{"id":4922,"date":"2020-08-23T22:59:16","date_gmt":"2020-08-23T14:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=4922"},"modified":"2021-01-31T06:47:01","modified_gmt":"2021-01-30T22:47:01","slug":"20200823road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2020\/08\/23\/20200823road\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 1 of 2020 Alaska Trip, Drivig to Seward"},"content":{"rendered":"

First day of our Alaska trip. We would be driving from Anchorage to Seward today. The 2.5-hour journey would pass through some beautiful landscapes, like Turnagain Arm and Chugach National Forest. In addition, we would take a detour to visit the town of Whittier, a town only accessible on land through a single-lane cold war tunnel.<\/p>\n

\"Explorer<\/a>

<\/br>Explorer Glacier<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

After yesterday’s exhausting full-day flying, when we set off for airport early and reached hotel late, in addition to 4 hours of time difference, we set off reasonably late this morning. After a trip to the downtown car rental store and moving all our luggage into the car, it\u2019s almost 11am by the time we left our overnight hotel. <\/p>\n

By the way, the associate at Enterprise downtown Anchorage had us gone through the most detailed walkaround of the car, despite that it was drizzling at the time and we could hardly see the many shallow scratches until later in the trip. She was also the pushiest about selling insurances, maybe because the corporate rate that we booked was much lower than what they usually rented out for.<\/div>\n

Not long after leaving Anchorage, we reached Turnagain Arm, which was a narrow waterway on the northern end of Cook Inlet. Alaska Route 1 ran next to it for quite some distance, with scenic views as the narrow two-lane road wound its way between soaring mountains and crashing waves. <\/p>\n

A rail track ran parallel to State route 1 in this portion. Rail and roadway took turns occupying the vantage waterfront view. Seward could also be reached from Anchorage via a sightseeing train.<\/div>\n

Beluga Point<\/span><\/h3>\n

Along the way there were a few roadside turnouts for picture-lovers, Beluga Point was one of the bigger ones. <\/p>\n

\"Beluga<\/a>

 \"Beluga<\/a><\/br>Beluga Point<\/br><\/p>\n

A small rocky island in Turnagain Arm not far from shore. In low-water season it should be accessible on foot. During our visit it\u2019s separated by a small channel, requiring audacity and a giant leap to get across.<\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Railroad\"<\/a>

 \"Railroad\"<\/a><\/br>Railroad<\/br><\/p>\n

To reach Beluga Point from parking lot one had to cross this railroad. Most people, us included, chose to ignore warning signs and sneaked through an opening in the fence to get close to water.<\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Pounding<\/a>

 \"Pounding<\/a><\/br>\"Pounding<\/a><\/br>Pounding Waves<\/br>It was rather windy by the waters that day, these pounding waves could attest.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Turnagain<\/a>

<\/br>Turnagain Arm<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Turnagain<\/a>

<\/br>Turnagain Arm<\/br>Resurrection Creek Valley across waters.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Northern<\/a>

<\/br>Northern Shore of Turnagain Arm<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Turnagain<\/a>

<\/br>Turnagain Arm from Beluga Point<\/p><\/div>\n

Turnout along AK1<\/span><\/h3>\n

I planned the next stop to be Bird Point, a bastion into Turnagain Arm. Unfortunately, I missed the exit, so we stopped at the next roadside turnout instead.<\/p>\n

This time, I set off my drone across Turnagain Arm.
\n

\"Overlooking<\/a>

<\/br>Overlooking Turnagain Arm<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

\"Turnagain<\/a>

<\/br>\"Turnagain<\/a><\/br>Turnagain Arm<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Mt<\/a>

 \"Mt<\/a><\/br>Mt Alpenglow<\/br>A towering mountain south of Turnagain Arm.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Mountains\"<\/a>

 \"Mountains\"<\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Hill<\/a>

 \"Hill<\/a><\/br>Hill Slope<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Hill<\/a>

<\/br>Hill by Turnagain Arm<\/p><\/div>\n

And here’s my drone’s video on its return.
\n