Even Mother Nature has Favorites

July 20th- 21st Copper Center to Valdez and ferries

I spent a hellish evening in my tent at the Blueberry Lake campground. Like I previously mentioned, it had commenced raining and raining, so the higher up in the mountains I went, the colder, windier and rainier it got. I was accompanied by a group on a supported cycling tour and we passed and re-passed each other on the way to the top. One of the women took this photo of me near another glacier and the guide warned me to have good brakes on the downside. I had decided to camp at the rec center at the top because it had already been at least 80 miles and I was TIRED.

I rode in to a puddly foggy wet, very wet, and cold campground. It seemed like I was the only one there, but then I spotted some strange folks in a beat up van by the lake. I started getting freaked out and I hopped in to my tent as soon as I could. Then I was plagued with doubts and fears, "who were those weirdos? what was that snorting sound? i have no dry clothes left...what happens at night?" I tried to re-read a book I had hated the first time through. I read the soggy tourists brochures, tried to write in my journal; anything to stop thinking about what was soon to be jumping on top of my tent.

The campground host came by to collect my fee and I was relieved it was a woman. I stuck my hand through the tent peephole and gave her $15 bucks. I said, "When's the weather supposed to let up?" She just chuckled saying two days ago it was sunny. The weather seems to be a persistent bad joke. On that note, although I wasnt sleepy and a little hungry, I tried to close my eyes and sleep. Anything to get through the rainy evening. I must have bedded down about 6 PM, tossing and turning in my damp sleeping bag.

In the morning, I went down the mountain. I was cold, very cold and the rain pelted my face. I had this sense that it was probably the most amazing view ever- but I couldnt see it. At long last, I pulled in to the port of Valdez, and the clouds parted for the afternoon. I was right in the middle of a plateau and I could see all around me- high peaks, glacial cirques, waterfalls streaming from the mountainsides... After setting up the tent, I sprinted to a HOT shower. I never thought I would be warm again! After I rested I went shopping, did laundry, journaled, cooked, ate...all the basic camp chores. This sort of distracted me from the fact that I had made it. I was there. Valdez had been my goal and here I was. Yet, I was too early- I have a whole week left...Hmmm, Kenai Peninsula?