74.0 Space, or Alaska?

We always thought that Space was the final frontier, but apparently not, it's Alaska. It will be our final northbound frontier as there is nowhere else north of here, but we will be obliged to turn around and head south again. Our plan was to get to Anchorage in Alaska and then fly home. We knew of many people who had freighted into Anchorage and headed south. For a number of reasons our plan was to start in the south and freight out of Anchorage. We might go as far north as Fairbanks but Prudhoe Bay was not on our list - the Arctic is more easily accessible in Norway after all. However you can't freight out of Anchorage. We don't know why; you just can't. 

We are now just on the other side of Anchorage, in Whittier, and from here we will turn around and head back through this part of Alaska into Canada, and maybe the USA, in order to find a way home for the bike. 

The journey from Canada to Whittier was cold, but sunshine did breakout a bit. Thankfully. It allowed us to thaw out and also to take some photos of the scenery, which has improved significantly (when the potholes and frost heave permitted). And, as there are not that many roads here, we should get a second chance on the way back.

Whittier is an interesting stop for us. As far as small towns are concerned, and we have been living in them recently, this is a small one. Three historic buildings, one derelict, a block of flats and some port facilities. But, bizarrely, ocean liners stop here. If you ignore access by the sea, the only access into Whittier is via a single track train tunnel. They let the trains pass first, then the cars etc and then motorcycles are allowed in and we ride between the rails. Luckily they have concreted between the rails. It's rather a long tunnel. You can hardly see the end when you enter even though it's straight - why is it so hard to ride in a straight line? Being single track the tunnel is directional so you need to get your timing right,  otherwise you wait for an hour.

Whittier was 'born' during and after WW II as part of the Cold War. Prince William Sound, on which it sits, doesn't freeze over in winter. We are just opposite Russia - after all, Alaska was once Russian. One thousand soldiers were based here in the now derelict historic building. There is a restaurant of sorts - deep fried variety - in the historic Telecoms and Signals building and we are lodging in the historic USA Army HQ Building- which is now pretty much like a motel to be honest.

Whilst in Whittier we saw more wildlife and Paul managed to catch a salmon like a bear on the salmon run. No question, the salmon was exhausted from its efforts to try and get upstream. We would love to eat salmon. It is never on the menu. Halibut and cod, yes - salmon, no. People here say that having eaten salmon in a million different ways all their lives and there comes a time you say no more salmon. But, just once, wouldn't it be nice?