Day 3 - Homer to Valdez

We awoke in Homer to a rainy day. The Bay was covered over with clouds and fog. We definitely lucked out with our weather the day before.

For breakfast we dropped by the Two Sister’s Bakery again and grabbed some ham & cheese savories (like a thinner croissant) to go.

After gassing up the truck we headed out of town back to Anchorage. The drive up was rainy. Sometimes we were hit with big, fat drops that reminded us that we needed to get new windshield wipers. The road back up the Kenai peninsula was as beautiful as ever. The coastal bluff gave way to the flats east of Soldotna before we climbed back into the Kenai Mountains. The road past Cooper Landing was very familiar to me from many trips down to the peninsula. I will definitely miss that area a lot. The snow covered peaks and river lined valleys are just gorgeous.

Once we were back over Turnagain Pass and onto the Arm, the drive went quickly.

Back in Anchorage we first made a stop by Costco for some “cheap” gas and snacks for the road. Properly provisioned we swung by an auto parts store and got new wiper blades. They were a great improvement over the old ones that had endured the rigors of the Alaskan winter.

From there we headed downtown to grab lunch and say bye to some folks. First we hit Snow City Café one last time. Snow City was easily one of my favorite places to stop for lunch in Anchorage and I had to go one last time. I had the 4th Ave. Special, a turkey and bacon on marbled rye with a side bowl of tomato soup. My dad had the special – a pulled pork sandwich.

From Snow City we headed to Sidestreet Café, my favorite coffee shop in town. George and Deb run the place and they are incredibly welcoming and friendly. My friend Kelly and I used to head there for morning coffee most days of the week. George was in and I introduced him to my dad and explained that I was taking off. George insisted on making me one last drink.

Our last stop was the courthouse. I went in through the main entrance and the metal detectors for only my second time ever. The first time was my first day of work. Once in we went up to the third floor and stopped by my judge’s chambers. Ann, our Judicial Assistant, buzzed us in and we chatted with her for a while. The judge was on the bench, but she messaged him that I was there and he took a break to say bye. He was one of the best bosses that I’ve ever had. Fun to work with, taught me a lot, and gave me a lot of responsibility. I will miss working for him.

Once we were out the door we headed out of Anchorage on 6th Avenue and the Glenn Highway. The construction at Bragaw was still slowing things up, but we were quickly out of the city and on our way.

Our plan was fluid. Because we were making good time, we decided to head all the way to Valdez for that night. We headed through Eagle River, Chugiak, Palmer and Chickaloon; all places that I have very fond memories from the times I spent in them. We passed Sheep Mountain, where I had stayed in a cabin with friends during the winter and started the Fireweed 400 ride with James and Gene during the summer.

We ate a forgettable dinner in Glennallen at the Caribou Hotel. I’d avoid it next time and press on.

At the junction we headed south towards Valdez. As the sun set we marveled at the fall colors springing out around us. Whole hillsides were sheathed in yellow and green with red tundra above. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline was visible at many points. It’s funny to think that it snakes its way all the way south to Valdez from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean.

The light was fading fast as we headed over Thompson Pass. The glaciers on the peaks around us reflected down extra light and we had the road to ourselves. It was definitely easier to drive over this pass. The last time I headed over was on my bike.

Once we crested the top we immediately entered a cloud. We descended from the pass and drove through Keystone Canyon. The Canyon’s walls were black against the sky light reflected off the waterfalls that were cascading down the cliffs. Eventually the canyon opened up onto a large braided river and the final 10 miles out to Valdez.

The new town is a few miles further down the road from the old town-site that was destroyed by the ’64 quake. We pulled into the Totem Inn for the night. I took an amble around the waterfront and then headed to bed.