Thursday, July 5, 2007
Fear and a nice boat ride
We left Homer, Alaska this morning at 7:30am with the goal of Whittier, AK where we would catch a ferry to the city of Valdez, AK. We were a little tight on time because as we learned we had to time our arrival to Whittier in time to enter a tunnel. The tunnel is actually a train tunnel that they open on regular intervals for auto traffic. We had to time our arrival to the tunnel opening and also the ferry departure. In order to do that we had to average 60mph. Normally this would not be difficult but the rain was coming down very hard.
Most of the ride to Whittier I had difficulty seeing out my helmet visor because it fogged and there was so much rain. I hope we do not encounter conditions like that again.
When we arrived at Whittier we had only 3 minutes to spare. We paid our fee for the tunnel and waited in a spot where there was a couple from Germany. Wolfgang and Heidie were traveling around the US for a year. I spoke German to them when Doug said, "say something in German!" Not wanting to disappoint Doug I started to speak to Wolfgang in German. My mouth was so cold from the ride I could barely speak English let alone German but it was fun anyway
Then the big fear began. We were told to get ready to move through the tunnel. I was third in line behind the Germans and Doug. Here is what I saw: railroad tracks with a grated metal plate in between the tracks. We were asked to ride between the rails on the metal grate. I almost had a heart attack. The grate pulled my wheels in every direction but straight. If I had hit the rails I would have gone down for sure. I noticed Doug standing on his pegs. He hardly ever does that so when I asked him why he did it he said he was so nervous his legs were shaking and standing was the only way to stop the trembling.
The tunnel was two and a half miles long and it was constant stress all the way. They had a truck follow us all the way because so many motorcyclist go down they want to be there to help. Needless to say we survived. There was lots of fear.
We loaded our bikes in the bottom of the boat and Doug took my picture:
I notice I am always smiling through adversity. The fact is we had just ridden over 200 miles in a pouring rain in temperatures so cold I could barely feel my hands and then the tunnel; and still I smile. I think I am genetically suspect.
On the ferry Doug immediately flaked out:
The ferry was very luxurious and the view was beautiful.
Tomorrow we head back to Tok, AK. We are on our way back to Whitehorse, YT to get our street tires reinstalled. If we make Whitehorse in time on Saturday we stand a chance of returning back to A&S Roseville a week from Saturday.
As I have said we are both homesick but every day brings a new adventure and the trip is still fun.
Dell
