Day 22 Palmer to Valdez

Rain and coffee

Leaving Palmer, rain still continued to follow us.   I think we can hire out to drought stricken areas to bring rain.

We gain elevation and get rewarded with mist enshrouded mountain peaks.  It's a nice twisty road and had it been dry I would have loved to honed my skills here.  The rain however keeps my throttle tightly reigned in and we settle back to a safe speed with the other traffic.

We also get rewarded with lower temperatures.  That and the rain only intensifies the surrealism of this ride.  We pass a huge glacier, it's icy blue radiating outward even in the rain.   We ride for miles and continue to see the glacier stretching into the mountains.

Finally a cafe appears and  a promise of a hot cup of coffee to wrap our cold fingers around.  While drinking our coffee an odd assortment of clientele come and go.  A family of Chinese tourist, construction workers, and truck drivers.  After we have warmed I go to pay...25 cents a cup,  awesome.

Riding toward Glenallen the weather brightens. By the time we turn south toward Valdez it is mostly sunny.   Just in time too, the sun blazes across the snow capped peaks and dazzles us as we ride.
From high on the mountains to the valley floor this wonderfully smooth highway is impressive.  Granite walls along river banks follow our path.  Another glacier appears and we stop in and stretch our legs walking nearly to the glacier.  We can feel it's coldness.

Upon entering Valdez we see the harbor with hundreds upon hundreds of boats.  All sizes from little dingys to huge yachts.  People cleaning fish while sea gulls and eagles compete for the remains.  All is calm in the little town of Valdez, a couple blocks wide and several long.  I think a person could get used to this.

Settled in our room it's still daylight past 11 PM.   Closing our curtains we call it a night even though it's still day.

Palmer to Valdez pics