| |
|
|
| |
Alaska
2023
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
While I am out getting
BlueBelle ready to go I finally get a float plane taking off as the wind
has changed directions to favor them coming this way. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
As I make my way out of Homer
I notice this huge chair that I didn't see coming in. As Ron a riding
buddy of mine says
"Riding a road in the
opposite direction is riding a different road"
and he is right. You see things
one way that you don't see coming from the other way and this is a prime
example.
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
It's just gonna be one of those
old damp rainy days but I'm geared up for it and have plenty of time so
I can take it easy. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
And with the rain
there's some fog mixed in so you just have to be careful as these are the
conditions that some wildlife like move about in. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
I see a sign that
I wished was posted and observed all over the United States. To me it is
very frustrating when some vehicle is going way below the posted speed limit
and there is a long line of vehicles stacked up behind them. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Since it's a shorter
day going to Anchorage and I already know where I want to do breakfast,
I take a bit of a side road with an interesting name - Kalifornisky Beach
Road. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
It's a pretty ride
with the water on your left for most of it's length. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Soon I am back at
the Duck Inn where my timing for them opening should be just about right.
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Unfortunately
"Houston, we have a problem" as I see this sign posted on their
door. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
That's a wait of
an hour or so but then I've got plenty of time today. So I go next door
and gas up while I have the time. There are worse things that having to
wait for really good food. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
And
the wait is well worth it as the hot chocolate on this damp day is very
comforting. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
And the omelet and
bacon and toast make the wait well worth it. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
While I'm enjoying my food,
one of the owners stops by to see if everything is all right. It turns
out that she and her sister bought this place from their parents to keep
it running. Knowing how difficult dealing with the general public is,
I tell her
"You are definitely a
brave woman to want to do this."
But she and her sister grew
up working here so they had a pretty good idea as to what they were getting
into.
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
After consuming
that wonderful breakfast, I am back out on the road. I see what appears
to be strange wildlife gates on the side of the highway but I can't quite
figure out how they function.. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
I know I will be
in 'traffic city' when I get to Anchorage proper, so I enjoy the empty roads
for as long as I can. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The scenery is so
enjoyable as I head north toward Anchorage. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The
road just stretches on and on til it just disappears into the rugged mountains. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The green hue from
the glacial runoff is in vivid contrast to the blue of the skies. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Soon I cross the
lovely Kenai Lake which is 22 miles in length and over 500 feet deep in
some sections. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Before long I pass
by this perfect reflection of the beauty of the area. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The views
go from slender waters falls making their ways down the plush green mountainsides
... |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
to reflective lakes
along the roadside ... |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
to snow dusted mountains
that seem to stretch out as far as the eye can see. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The grandeur and
the scale of this area ... |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
just cannot be captured
by a camera ... |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
for the vastness
cannot be properly shown in such a limited representation. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
As I get closer
to Anchorage, the railroad accompanies the highway as it makes it's way
around the ocean inlet. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
But it's not an
ocean area I would want to swimming in as you would probably become a human
iceberg in short order. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Once I get into
Anchorage proper, I leave the beautiful and isolated wilderness for the
'busyness' of Anchorage city streets. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
When I went looking for motels
in Anchorage I found this one and picked it because it was the most reasonably
priced. When I check in, the lady warns me that there are no bathrooms
in the rooms themselves. It is a European arrangement where there are
common bathrooms on each floor with locking doors. She says
"Some people won' accept
that so I always let people know up front before they check in."
Since I'm familiar with the
arrangement from my travels in Europe I tell her that I'm fine with it
and get checked in. In Europe, a room is assumed not to have a private
bathroom unless it is called 'Ensuite'. It turns out that she grew up
in Memphis so we have a nice discussion about Tennessee.
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
I ask her if there
any any restaurants nearby that she would recommend and she directs me to
the 'Lucky Wishbone'. It's a pretty good hike from the motel but I need
the exercise anyway knowing it won't hurt me none. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Pan fried chicken
is their specialty and they sure do it up right. They give you enough chicken
to flounder a chow hound. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
When I settle up
and go back outside, there is a really nice 36 Pontiac getting ready to
pull out. I talk to the driver and he said he spent a lot on getting it
put back right. But he's got it running as it should and it's in top condition
now. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
It's a little walk
from the Lucky Wishbone to motel but I get after it and make it back just
fine, even with the extra baggage from all that tasty fried chicken and
fixin's.. |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The room is nice
enough and I settle in to sort our my plans for tomorrow. I decide to visit
the downtown Anchorage museum since I do not intend to ride tomorrow. It's
quite a hike from here but again I know the walking will do me good after
all the sitting I've done over the last thirteen days. With things figured
out for tomorrow, I walk right into the place of blissful slumber with no
effort at all. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
