7/22/15 ENDED UP IN VALDEZ

The temperature was 48 degrees when we left the campground at 7AM Pacific Time.  I took this picture of one of the vintage WWII vehicles on display at Discovery RV Park where we stayed.

Much of the road from Burwash Landing, YK  to the US border has been virtually destroyed by frost heaves.  Over the scores of miles where they are working to make repairs, they have removed the surface treatment and have bladed the roadway to dirt/gravel.  While some of the dirt stretches have been graded smooth allowing for speed up to 50mph, much of it is washboard consistency mandating speed of less than 10mph.    

Our clocks rolled back an hour when we crossed the border at 7:30 AM, Alaska time (4 hours behind Eastern Time).  The customs lady took our 1 orange and 1 tomato from our fruit basket.  I knew we should have had sliced tomatoes at dinner last night. We now have a reason to go to a WalMart tomorrow.  :)

Soon after crossing the border we drove through an area that had been ravaged by a forest fire. Flashing warning signs were seen warning of wildfires in the area and you could smell smoke in the air. 

Joe decided to let me drive on the Alaska Highway across some construction zone areas giving him a much needed break.  He said I did OK.  Here's proof in the pictures. 

  

After getting gas in Tok, AK, we changed our itinerary and decided to go to Valdez today instead of tomorrow.  It was nice to have cell service again and talk to our family.  

Traveling south on the Tok Cut Off, we crossed the Little Tok River and was met with a nice view of some of the mountains in the area.   There was about 10 miles of severe frost heave road damage that had not been repaired.  Anyone going above 40mph could guarantee their wheels would leave the ground.  It was like riding a bucking horse in a rodeo.   The crack in the window has grew another inch and it's started raining again.

The road south to Valdez wasn't much better.  We stopped at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park visitor center and looked around for a bit.  Heading south on the Richardson Highway to Valdez had some pretty spots, but the Ice Fields Parkway was more impressive.

  

There are a lot of rivers, mountains, and waterfalls around Valdez.

We camped at Eagle's Rest Campground in downtown Valdez  surrounded by snow-capped mountains.  The campground was nothing more than a gravel parking lot with RV hook-ups, but it gave us a place to stop, rest, look around and decide what direction we go tomorrow.  We drove 398 miles today on very rough roads and in the fog and rain.  Very tired and ready for bed early.  It's nice not to be moving, shaking and rattling down the road.  Maybe tomorrow we will get a few clear skies to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.  Looking forward to meeting our grandson.