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Day 13 - 6:00 PM
Anchorage to Valdez Alaska
And so the journey begins. We departed Anchorage at 8: 00 am this morning under cloudy skies and a gentle snow flurry. Our destination: Valdez, Alaska, 520 km away.
As our convoy of Cayennes takes to the main highway leading from the surprisingly large metropolis of Anchorage, the weather worsens and we encounter a squall of heavy snow, but typical of Alaska, the snow turns to brilliant sunshine within the distance of a few kilometres.
Rapid weather changes are one of the characteristics of the far north; sun and warmth one moment and driving snow the next. But that all adds to the fascination of this great land, and I can think of no better way to experience the grandeur and weather challenges of the rugged countryside than from the front seat of a 2011 Porsche Cayenne.
My driving partner, Grant Yoxon, and I spent the day sharing the wheel of a V6-powered Cayenne. This is a new engine for Porsche's highly capable SUV, and it delivers significantly more oomph than did the previous V6 mill. Despite the mountain passes and steep hills that confronted us throughout the day, Grant and I never longed for more get-up-and-go.
And go we did. After a brief stop in the hamlet of Glennallen for an Alaska-sized lunch, we passed through Worthington State Park and Thompson Pass en route to the port town of Valdez.
I've had the good fortune of driving in many spectacular parts of the world but none can compare to the majestic beauty of the snow-capped mountains we were in awe of today. Under this afternoon's deep blue sky, their size and magnitude left us feeling mighty insignificant in a great big world.
Surrounded by massive peaks, the fishing village of Valdez was made famous by the Exxon Valdez disaster. More recently, the very popular TV reality series, Deadliest Catch, has put Valdez on the map. We rolled into town in late afternoon, drawing the attention of many locals as our cavalcade of Porsches made its way waterside and to our lodging for the night
Tomorrow will be a long haul covering nearly a thousand kilometres before day's end, bringing us to Haines Junction in the Yukon. Given the splendid ride comfort of the Cayenne, I look forward to the drive with enthusiasm and energy.
Who knows what Alaska's capricious weather will subject us tomorrow, but after this afternoon's brilliant sunshine and scenic inspiration, Mother Nature owes us nothing more. That's all for now. Time to think dinner and stroll the water's edge in search of the Time Bandit. Maybe I'll sign on as the latest Greenhorn!
Rob