We were certainly put in our place today!
Reluctantly leaving Girdwood, we waved good-bye to the many happy dogs that wander freely around the town. Instantaneously, the swarm of traffic heading to and from Anchorage surrounded us and Jules carefully maneuvered through four lanes. Exhaling deeply as we gradually wrangled our way out of the mess, we headed into a totally different Wrangell.
The Old Glenn Highway presented us with the opportunity to get off the main road and escape the snarl of Wassilla. Winding through dense forests, contouring the Knik River, this sideway was made for motorcycles. Not frequented by many RV's, we were free to fly. An odd deep green color, this glacial water provides yet another spot for sport fishing.
At Palmer we were back on the (new) Glenn Highway and what a fine road it was! The Wrangell Mountains, part of the largest National US Park, pulled us upward, as we tracked along twirling inclines that paralleled the range and the Matanuska River. Uninhibited by traffic, Rascal raced up the inclines, conquered the summits and roller coasted into the valleys.
The temperature cooled as we rose in elevation and then, splayed in front of us was a huge glacier, staggering in its vivid purity. At 27 miles long and four miles wide, the Matanuska Glacier is the only one in the US accessible by car (or motorcycle). As we gaped in awe, straining to see yet more views of this beauty, another miracle rose slowly in front of us. With volcanic peaks comprising the Wrangells, Mt. Drum at 12,000' is smaller than some of the others (Mt. St. Elias coming in second behind Denali) but it is one of the most visible from the road and we felt like we were riding into a dream.
Under the shadow of this volcano, we stopped for the night in Glennallen, at the best ( and only) hotel in town, the Caribou Inn. After dinner at the Fireweed Grill, the best restaurant in town for the same reason, we sauntered over to our room, purifying ourselves with the untainted air of the mountains.
How infinitesimal the wonders of nature are. Every day we have been bombarded with geological and botanical miracles that abound in this state. Humbled by eons of work created by the Almighty Architect, we ride small in this world, gratified that we have been allowed these minuscule moments in time.
Back on Cook Inlet
Heading into Anchorage
The eerie Knik River
Fishing the Knik
The Wragells appear
Our road twists up into the mountains
The Matanuska Glacier
Glacier Glory
And more!
An original roadhouse
Mt. Drum
The only show in town!
No comments:
Post a Comment