Flashbacks

We got up to rain this morning. Well, at least it's rain. But, it's still really cold.

At mile 13 back down the Denali Highway, we picked up snow. The Highway has plenty of climbing and plenty of descents. It was a cautious trip back to Paxson to get back on the Alaska Highway and head to Glenallen. While the road wasn't slick, the snow would pelt you in the face on a downhill. It was difficult to see where you were going. Everyone was actually in climbing mode just to stay warm.

The only things I haven't worn yet are three pairs of shorts, and what was I thinking bringing a swimming suit? Today there were four layers to try to stay dry and warm. Glove liners under bike gloves. Wool socks and bike socks with plastic bags on the outside (inside of shoes) to try to keep the feet dry. Capri bike pants with leg warmers on top. It, generally, paid off this time until we stopped for lunch at 30 miles (probably about two hours). Once you stop, it is really tough to stay warm. For me, it's almost better to keep moving which is my normal strategy. The tour, though, prefers to try to keep the group closer together since they are supporting with two staff members and one van.

At 2:30 they pulled everyone off the road. It was still raining and 38 degrees and felt it too dangerous.

I take back the tone of sarcasm from an earlier post regarding the heat at the Caribou Inn. We were all very grateful to have the heat on when we arrived yesterday. I immediately crawled in the shower with the water as hot as I could take it. Now it would be important to get everything dried out in case it would be needed again tomorrow.

We were actually able to have an early supper tonight because of the early arrival at the hotel. We ate at a fishing camp outside of Glenallen which also has a restaurant. The property is owned and run by a family. The children all work at the restaurant and did a great job managing our group and another, larger group who were also dining there. The restaurant is a log cabin built in the early 1900's. The food and service was great.

Nighttime is a little strange since it never really gets dark as we are used to. I was up at 3 and it looked like it was about 8 or 9 p.m. for us. Most of the hotels have had something to darken the room. There have been some exceptions, but it really hasn't been a problem. I still struggle most with the time difference.

It's interesting to see how businesses and government use the daylight. When we returned from supper at 10:00 one evening earlier in the week, we came upon road crews painting highway lines. It appears "normal business hours" at this time of year is literally 24 x 7. I'm not sure what "normal" is during the winter. Some of the restaurants and hotels we have used are only open May - September, but others are open year round. Again, a very hardy bunch.

This has been more difficult than what I expected based on the information that was provided. My legs are really tired. I'm not sure if it's the bike or the climbing. One of the other riders tried to explain to me the other day while we were riding that the atmospheric pressure here is different and makes climbing more difficult. I guess that could work for me too! In reality, I probably wasn't as prepared as I should have been.

I'm scheduled to be back in Iowa Monday morning, flying out of Anchorage Sunday night at 9:30. The first order of business will be laundry. I'm thinking I better take a survival kit with me on the first trip to the basement for laundry, in case I can't make it back up the stairs until Dale gets home!

This was the toughest day so far. I've ridden in snow, rain and cold before but not the steady, wide-spread conditions that occurred today. But, again I learned, it's important to keep moving.

Tomorrow is the last riding day. Sunday we ferry from Valdez to Whittier then transfer to Anchorage. Dale says it's still hot, hot, hot in the Midwest. It'll be a big change from what we've seen here.

~Lisa