June 14, 2011 Day 11 Fairbanks to almost Soldotna

I know it is hard to believe but we are still getting rain, not heavy but a steady drizzle. Today we are heading to Homer, it was the Halibut Capital of the world at one time, still claims to be.  Homer is 578 miles from Fairbanks, so we really don't plan on making it there today, John had suggested Soldotna, about 75 miles before Homer. We planed to have breakfast on the road and it took a while to find a place open, the first two stops were closed, as in maybe not in business any more. The third stop was a success. The gas stops can be like the cafes, there yesterday, gone today, that is why John gets fuel anytime there is a station open and we have gone 80 or 90 miles and are not near a large town. The one you count on may not be in business when you get there even if the map says it is.The rain is never very hard and it goes and comes but never goes long enough for us to get out of the rain suits. As we get to the edge of Anchorage the rain get a bit harder and the traffic gets heavy. The traffic all comes through on surface streets so it is a bit of a mess and the drivers tend to be jerks, squeezing in and cutting you off. We get gas and are on our way out of town, The rain is back to a steady drizzle giving away to no percip once in a while. I think I have see every thing beautiful that Alaska has to offer in the way of scenery and once again I am in awe. On our right side is the big bay that is south of Anchorage, on the left is rocky cliffs with lots of green and water falls every once in a while and to the front are some majestic mountain peaks, The tops are snow covered, the next part is bare rock and then we have lots of green, not trees, just green growth and then we have the trees on the lower part.Throw in a few glaciers that go from top to near the bottom and it is beyond words, even though I am trying, This is where we get our critter siting for the day, Mountain goats or sheep on the cliffs. I would have missed them if John hadn't pointed. One was a baby, looked almost like a big toy, fuzzy and white. When we get past the bay we are going up a canyon with these giant peaks on both side and a few lakes on our left every little bit and a river running down to the bay. The rain is still coming down and we are in the shadows now, a little cooler, maybe even cold. John pulls over and asked if I had seen the cabins for rent sign back down the road a mile. He said he either needed to put on more clothes or stop for the day. We had 461 miles under our belt, or seat and stopping was fine. The road would still be there tomorrow, we hope.