What A Ride to Valdez!

Without doubt, today's ride to Valdez provided the most jaw-dropping and spectacular scenery of ANY road trip I can remember.   It started with an In-Your-Face 'Hello':

 And just continued as I climbed to altitudes over 3,000 feet and found myself surrounded by mountains of pure snow that came right up to the sides of the road.  The girds along the road are for the snowplow crews to know where the road winds.  This part of the drive was mind-boggling; I thought I'd been transported to the Alps in deepest winter.   I really, really wish you could have been there to see it:

But then before long the road would plunge precipitously and I'd find myself in a deep, deep gorge surrounded by rock and waterfalls of melting snow.  This one is named Bridal Veil Falls:

Finally, I arrived at Valdez Sound.  Valdez is a small town of perhaps 12 total city blocks and a fishing boat harbor.   It's surrounded by snow-covered mountains on 3 sides and Prince William Sound on the south.  Here's the sound.  Isn't it purdy?:

I bummed around the town for awhile, stretching my legs and seeing the sights.   We're talking all one-story shacks here.   But it was sunny and warm and the fresh halibut lunch was excellent.

Okay, so that's it for Valdez.  I don't give it justice in the pics, but it sure is a picturesque (sp?) spot, and I hope to come back one day soon.