I gradually worked my way up into the
mountains, still surrounded by forest; the road occasionally rising above the tree line
to view the valley I'd just left, trees
carpeting the valley floor and creeping up the mountainside, gradually giving
way to a little scrubland before the mountains rise steeply to the sky. Maybe a river or mudflats worming through the
valley from one end to the other. Sometimes
the road winding so much I'd lose sight of it among the trees and have the illusion
that I am completely surrounded by mountains, there's no way out, and the world
has shrunk to this one small valley.
I had planned to lunch in Tok but
numerous road works held me up. I really
must learn that this country doesn't care about my plans and schedules. So I just sat back, enjoyed the ride and
stopped at the first place that appealed.
It was about 40 miles short of Tok and in one of those valleys. It was filled (not hard considering it only
took about a dozen people anyway) with locals including four gents who were
exactly my idea of old coots, and who took great delight in 'chatting up the
young lady'.
I've been travelling steadily north and
climbing into the mountains since leaving Seward. At some stage spring had withdrawn and the
trees had been again in an uneasy doze.
Moving down out of the mountains onto the plains surrounding Tok, spring
came again and I feel privileged to have seen it twice this year.
After coffee in Tok I drove straight
through to the US/Canada border. I was
travelling under the Visa exemption scheme for UK nationals and was supposed to
hand in the form, that was clipped to my passport, when leaving. I explained I was going back into Alaska at Skagway so
they marked the form for multiple entries and I've just got to remember to hand it
in the last time I exit the US. It's
valid to July and they impressed on me the importance of not taking it back to
the UK with me. Must stick a reminder
note somewhere!
And so it was goodbye to Alaska, for now; it's
been wonderful!
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