After sleeping it off in Tok, we were anxious to get down to Anchorage.  At 317 miles, this would be an easy day down Al-1 we thought. We’ve booked a rental car to get some needed time off the bike. It was dreary and cold as we rode. The road surface was not too bad but there are few gas stations and even less food until you get close to Wasilla, so do not pass up gas.

About midway there is one gas station with porta johns and 3 small food truck type vendors. There is no indoor seating but luckily the coffee shop had standing room. We chatted with a nice couple while drinking a mocha and eating a $5.00 3 inch square frozen cheese pizza…and we were glad to get it and be out of the drizzle and cold for awhile.

Coming in to Anchorage seeing an expressway with more than one lane each way made us rejoice at the thought of getting a good cup of coffee but instantly miss the solitude we had for the last 5 days. For the first time in a long time, we paid at the gas pump with our credit card!

We checked in to the Hampton Inn, split to get the rental then headed to Girdwood for dinner at Jack Sprat. We had no reservations and got lucky to get a table in 30 minutes or so. Make a reservation if you go. They’re on the Opentable App. Girdwood is a ski town about 30 miles south of Anchorage that courts summer tourists with glacier views and great food.

The weather cleared and the drive along Beluga Bay was stunning. This was also the first time we really noticed how light it was at 10:30 pm. We also noticed that the mosquitos weren’t quite as bad as they had been in Canada.

The food was delicious and scenery made our first night in Anchorage memorable.