Bloodsport

What should have been one of the nicest drives in Alaska was not for me. For three others, it was their worst.

 

I gladly departed Jason's International Hostel this morning, couldn't get out soon enough. A rabbi was involved. But I'll get to that later.

 

Traffic was heavy heading southbound out of Anchorage and then eastbound along the gusty Turnagain Arm, and only intensified crossing the narrow neck to the Kenai Peninsula at Portage. Long lines of cars were usually headed by an RV or semi or both. But that was not the problem.

 

In the first hour on the peninsula I passed two areas glorified by extensive painting of the roadway in red and green fluorsecent colors. One of the two was memorialized by a weird totem constructed of a pole and baloons, but it did not cause me to think about a child's birthday.

 

There were an unusual number of portable electronic signs advising caution and moderation of speed. The trafffic thru the village of Soldotna reminded me of that on a busy day in Los Angeles. In that locale were signs advertizing today was Ted Stevens day. I think he was or is a state senator for Alaska, maybe he hails from Soldotna? Maybe that was the explanation.

 

Despite the signs, drivers crossing solid double yellow to pass or attempt were common. They must have enjoyed some existential delight considering the outcome was bumper sitting the next car in an almost infinite line. Regardless, we were all going to get there about the same time anyway. Hopefully, I thought.

 

Lucky for me, I thought, a buxom woman with a southern accent approached me at my fuel stop. I suspected to ask about my trip, as so many have, but instead she warned me of the danger of what I was doing, describing that the instant Sterling Highway behind us had been shut down until this morning for the passing of three lives yesterday. It must have been important to her because somehow in relating this she had silently and without recognition by either of us let slip her purse and pocket book to the asphalt, which I noticed, recovered and handed to her as she turned to go. She nonchalantly informed me of some six or eight thousand in cash contained therein, relating to the salmon running and her smoking of them (I asked how it tasted and she said great but the pun was lost as are most that I make). I suggested in so saying that she was foolishly advertizing with the brightest of neon, but she only thanked me for being such a kind and honest fellow. It figures, these days if I am lucky enought to be hit upon it is by a gay man.

 

Intrigued by her mention of happenings on the highway, upon establishing my wifi connection at the hotel I found this evening the following:

 

The Alaska State Troopers have released more details into the two fatality collisions on the Sterling Highway, Friday, where a total of three were killed.

 

In the first accident near mile 65, a Jeep struck a motorcycle. According to the trooper investigation, a 2007 Honda Motorcycle was towing a small travel trailer, southbound. 23-year-old Richard A. Moffitt of Palmer was northbound in a Jeep near milepost 64.5 of the Sterling Highway. The Jeep crossed the center line and collided head-on with the motorcycle. Moffitt was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital with injuries.  William A. Tillery and Angela R. Tillery were pronounced deceased at the scene.    

     

In the second accident at Mile 40, near Quartz Creek, an SUV and a pick-up collided, killing an infant and injuring four, including both drivers. The driver of the pick-up was identified as 61-year-old James McPherson of Palmer. The driver of the SUV was 27-year-old Shaina Watt of Chugiak. Troopers say Watt was traveling southbound in her Chevrolet SUV, when she attempted to pass a vehicle. During the pass, Watt crossed the centerline and collided with the pickup, driven by Palmer. Watt's vehicle was occupied by an adult female and two children. An infant in Watt's vehicle was fatally injured in the collision.

 

Alaska State Troopers closed the highway between the Seward Highway intersection with the Sterling Highway to Mile 70 to investigate both collisions. The road remained closed until early this morning.

 

Today I could not afford to allocate any of my limited mental capacity to the magnicient peaks and glaciers I was passing, for the entire sum of it was spent on the road. Today I also overheard a driver complaining of all the slow vehicles that would not "move out of my way." But the problem he was describing didn't seem to be one of ignorance, either that of the motorists about which he was complaining, or his own. Instead, it seemed to reflect a rude, self-infatuated, self-aggrandizing attitude that left no room for compassion for his fellow humans.

 

Yes, this odyssey of driving to Alaska is about enjoyment, but of necessity it must foremost be about completing the journey.