Anchorage to Bear Creek CG

Day 11--Monday, July 29, 2002, 57.42 miles

We got packed and off by 10. Hated to leave the comfort and convenience of the Schloeder's. They and their siblings and parents were the quintessential hosts.

The tunnel under Minnesota Street

Anchorage is VERY bicycle friendly, with bike trails paralleling nearly every road. Those with no trail have wide marked bike lanes. Nonetheless, we got lost trying to get to the Old Seward Hwy. Went through the same trail tunnel under Minnesota St. (which didn't allow bikes) four times. Finally found our way and in the process found a P.O. Stopped and sent off our photos. Scott, you should have them in 4 days. Happy scanning to you!

The ride along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet was fantastic. Lots of tour buses, RV's, and tourist traffic, but a generous shoulder right of a deep rumble strip for most of the way. The road is right on the water. For the first half of the day, the Alaska RR ran parallel to the road to the right between us and the Arm. For the second half, it was on the opposite side of the road and we were right on the water. High green peaks and numerous waterfalls on our left, and across the water; and at the end of the Arm, snowy mountains and glaciers. We saw two batches of Dall sheep high on the green peaks. Searched in vain for beluga whales, which are common at high tide, but it was low tide with lots of exposed mud flats for most of our ride.

We made slow progress because we stopped so often to explore or take photos. We stopped and birded at Potter's Marsh. Two fluffy, baby mew gulls got near the road, and Jess herded them back into the water but not without having the parents dive at her screeching. There was a third "good" baby in a nest on a grassy hummock, and the wayward two eventually joined it.

We stopped at the Potter Section House Railroad Museum where I took the photo below of Jess before a giant rotary snowplow affixed to the front of a train engine.

We stopped again at Beluga Point, Rainbow Creek, Windy Point (where Dall sheep and mountain goats come to the road's edge to feed on plants and lick salt residue) and Bird Creek. The silvers were running up Bird Creek and it was lined with fishermen. We heard that Bird Creek CG was full to overflowing with anglers.

We stopped at the Girdwood Turnoff but did not cycle the 6 mile RT to Girdwood itself. Bought a breakfast sweet at the Intersection Bakery, however, on Danette's recommendation. Just before Girdwood was a stand of dead trees, killed during the 1964 earthquake when the land sunk as much as 10 feet and saltwater penetrated the soil. Girdwood was lost and had to be relocated.

The campground at mile 3 was closed, so here we are at Bear Creek CG, 4 miles up Portage Glacier Rd. No showers or running water, unfortunately, as it turned into a bright sunny day and we got hot and sticky getting here. However a previous camper left two super folding canvas chairs, so we're lounging in comfort.

Our route was possibly the easiest we will experience on this ride. If the road wasn't level, it seemed to slope gently downward.

We explored the creek behind our site after dinner, and saw much evidence of moose. Also, the campground wasn't named Black Bear for nothing, so all of our food and toiletries are now tucked into the bear locker.

It's pretty chilly right next to the snowy mountains and glacier. My zipper thermometer reads in the high 40's in the shade. Probably in the low 50s in the sun.

Well it's 9:15 and time for bed, despite the broad daylight which lasts all night, though somewhat more subdued after the sun sets.