The road to Valdez

     There are several reasons why I would not want to live in Alaska, but the one that is way ahead of whatever is in second place is mosquitoes.  And, they have discovered us…big time.  All motel rooms in Alaska have one mosquito.  In the daytime it remains camouflaged in the swat-proof drapes, patiently awaiting its moment.  After the lights are out for the night and I start to drift off, it rubs its tiny hands together in glee, waiting, waiting, waiting.  When it knows I'm fast asleep, it swoops down and drills a hole in the side of my neck.  The horrifying eeeeeeee in my ear awakens me with a start, the light goes on, I jump out of my warm bed and I stalk that vampire bastard, folded magazine in my hand.  I scan the walls again and again until finally, there it is.  I sneak up carefully, take aim and swing my weapon full force…SMACK.  I got the little shit.  I wonder if the motel people will notice the nickel-sized transfusion on their wall.  Better try to clean it up.  Ahh...I'm tired, it'll wait 'til morning.

     We left the heralded Alaska Highway at Tok and headed south to Valdez, some 250 miles away.  Our road was a repeat of yesterday's whoopsie-doo (the road resembles a sine wave…google it) and long stretches of unpaved gravel.  There are lots of vehicles pulling campers and as the car goes whoopsie, the trailer goes doo, or vice versa, so they have to go very slowly to keep from destroying themselves.  However, the scenery today was even more beautiful, if that's possible.  Snow covered mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, one after another.  And we got to see a mother moose with her new calf as well as a coyote which trit-trotted alongside the road, seemingly oblivious to our presence.  It was one of our best days, but I keep saying that about every day.  And, I took a nice photo of Marcella in front of the Worthington Glacier; two beautiful entities just seem to enhance one another.

     We are staying in Valdez, right on the water in the harbor for two nights.  I have to tell you about a discovery Marcella made today in a restaurant here in Valdez.  Remember, it gets to be 40 below here and heated car seats would be nice, but how about a heated toilet seat.  She liked it too much, I know she's going to want one in our house. True luxury! 

     We are going to take a six-hour cruise tomorrow in Prince William Sound and will report on it tomorrow night if I'm not too seasick.