go back to Coldfoot.
Shot a few pic's while taking a little break.
About the time we were saddling up we saw some dust, can't be trucks? It was the two S-10 riders we had meet up with down in Fairbanks and again in Coldfoot.
We exchange hellos and what have you been doing stuff and decide to start heading south again. They had only went north another twenty miles or so, both were caring extra fuel.
Go a little ways and what do we find?
Well we better take a grop photo.
Three FJR owners and Three S-10 owners, that's kinda cool.
And lookie here a heard of Caribou. At least the city kid thinks so!
Top of the pass.
Didn't take any pic's on the way back to Coldfoot for a dinner buffet. I had me a couple of these to say job well done and one for the books.
Mmm good!
I did say nice blacktop?
Rest Stop.
Getting closer now.
George I think we Passed the Circle a bit!
We didn't really know we went over the pass because there wasn't a north bound sign! But we went up and over a big dam hill.
This shot was going down the north bound side.
You can see the big rigs coming.
We stopped here as our fuel window was either try for Deadhorse or go back to Coldfoot.
Shot a few pic's while taking a little break.
About the time we were saddling up we saw some dust, can't be trucks? It was the two S-10 riders we had meet up with down in Fairbanks and again in Coldfoot.
We exchange hellos and what have you been doing stuff and decide to start heading south again. They had only went north another twenty miles or so, both were caring extra fuel.
Go a little ways and what do we find?
Well we better take a grop photo.
Three FJR owners and Three S-10 owners, that's kinda cool.
And lookie here a heard of Caribou. At least the city kid thinks so!
Top of the pass.
Didn't take any pic's on the way back to Coldfoot for a dinner buffet. I had me a couple of these to say job well done and one for the books.
Mmm good!
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Panman
Well-known member
Let's see here, that was about 2,750 over Atigun Pass and back to the top. I wounder what we did with the other 3,900 miles?
Day eight we headed back to Fairbanks and not to many pictures, a few maybe.
Heading south for Fairbanks.
I know my GPS pissed G off a few times but it was fun seeing what crazy Rd it was trying to take me.
I guess the little towers on the stands are cooling towers, they keep the heat going into the ground.
I think this little Black Bear just woke up, George keep honking his horn at it and it wouldn't move. G said to heck with it and started moving and so did the bear.
We stopped at the Circle again for a bio break and a little clowning.
There was one rough section somewhere around there, broken blacktop and four leaking fork seals.
Hope my fork parts show up before Tech Day!
Ran into some Swede's who had been roaming around for the last six months at Yukon River Camp! George pulled our Adventure Rider Status and knocked us down to plain old riders.
Snooped around a bit around the bridge thinking we had time to kill!
Opp's, big river! Big Power!
Other side of the road from the Camp was a little building with a bit of the story on the pipeline and the Dalton.
It started getting darker, we pulled over and prepared for a little rain. Camera's went away, George ask if we should sit it out? Me naw my butt hurts lets get this show into Fairbanks as we were maybe 10 miles short of the Dalton Hwy sign.
Well we got hit hard with hail, hail so hard I put my left hand up over my chest as it was hitting that hard. I then thought to meself, self better get both hands on those bars as we were in that greasy clay crap. A slow motion camera would have been cool as those hail drops were makong some pretty cool splashes!
How hard was the hail? You have already saw this but this is a bruise on Georges arm. The next day.
It let up so we grabbed a couple of shots at the start of the Dalton.
We figured the worst was over but no, it started to rain a bit and we hit one batch of construction where the flag man waved me up front and told me that they were holding bikes back as they had four go down that day. From the previous batch we had went thru it had me a bit concerned as it was slick.
This next batch really sucked, it was snot *** greasy and ruts you couldn't get out of and when we get out of it (construction) then it really starts dumping again.
We get into the outskirts of Fairbanks and pull under a gas station over hang. G finds us a swanky hotel and the rain lets up so off we go to a nice room and shower.
We figure it's down day the next day as we need to find a car wash blow the crap off the bikes and pull the front fenders so we can run a seal mate around the seals. Nothing goes easy thou, we couldn't get a room at the hotel we were at so we had to find another place. We hit the jack pot with the Wedgewood Resort! We wished that we would have found it the first night, this isn't just a room but a living room, Dinning room, kitchen and bathroom.
Outside our Slider. Nice grounds.
The place even had a old car museum, admission ten bucks.
We didn't get time for the museum as we had laundry to do and fork maintenance to do.
That's a wrap!
Next up is Denali.
Day eight we headed back to Fairbanks and not to many pictures, a few maybe.
Heading south for Fairbanks.
I know my GPS pissed G off a few times but it was fun seeing what crazy Rd it was trying to take me.
I guess the little towers on the stands are cooling towers, they keep the heat going into the ground.
I think this little Black Bear just woke up, George keep honking his horn at it and it wouldn't move. G said to heck with it and started moving and so did the bear.
We stopped at the Circle again for a bio break and a little clowning.
There was one rough section somewhere around there, broken blacktop and four leaking fork seals.
Hope my fork parts show up before Tech Day!
Ran into some Swede's who had been roaming around for the last six months at Yukon River Camp! George pulled our Adventure Rider Status and knocked us down to plain old riders.
Snooped around a bit around the bridge thinking we had time to kill!
Opp's, big river! Big Power!
Other side of the road from the Camp was a little building with a bit of the story on the pipeline and the Dalton.
It started getting darker, we pulled over and prepared for a little rain. Camera's went away, George ask if we should sit it out? Me naw my butt hurts lets get this show into Fairbanks as we were maybe 10 miles short of the Dalton Hwy sign.
Well we got hit hard with hail, hail so hard I put my left hand up over my chest as it was hitting that hard. I then thought to meself, self better get both hands on those bars as we were in that greasy clay crap. A slow motion camera would have been cool as those hail drops were makong some pretty cool splashes!
How hard was the hail? You have already saw this but this is a bruise on Georges arm. The next day.
It let up so we grabbed a couple of shots at the start of the Dalton.
We figured the worst was over but no, it started to rain a bit and we hit one batch of construction where the flag man waved me up front and told me that they were holding bikes back as they had four go down that day. From the previous batch we had went thru it had me a bit concerned as it was slick.
This next batch really sucked, it was snot *** greasy and ruts you couldn't get out of and when we get out of it (construction) then it really starts dumping again.
We get into the outskirts of Fairbanks and pull under a gas station over hang. G finds us a swanky hotel and the rain lets up so off we go to a nice room and shower.
We figure it's down day the next day as we need to find a car wash blow the crap off the bikes and pull the front fenders so we can run a seal mate around the seals. Nothing goes easy thou, we couldn't get a room at the hotel we were at so we had to find another place. We hit the jack pot with the Wedgewood Resort! We wished that we would have found it the first night, this isn't just a room but a living room, Dinning room, kitchen and bathroom.
Outside our Slider. Nice grounds.
The place even had a old car museum, admission ten bucks.
We didn't get time for the museum as we had laundry to do and fork maintenance to do.
That's a wrap!
Next up is Denali.
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Panman
Well-known member
6/4 Let's go to Denali NP.
Just more nice scenery, riding to Alaska isn't twisty's and turn's and just seeing. If you don't get it, don't go!
Got to Denali NP and checked in to get a camp site.
First think we found was this Bull Moose close to our site.
Went up to the main building and wandered around and took a picture or two.
They wouldn't let us out of the lodge as that bull had walked up and was grazing by the front door. George & I walked out the back door and around.
Decided it was time for dinner, forgot the name of this place but the Pizza & beer was good.
Went back to camp (really don't know if it was before or after dinner now) and some kids came running down telling us to watch for a Mama Moose and her baby!
Picture sucks but that is George & my tents!
Next day we got up, packed up and rode the 16 mile they would let you into the Park, it's 80 miles or so in but they only let you drive the 16. Frosted my butt as they let vendors take you in for $200 or $45 on the parks bus, 8 Hr trip. George isn't good enough looking to sit next to that long!
We shot a fe pic' anyhow.
This is as far as they let you in. We got off the bikes and shot a few pic's.
Where is my happy face?
Time to head for Anchorage.
Pulled the last four pictures that were here as they were after leaving Anchorage. Opps & sorry, big dam story to remember!
We get into Anchorage find a room and walk the Blv looking for chow, we wind up eating across the street from the Harley dealer. George had heard they offered free camping with showers! As we walked back to our room we ran into a two guys who were staying there, one on a ST1300 and the other was a Strom I believe. The Shop didn't care what you rode, pretty cool.
The next morning RedneckJ who has friends every where and hooked us up with a place to change our oil before we headed for Valdez. What a beautiful ride it is!
Night, till next round.
Just more nice scenery, riding to Alaska isn't twisty's and turn's and just seeing. If you don't get it, don't go!
Got to Denali NP and checked in to get a camp site.
First think we found was this Bull Moose close to our site.
Went up to the main building and wandered around and took a picture or two.
They wouldn't let us out of the lodge as that bull had walked up and was grazing by the front door. George & I walked out the back door and around.
Decided it was time for dinner, forgot the name of this place but the Pizza & beer was good.
Went back to camp (really don't know if it was before or after dinner now) and some kids came running down telling us to watch for a Mama Moose and her baby!
Picture sucks but that is George & my tents!
Next day we got up, packed up and rode the 16 mile they would let you into the Park, it's 80 miles or so in but they only let you drive the 16. Frosted my butt as they let vendors take you in for $200 or $45 on the parks bus, 8 Hr trip. George isn't good enough looking to sit next to that long!
We shot a fe pic' anyhow.
This is as far as they let you in. We got off the bikes and shot a few pic's.
Where is my happy face?
Time to head for Anchorage.
Pulled the last four pictures that were here as they were after leaving Anchorage. Opps & sorry, big dam story to remember!
We get into Anchorage find a room and walk the Blv looking for chow, we wind up eating across the street from the Harley dealer. George had heard they offered free camping with showers! As we walked back to our room we ran into a two guys who were staying there, one on a ST1300 and the other was a Strom I believe. The Shop didn't care what you rode, pretty cool.
The next morning RedneckJ who has friends every where and hooked us up with a place to change our oil before we headed for Valdez. What a beautiful ride it is!
Night, till next round.
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Auburn
Well-known member
Dinner at Gwennie's?? They are across the street from the Harley Dealer and their food is a must if in the area.
CraigRegs
Well-known member
Man, this is scenery overload! Great RR!
Niehart
Pie Smuggler
escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
Auburn
Well-known member
Yeah, BeemerReamers took us there every time we pass through. Definitely very good food and reasonably priced too.
Panman
Well-known member
I pulled some of the following pictures as they were after the oil change and as we headed for Valdez. I have got to get this thing done and in bed, as you can tell I'm getting old and having mass brain fade trying to put pictures in the right place.
I have learned a little about photo management for doing a ride report, using your camera and cell phone can get messy! Next time I would start a new album every day on my little PC that way down loading to Photobucket things wouldn't get so scattered!
I guess it don't matter with this place shutting down 9/16.
We left Anchorage after getting out oil change done and picking up a T-Shirt at the Harley shop for a friend.
George spots a sign saying Old Glen Hwy and asks what do you thing? Me sure, I like new roads!
Can you tell where I'm at? I can't!
As you can tell I figured it out. I hate it when things wake me up in the middle of the night!
As we get close to Hwy way one George shout's he has to take a picture so I stop and he is almost out of range on the Sena and when he catches up he tells me it was a street sign with Bugs last name on it.
Back on Hwy 1
Matanuska Glacier. Very pretty area.
Are we going to get wet again?
I have learned a little about photo management for doing a ride report, using your camera and cell phone can get messy! Next time I would start a new album every day on my little PC that way down loading to Photobucket things wouldn't get so scattered!
I guess it don't matter with this place shutting down 9/16.
We left Anchorage after getting out oil change done and picking up a T-Shirt at the Harley shop for a friend.
George spots a sign saying Old Glen Hwy and asks what do you thing? Me sure, I like new roads!
Can you tell where I'm at? I can't!
As you can tell I figured it out. I hate it when things wake me up in the middle of the night!
As we get close to Hwy way one George shout's he has to take a picture so I stop and he is almost out of range on the Sena and when he catches up he tells me it was a street sign with Bugs last name on it.
Back on Hwy 1
Matanuska Glacier. Very pretty area.
Are we going to get wet again?
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Panman
Well-known member
We ate in Glennallen at Ernesto's Grill, good food
About ready to take a right and head for Valdez on the Richardson Hwy.
Ho Hum more lakes and tress....................
And Mountains.
Ever get tired of Mountains?
Seeing in person is way better!
The closer to Valdez the more lush it gets.
We didn't know it yet but this is Worthington Glacier.
Thompson Pass!!!! On a day like we had, just awesome!
The Canyon into Valdez is real pretty.
It's late and posting isn't easy for some reason, night.
About ready to take a right and head for Valdez on the Richardson Hwy.
Ho Hum more lakes and tress....................
And Mountains.
Ever get tired of Mountains?
Seeing in person is way better!
The closer to Valdez the more lush it gets.
We didn't know it yet but this is Worthington Glacier.
Thompson Pass!!!! On a day like we had, just awesome!
The Canyon into Valdez is real pretty.
It's late and posting isn't easy for some reason, night.
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