This trip was the one we were absolutely not going to do. We'd already been across country and after all, we are retired and should be on a "fixed income" budget. Our friends asked us again to join them on this tour. We checked into it and less than 1 month before the trip there were still 2 spaces left. Was it meant to be or are we just spoiled brats who want to just continue to have fun all the time. We elected to bypass the self analysis and sign up. After all, Alaska is the only state i haven't visited.
The only non-stop flight to Anchorage from Denver arrives at 30 minutes after midnight. It was almost dark when we touched down. Our friend had booked an inexpensive motel. I hadn't booked anything. We were most fortunate that they did have a room available for us. Modest but clean. So what if the windows didn't have screens and the room was too small to easily fit us, our suitcases and the bike bags. The bed was comfortable and we were actually in Alaska. The next morning the 3 of us walked to the closest gas station for coffee and an microwaveable breakfast. Just imagine our disappointment when we realized that we'd purchased standard egg/sausage/muffins when we could have had hot Spam/sushi rice "cakes". Really, Spam with rice units, hot and ready at the check out. After our mundane convenience store breakfast the 3 of us, our luggage and the 3 bike bags took a cab van to the Comfort Inn where our tour was to begin. The desk clerk allowed us to check in early and assemble the bikes on the front portico. We spent the remainder of the day walking in the rain in downtown Anchorage and eating. It had been rather disorienting to stay up unit 2am, change 2 time zones and be in daylight 20 hours. 2nd breakfast, lunch/dinner and drinks all sort of rolled into one continuous feast of local seafood and beer.
This morning we were to begin our first day of this Hard Cycle tour. It was to be a 56 mile day around Anchorage on the bike paths. Just because it was raining and the temp was is the low 50's most of the riders elected not to ride. Go figure. 5 of the 6 of us from the Thursday night crew elected to ride anyway. Urban rides are good rides to do in the rain. The visual focus is more on immediate surroundings. There are not typically 100 mile views from urban bike paths. The anchorage bike paths took us through wet, lush forested spaces punctuated by neighborhoods, major roads and construction. It was, at times, hard to remember that we were in a city especially when we encountered moose.
36 miles later we rolled back into the Comfort Inn and borrowed a hose to clean our bikes, jackets, helmets, gloves and shoes. We must have been quite a site for the vans of folks arriving to begin more sedentary tours.
6 of us had a memorable dinner in a restaurant that straddle the river. It's now almost 9:30 and it's just as bright as it was at noon. Tomorrow we should be riding in better weather.