I think we all agreed, staying in Valdez longer wouldn't have hurt any of our feelings. By the time this trip is over, the list of places that we could have stayed longer, is going to be quite lengthy. But, with only one summer to see, and do everything on our list, we left Valdez yesterday morning.
Our route took us back to Glennalen on the Richardson Hwy, then we turned left on the Glenn Hwy for Anchorage. Having already stayed one night in Glennalen, we knew that there was about a mile of torn up Hwy through the center of town. With clean motor homes and Jeeps, wouldn't you know it, that just when it was our turn to be escorted through the one way traffic construction zone, the water truck came out of hiding, spraying water right in front of us, turning much of the dirt into mud! After spending hours cleaning the rigs, Nancy & I both had decided that future "mud zones" would be traversed by creeping motor homes. With our tires rotating slower than they would during rush hour traffic in L.A., we kept the mud mostly on the ground.
The drive from Valdez to Anchorage is filled with picturesque scenes like the one above, and below of Mount Drum, elevation 12,010'.
Nearing Anchorage, the Glenn Hwy narrowed, as it wound it's way though the mountains, necessitating a slower speed. Other than a narrower road, and 35 mph curves for about 20 miles, the road was fine, and the scenery along the Matauska River was incredible!
The Alaska Pipeline is partly visible in the trees.
Between Palmer and Anchorage, the Hwy becomes Alaska's only freeway. This picture shows a portion of the 6 lane, divided road as we approach Anchorage. By the time we checked into Ship Creek RV park, it was time for some chow, as only a few snacks had been consumed during the drive. We finished Patty's homemade halibut chowder (I had 2 bowls), and called it a day.
Ship Creek RV park, Anchorage - $44.10 Cumulative - $761.41
Diesel - Chugiak Chevron 62.4 gals @ $4.11 gal = $256.50
Cumulative fuel cost - $2,737.12
MPG - 8.6 Cumulative average - 8.0
Miles traveled - 302 Cumulative miles - 4,931
Anchorage 6 lane highway are not much busy which makes road trip more enjoyable.Map guide helps us to explore the Anchorage by road.
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