June 29, 2016 North to Alaska Day 23

We are up early and on our way by 7:30.  We have a ferry to catch in Whittier which wouldn't be an issue except for the Whittier Tunnel.

When driving from Anchorage to Whittier you’ll go through Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—the longest (2.5 miles) highway tunnel in North America, and the first designed for -40 Fahrenheit temperatures and 150 mph winds! 

The one-lane tunnel must be shared by cars and trains traveling in both directions, and it usually needs to be aired out in between trips (with jet turbine ventilation, another first!). This unique design that enables a single lane of traffic to travel directly over the railroad track saved tens of millions of dollars over the cost of constructing a new tunnel.  www.alaska.org

Photo thanks to Lyon

Because of sharing the tunnel with not only the train, but oncoming traffic you have to work out your timing with the schedule. Eastbound is on the half hour.  We arrive well before that time. The tunnel toll collector took time to explain how it all would work to us, while the mosquitos feasted on us.  They were so bad most of us had to keep our helmets on while we waited, or break out the bug dope. We caught up to Ken again while waiting for the tunnel.

We had to wait until the last car has entered. It was explained that bikes go last in case they have a problem (such as crash and burn) this way a tour bus won't run over us.  Gee, thanks, I think.

 Photo thanks to Tim

Once the all clear is given, we are off

Photo thanks to Tim

We start by crossing one rail so we can ride down the center.  The pavement is grooved, like a highway when under repair. It grabs my front wheel and make it dance.  I was VERY uncomfortable.  It didn't seem to bother anyone else.  And then in two places we went buffeted by the wind caused by the fans exhausting the fumes.  I guess they don't wait until it's empty anymore. Now I really felt like a ping pong ball.

But it drops you off right at the deep water port of Whittier

Nestled in the arm of a fjord, glaciers and all!!

After getting our boarding passes it was time for coffee, and a short 5 minute rain shower

Wayne, checking to see if the ferry is coming

Then it was time to move to the holding area.  Once again we will go on last. There will be 8 bikes total on our boat. We are labeled as having hazmat.  It's our empty spare gas cans as well as our cooking fuel.  They take all of this and store it in a fire proof locker.  Hmmm, what about the gas INSIDE our bikes and cars??

Lyon, as we head out of Whittier

The clouds are still with us, but no rain

This was all I got of the whate

Photo thanks to Lyon

Lyon had better luck

The clouds start to break up

Sea lions doing what they do best

It's turning out to be a beautiful afternoon

Icebergs!!!

Tim and Wayne

Tim is from North Carolina.  He is riding a Yamaha WR250X, which is a really small displacement bike for all the miles  he's putting on.  For his story check out ADVRider.com in the Epic Rides section, titled Tiny Bike to Alaska 2016.  We also spent time with a couple of guys from Arkansas, Charlie and Dale.  Great guys, lots of fun.  You meet the nicest people on a motorcycle!!

The oil tanks at the Valdez terminus of the pipeline
While in Fairbanks we saw the Alaska Pipeline, here is where it ends, waiting for tankers to take it to the lower 48.  Our ferry didn't go very close to where the Exxon Valdez dumped it's load, but they say the clean up did its job.

We camped in Valdez, with the bunnies.  They look like domestic bunnies and are all over the place.

Odd campground.  Our bikes were down here, but we camped at the top of the steps. hmmm.

It was a great day, I loved the ferry ride.

Critter Count:  1 whale
some sealions
lots of birds

1 short rain shower
82 road miles plus a ferry ride

June 28, 2016 North to Alaska Day 22

We got up again to very overcast skies.  No rain last night, but it looks like it could anytime.  We decided to eat breakfast out, so we left the park a little early.  It was a really quite place, we all slept really good.  As we were leaving a saw a figure in the distance, thinking it was one of the campers out for a walk, until it turned sideways.  It was a very young moose.  Mom had to be really close.  We stopped and waited for him to amble into the brush before we continued on.

Homer with the glacier across the bay

Our first stop after breakfast was the Wildlife Research visitor center. It is free to the public, with really cool exhibits and lots of great information. They even show a short movie showing their research boat and the work they are doing on the islands.

Check out the bicycle racks!!!

From there we headed east on the East End Rd.  This road goes out to the east end of Kachemak Bay.  In 2007 when Lyon was here he followed it out until it became dirt. Because of the street bike he was on didn't have dirt tires, he opted to turn around.  This time we went out on the dirt.

We followed it down, past the sign that warns that pedestrian will be on the road, to a corner where we could look out.

The road continued down a little farther to the beach, but was getting too steep and loose to take the bikes.  Too heavy to pick up if any of us when down.

From there it was back to Homer and the highway, where we turned north and headed to Anchor Point.

Photo thanks to Lyon

The Anchor River comes in here.  It is a great fishing location for man, bear and eagles.

The site does not lend itself to boat launches, so that is left to the tractors.

They leave the trailers on the beach with a number on it.  When you return you radio in your trailer number, and they come and get you.

They back it out into the surf

And you drive onto your trailer

Then they bring you up to the parking area.

After Anchor Point we continue north to the Seward Highway.  We head south on it to Seward.  We camp at an RV Park just out of town.  Then go in to find the aquarium and diner.

We had heard that the SeaLife Center was worth the time and cost, but I think the free center in Homer was better.

Although they had live critters here

And a bird house were you could get up close and personal with a puffin

This guy loves to play with the kids in the underwater viewing area.

From here we went to the brewery for dinner.  The beer was OK but the food was not near as good as what we have been finding.

We then went back to camp.  We have an early morning tomorrow, we have a ferry to catch!

No rain today!

Critter Count:  1 moose

about 10 eagles

captive critters in the aquarium

222 miles

June 27, 2016 North to Alaska Day 21

Although I expected it to rain last night, we woke to a great day for a ride! Blue skies with puffy white clouds. We stopped at the Walmart in Wasilla where we must have been in a voodoo zone.  Both GPS's froze up, so we had to fake it though town.  Not normally an issue, but we missed a turn near the airport and landed in down town.  Traffic was light, so not an issue but it was nice to see the on ramp to the freeway and know that we are headed in the right direction.  Shortly after leaving Anchorage the clouds rolled in.

Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage

We continued south, on our way to Homer.

Photo thanks to Lyon

Me on my loaded down bike

Cook Inlet

Wayne, with the Beemer loaded down

Mountains across the inlet

The rain eventually came, hard enough that I thought about stopping for the boys to put on their rain gear, but it didn't last.  Funny thing, all of my regular gear is waterproof. I don't have to stop and put on rain booties, rain pants or a rain coat.  And because of the waterproof Oxford Muffs covering my hand grips I don't even change my gloves.  Almost all of the rest of our group has to stop and add .. something!

We went to the hostel where I had reservations only to decide that the people there were just too flaky for us. That meant we needed to find a place to camp, fully expecting it to rain again during the night. While looking, we ran into Ken again.  He had a room for the night on the spit.  The Homer Spit hangs out into the mouth of Kachemak Bay, and the wind was howling that day.

We found the Homer City Campground, Karen Hornaday Hillside Park.  It was definitely on a hillside, but we found a site that worked. The trees weren't placed right for tarping but we made it work.

Lyon looks like a tarp ate his tent!

Before we went to dinner Wayne and Lyon helped a couple of homeless men who had been given a tent by the church, but had no clue how to put it up. We got it up in no time, then headed to town for dinner.  It is still weird, going to dinner at 9 o'clock and not worrying about it being dark when we get out!  So cool!

Rain today riding

202 miles

June 26, 2016 North to Alaska Day 20

We woke up to beautiful blue skies, but we knew that wasn't going to last.  Today Lyon, Wayne and I are headed to Tolkeetna to take a ride on a float plane. Ken, who has his pilots licence decided that he would rather go to Anchorage where he has a motel reserved.  His hip is really bothering him and sleeping in a real bed probably sounds really good. 

So we say good-bye and the three of us head off...into the rain. Looking at the weather apps, it looks like we might miss it, but no, it rains on us about half of the time.  We end up being early, so we go to the Flying Squirrel Cafe for coffee and lunch. Then it is off to take our ride.

Lyon, Wayne and I in front of our ride

So excited to be able to go on something like this

The lake is very smooth, so it's hard to tell when we actually lift off.

We went east, toward the Tolkeetna Mountains

We were hoping for wild life

Instead we got awesome views

The clouds were high enough for us to fly along underneath

And all too soon, it was over and we were back.

Check out the tree growing out of the rood of this info kiosk 

This little rental cabin is labeled the Hobbit House.  Works for me!

After our flight we went into town to look around. We were trying to give Lyon a chance to stop bouncing round.  He had wanted to go on a float plane for so long, he was beside himself that he finally got to go!  We did some shopping and stopped for a beer for Wayne at the Denali Brewing Co.

From Tolkeetna we headed south to the small town of Willow where we stayed at the Willow Creek Recreation Area.  When we arrived, the guy parked across from us came over with a pot of coffee and 3 cups.  How wonderful!!!

I can see why this is a big fishing area.

The number of Kings is low this year, while we were there it was 'catch and release'

Wayne checking out the propaganda.

Rain today

No critters

205 miles