Day 68 Ends 355 Miles from Valdez

When we left Valdez this morning we weren’t intending to drive all the way to Portage.

But despite the on and off rain — interspersed with the sun breaking through periodically — we made good time. In fact, it was only 1:00p when we arrived at the Glenn Highway turnout where I had planned to boondock with views of Matanuska Glacier … some 200 miles from Valdez. So, we decided to keep driving. And before we knew it, we were driving through Anchorage. Might as well drive all the way to Portage.

We’re boondocking in front of a small glacial lake not far from the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center, which overlooks Portage Lake. It’s pouring outside … the wind is strong enough to create whitecaps on the lake … the mountain tops are wreathed in clouds that are likely dropping snow on the peaks … a distant glacier is veiled by fog. No matter. After a long drive, we’re happy to enjoy the scenery from inside the Cruiser.

Our long day of driving has gained us an extra day. There are several options for things to do in the area. We’ll make a decision based on what the weather brings tomorrow.Read more