Up Over: 7/27/16 Half Way!

The magic of Alaska put a spell on us again today.

The Seward Highway, a path through oceans, mountains and glaciers, drew us south. Enraptured at each turn by eye and mouth opening vistas, we watched in awe as more wondrous sights emerged. Heavy cloud cover prevented photo ops at many points, but the personal impact of all this glory was so monumental, it will be engraved on our memories forever.

Into the Kenai Peninsula, we followed forested roads with a few appearances of mountains and goats. Waterfalls oozed down to us and fireweed flourished everywhere, lighting up this gray day.

Cooper Landing, a sporty settlement complete with an Orvis store, headed us toward fishing heaven. Anglers bunched up on the shoreline through Sterling and Soldotna along the Kanai and Russian rivers, hoping to snag some trout or salmon. The few fishermen we talked to had little luck. I got the itch to toss a fly, but we are on a different kind of journey, searching for adventure on the road.

Out of the woods, we sailed to the coast of the Cook Inlet and down to the Halibut Capital of the World, Homer. A charming fishing village, tourist-ized because of its incredible location, sucked us in as we rose over the mountain road to witness a scene from National Geogtaphic. The bay, crowded with fishing boats was encapsulated by an array of heart-stopping snow capped mountains. Entranced, we rode through town and out onto "The Spit", a narrow appendix of land protruding into the ocean. Tiny shops, many on stilts, lure shoppers to this spot.

At Land's End, we stopped, kissed, reflected on our trip so far, turned Rascal north and headed toward home. We have gone as far south in Alaska as we can ride and now we will face into what we have only seen in the rear view mirrors. Experience has taught us that the old way in reverse is a new way and we are always amazed at what has been going on behind our backs.

So, as we rest in Anchor Point, the western most location in the North American highway system, our glass is not half empty or full. Every day is a new drink, and it seems like the well will never run dry.