Like the Wind Through Anchorage

I fired up breakfast early (and quickly) while I formulated the day's plans. The clouds were still hanging low and it was drizzling. I was in need of exercise, but a long hike just didn't sound appealing with only a cloud-covered view. So I laced up my running shoes and went for a jaunt around town. I ran through the neighborhoods and returned to the harbor where I watched several fishing vessels departing. The campground had laundry and shower facilities, so I took advantage of both. I blogged while I waited for my clothes to dry.

I stopped at an annex to the Valdez Museum where I viewed pictures and learned more about the destruction and reconstruction of Valdez following the 1964 quake. I stopped for pictures at two beautiful waterfalls, Horsetail and Bridal Veil, on my way out of town to Anchorage. I passed back over the Thompson pass before meeting up once again with Highway 1. About 140 miles east of Anchorage, the road began to dip, rise and swerve as mountains began cropping up around me. I drove through narrow windy canyons and by gravelly rivers. Glaciers spilled down into the valley. It was such a beautiful drive! Just as I began wishing it would never end, I realized that it might not as I hit more slow-moving road construction.

I arrived in Anchorage much later than expected - around 8:00 PM. There was a road sign indicating a moose crossing just a couple of miles out of town in the suburbs. As I smiled to myself at the preposterous idea of a moose crossing in such a busy suburban area, a mama moose and her calf stepped out of the trees in nervous anticipation of wanting to cross the freeway. I couldn't believe it!

I had several administrative things to take care of in town (oil change, groceries, book store), but I was eager to get moving on to the Kenai Peninsula. Barnes and Noble was open until 11:00 PM, so I took the time to review ALL of the books-on-CD titles. I purchased about 75 hours-worth of material and got a major bang for my buck with Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" and Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat". Once I was back on the highway, I immediately popped in Friedman's book-on-CD. Never again would my mind be blank while I cruised the interstate!

I jumped back on Highway 1 which would take me south to the Kenai Peninsula. Before visiting that area, I had one last stop on my itinerary; Whittier. Whittier is located on the opposite end of Prince William Sound from Valdez. I had read that tenting accommodations were poor in Whittier, so I finally stopped for the night at a peaceful campsite, Black Bear Campground, which is located in the Chugach National Forest. The grounds were located about 5 miles from Whittier. I pitched my tent next to a quiet flowing stream, crawled in, and spent an hour reading about the sites and activities in Whittier and the Kenai Peninsula.