Back in the USA!

The Beaver Station Border Crossing. The final day of driving on the AlCan Highway provided the worst road conditions by far. Frost heaves in the tundra wreck the pavement every spring. They work on the road constantly, but it is still rubble for miles at a stretch. Augie didn't like all the road noise and the Gravytrain rattling noise at all. She spent most of the day curled up in a ball quivering. 🫨
6/11/24

Uh Oh...

Tok, Alaska is about 50 miles from the border. Augie was freaked from the loud and rough driving, so I was looking for a place to give her some quiet ball time. We stopped at a State Recreation Area on the outskirts of Tok and took about 20 minutes to relax and play. When GT started to roll toward the highway, there was a loud screeching sound that started up every time she moved. Not good. I looked up "Automotive Repairs" in Tok, and this is where Google sent me. They were just taking a car down off the lift as I pulled in. Everyone stopped and stared when we (literally) screamed up to the garage. "Is it supposed to sound like that? The mechanic asked. I was struggling to think up a witty retort, when he said, "Just kidding man, you've got a rock in your brakes - we see it every day." My good car karma continues. They put it on a lift and started removing wheels, starting with the left rear, which was the culprit in my Texas blow-out last year. A teeny pebble fell out. I asked how much and he said "How 'bout $20 bucks?" I said "How 'bout $50 bucks," as I handed him a picture of President Grant. Gotta make sure Karma knows I appreciate it. 🙃

Northern Lights RV Park, Glenallen, AK

This turned out to be a longer day of driving than Augie or I wanted. The Rec Area that I was planning to stay at was not open for the season yet, a fact we didn't discover until we tried to pull in. Poop. The next campsite was another hour down the road. Poop. But we sucked it up and made the drive. When we got there, paid, and went to our site, we quickly realized that the place was engulfed in a fog of mosquitos - yyuuccckk! I got out of GT twice all night. both times to attempt to walk Augie - who was having none of it. As it turns out, Glenallen, AK is world famous for this, but the news never reached us. Augie didn't relieve herself until the next morning when we drove to the middle of a huge asphalt parking lot - where the mosquitos were only very bad - rather than insanely horrible. Moving on to Valdez.

Valdez, Alaska

Tomorrow, we're taking the ferry to Whittier (on the way to Anchorage). This lovely RV Park, Bear Paws, was about 500 yards from the dock, and proved to be a great stay with nice showers and inexpensive laundry facilities. When I told the owner about the mosquitos the night before, he said "Glenallen? Yeah, I don't even roll my windows down when I drive through there." 🤣
6/12/24

Valdez, Alaska

Valdez is the southern terminus for the Alaska Pipeline. This is where the oil is pumped onto huge sea-going tankers which feed an energy-hungry world. The "USS Exxon Valdez" was one of these tankers when it ran aground in Prince William Sound in 1989. We'll be motoring through the sound tomorrow on our way to Whittier.

Valdez to Whittier on the Ferry

This time of year in Alaska, the sun sets around 11:30p, and rises at 3:30a. We checked in at the ferry at 5:30 as directed, but this still gave us time for a ball session at the harbor, in front of the statue commemorating  the workers who built the pipeline. This is good, because, while I will be riding in the lap of luxury in the ferry's passenger lounges, Augie will be stuck in Gravytrain below deck. Sucks to be you, Augie.
6/13/24

Valdez to Whittier on the Ferry

Nice seating, including a full cafeteria, inside, and outside viewing platforms. It was a relatively nice, sunny day, but a bit windy. I made a brief tour outside, but stayed in my comfy chair, inside, for 99% of the voyage.

Valdez to Whittier on the Ferry

As is usually the case, cameras just don't do justice to epic landscapes, but my smiling mug improves any photo.

Valdez to Whittier on the Ferry

We arrived in Whittier right on time at 12:30p, and everyone scrambled to their vehicles. Unloading was going smoothly, but as I was one of the first on, it was becoming apparent that I would be among the last off. No big deal though as unloading was proceeding fast and efficiently. Until... with only GT, two other campervans, and a huge 5th-wheel camper left on board, they signaled the giant 5th wheel to hit the ramp. Well, he bottomed out at the entrance to the ramp - this took about 40 minutes to remedy, until he was finally out on the ramp. They signaled for the rest of us to pull forward, but then the huge camper got high-centered at the top of the ramp too. Another half-hour delay, sheesh. pulled off the boat at 2:00p

Whittier, Alaska

Finally extracted from the ferry, Augie and I both had some bodily functions to take care of. A quick Look at Google Maps showed a small city park right next to the train station. Perfect. Toilet at the train station for me, and a level, grassy ball field for Augie. As we played, I noticed that the train that had been sitting at the station finished loading and was moving out. I was to discover later, that I should have headed out before that train. I was completely un aware that The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the only way out of Whittier - or into Whittier. I drove out of town to find the train entering the tunnel. We had missed our turn, so now had to wait 1.5 hours for the train to get out of the tunnel, the smoke from the train to be purged, and the southbound traffic (that had been waiting for the train) to clear the tunnel. I blame Augie.

The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

In 1941, with war raging in Europe, and US engagement seeming emanate, Alaska had no dependable supply line that didn't expose ships to an ever more threatening Japanese navy. This train tunnel was built in just over two years, a pretty amazing feat at the time. It is only 4 miles long, but the overland route around it was over 300 miles over rugged mountain roads. Now, all north- and south-bound traffic shares the tunnel, taking turns in half-hour intervals - except when a train goes through - trains take an hour to pass and purge the air to make is safe for drivers. So we waited again. Finally, at about 3:45, it was our turn.

Playful Arts, Anchorage, Alaska

Fortunately, after getting through the tunnel, we only had about a 45 minute drive to This HH stay in Anchorage. The host was very friendly and accommodating, but the place was very small. No worries tho, tomorrow I check into my primary stay in Alaska.