Day 13 - BACK IN THE USA

Day 13 – Friday: June 28, 2013, mile travelled today: 190

Woke up to another 3:30 AM thunder storm. Broke camp in Dawson City, YT, had breakfast and headed for the ferry to take me across the Yukon River.

No other way, GPS points me in this direction…

 

Looking back:

…and looking ahead to the other side:

I began my journey on the Top Of The World Hwy. Looking back, the confluence of the Yukon & Klondike Rivers. Side note, Dawson City was the highest producing Gold source ever.

Moving ahead, things started to look dismal again. I just knew I was going to get wet, and sure enough, the weather turned sour, and the road became quite slippery; back end of bike wanted to go sideways.

Weather went from cloudy, rain, diminished visibility, fog, and breaks in the clouds, improved visibility… Interesting. Fireweed is everywhere, the best known wildflower in Alaska I’m told, grows along most of the highways. In mid to late summer fireweed begins blooming in the middle of the stalk, with each successive flower blooming just above the one before it. As the last flowers are blooming at the top of the stalk, the earliest blooms seed and turn to cotton, as seen below. When the fireweed turns to cotton, Alaskans say there are about six weeks until winter begins.

The rain let up, crossed through some major construction, but wanted to be back in the states. Finally crossed the border, turned my helmet cam off, but as I found out later, it didn’t turn off – oh well, I didn’t get detained. I’m back in the good ‘ol USA! It stopped raining, so he is a video of my reentry into USA:

Of course, I forgot to turn the camera off, but I did cut out the bureaucratic processing so that no one get in any trouble, especially me:)

Arrived in Chicken, AK, had a fantastic bowel of chili I bought off this trailer Café’:

These folks really glorify the Chicken:

Even at the Post Office:

This I thought was original:

Famous landmark:

Anyway, headed to Tok, AK hoping I find a campsite at either Thompson (motorcycle only) or Sourdough Campgrounds (noted for their pancakes & reindeer sausage).

I arrived in Tok, missed Thompson’s entrance, so Sourdough it was. Camping next to me were Craig & Karla S. from Temecula, CA. (a nice couple that I camped next to in Dawson City, YT). After setting up, it was off to the showers and sit down to blog.

What I liked best about Tok, AK? I now have cell coverage and I got to call my Sweetie, and my Mommy, and unfortunately didn’t get to speak with either Monique or the Folks. It was a whole week without my phone, felt like eternity!

Dinner was a fantastic Chili with homemade Blueberry pie, expensive yes, but hey, beats Campbell’s Soup.

Went to bed, thinking it was going to rain. Heavy overcast, winds, had us fooled.

Lata’

Day 12 - To Dawson City, YT

Day 12 – Thursday: June 27, 2013, miles travelled: 338.0

After a great night’s sleep, 6 AM time to get up. Hauling all the gear back out to the bikes, and trying not to disturb the other occupants was difficult. Brian had to discreetly wake the host Claus to move his car (placed behind the bikes for security) so that we may move our bikes to the street.

Back to the cabin from the outside looked like someone’s back yard shed, guests were required to remove the sheets and up to the bunk I go. Coming down the bed frame/ladder I thought I was on the bottom rung. WRONG! From a couple of feet I fell crashing into the floor against the doorframe. It’s tough realizing your not 18 anymore and the bruise will remind me of this.

So, Brian met up with me at Starbuck’s in downtown Whitehorse. We parted ways only to meet up again at the gas station. Two miles up the road he headed along the Alaskan Highway. I turned north onto the Klondike Hwy.

I miss riding with Brian, having the same bike, similarly loaded, it was nice to ride with him, but he had a schedule to maintain in order to complete his Key West, FL. to Deadhorse, AK. Iron Butt certification.

Scenes from my ride to Dawson City, YT:

Had lunch at the Moose Creek Lodge. Requested a bowl of soup, however the waitress suggested a Turkey Salad Sandwich & Soup Special, I said OK. WOW! What great beef & vegetable soup and sandwich on homemade brown bread.

The sign in front is wrong, now 2-guys, 3-women:

Now Bill H. & Jonathan B, this picture is for you!

… I knew you’d like it :)

Arriving in Dawson City, 94°F, first I had to find an ice coffee, then lodging - priorities. Shared my table with a nice Swiss couple that shipped over their camper to St. John, Newfoundland, and crossed Canada, next USA, then South America. How do people do it?

Anyway, Dawson City, YT, dirt streets, western theme facades on many of the buildings:

Just had to include this building with a great name (can everyone say Pee-Buddy?).

Anyway, found a RV Park at the edge of town and secured a campsite for the night. Basically a parking lot, with large gravel stones, but it had showers and laundry facilities, and was walking distance to all the downtown offerings.

After doing laundry and etcetera’s, I walked into town for something to eat. After wards it was still hot, so I headed down to the Downtown Hotel Saloon. In through these doors I walked:

…found a seat at the bar and watched an old tradition performed. It appears they have this petrified human toe that people waitiing in line paid for their shot of whatever and $5 to swallow their drink with this toe in it! It must touch the tongue or lips and they receive a certificate… WOW!

No I didn’t, finished my drink, left without a toe certificate, and went back to camp. Met a couple from Lake Tahoe and another from Temecula, CA (Craig & Karla S.). We chatted for a while, and then it was off to my tent to catch some sleep. It’s very strange going to bed at 11 o/c PM in daylight.

Tomorrow, Top of The world Highway to Tok, AK… Back to the USA!

Lata’

Day 11 - To Whitehorse, YT

Day 11 – Wednesday: June 26, 2013, miles travelled: 412.0

Broke up camp as the rain taunted me. Dr. Brian K., who I met the day before, came by to see if I was ready to go to breakfast. Seems Larry & Grady were taking their time… and it was Larry who said: “7 o/c kickstands up”.  Walked over to the overflow area of Liard Park to see this world traveler we heard about. Pictured here is Jeffrey Polnaja, from Indonesia, he’s travelled 78 countries over the last four years, and plans to be on the road two more as a promise to his children to Ride for Peace. WOW!

We also met John C. from New York camped next to Jeffrey. Riding a Harley Davidson, he blew a rear tire 8 miles north of Ft. Nelson. It did significant damage to his Motorcycle wiring, and rear light. Towed back to Ft. Nelson he had to wait 2 days for a replacement tire to be shipped in, all the while he was allowed to camp in the junk yard due to limited resources; he rides till he tires then finds a spot off the hwy. to camp every night. It’s free! Anyway, from my previous post I mentioned the rain, yes the same storm all the while he was stuck in the junkyard for two days; and here I was in a nice motel (but it was my birthday & Bruins game was on).

After breakfast at Liard Hot Spring Lodge, Brian, Larry, Grady, John, and I travelled to Watson Lake together, at which point Larry and Grady set off to post a sign in the sign forest in Watson Lake. This was a tradition started during the war by a homesick GI deployed on the construction of the Alaskan Hwy.

I saw three Black Bears today on the side of the road; actually one was brown.

Poor John C, his bad luck just keeps coming, his luggage rack bracket started to fail, cracks across the heavy 7-gauge stainless steel brace had to be fixed immediately. We stopped at an auto supply in Watson Lake and he purchased a couple of straps he rigged to hold things together:

This should do it for a while… talk about belt & suspenders!

The Alaska Hwy. goes from BC into Yukon, back into BC, then again in Yukon:

John, Brian, and I rode to Whitehorse, YT where Brian and I stayed in a Hostel. John wanted to keep riding on till he was ready to pull over. So at this point it was just Brian and I calling it quits today. After stowing all our gear, securing the bikes for the night, we hiked to dinner at a local favorite restaurant. We met two other Hostel guests there, Dr. Angela T. from Chicago, a college math professor and Hanz from Germany, who ran a canoe guide business on the Yukon for 34 years as a summer diversion from his business of designing Nuclear Medical Facilities (hospital X-Ray, CT, MRI installations).

Back to the cabin, I had the top bunk, Brian ground level; I’ll tell you what happed to me in tomorrow’s post. Anyways, the Hostel was nice, it was clean; mean age of the other occupants was mid-late twenties. This being my first experience in a Hostel, I left with a positive impression.

Lata'

Day 10 - Ft. Nelson, BC

Day 10 - June 25, 2013, 183.0 miles travelled, Temp is all over the place

Crappy weather, but plodded along. Left Ft. Nelson in the rain at 10 o/c; I wasn't alone, several others, going home to Mexico, were waiting for a break, howver it was time to check out. 

I got to see a Mountain Goat grazing on side of the road. Other than a few deer, this is the first of what I hope will be many wild animals.

When you see those "Falling Stone" signs on the side of the road, pay heed to the warning: a giant beach ball sized speciman came crashing down within feet of me while I was in a turn during a driving downpour. This could had been a game of candlepin for mother nature, but I got through unscatherd - I won, however I now really need to do laundry.

Made it to Liard Hot Springs, just set up the tent in time to jump in. Laying there for 1.5 hours I waited for this ground shacking storm to quit. When it did a fellow named Ken from Michigan stopped by to tell me all about his motorcycle experiences and another fellow Brian travelling on a bikesimiliar to mine.

I grabbed my bathing suit and towel and hiked to the hot bath. WOW!, BC goverment really puts a lot of effort into their facilities.

After a bite to eat, I walked the campground and noted three other motorcyclist setting up camp. One bike was packed like mine, same bike, and I asked if he was Brian and if he knew Ken. The connection was made; Larry and his son Grady introduced themselves, and the stories rolled...

Brian, Grady, and his father Larry

Went back up for one last dip in the hot spring before rtiring for evening.

Tomorrow, Whitehorse, YT...

Day 9 - The Alaska Highway

Day9 -  June 24, 2013, 491.0 miles Travelled Lo 54°F Hi 84°F

Broke camp this morning, a very special day for me, I'm a bit older!

Made ot to Dawson Creek, BC. Lot's of fantastic views along the way:

After a quick breakfast at MacD's, and check of email, I started at Mile 0.0 of the Famous Alaskan Highway, and I forgot to take a picture!

Along the way to Fort Nelson I got wet again; nasty stuff, but I dried quickly.

I met a fellow in the gas station who gave me a tip to go to a particular Inn in Fort Nelson, as I will not find any lodging in the area due to the oil worker population. I said OK, found the place, but forgot I wanted to stay at Toad Creek Campground, another 140 kilometers up the road. Sure: the Bruins were on, too bad... it's just a game :)

I will not let that happen again. You got have a solid plan, and backup plan:

I got it covered, GPS reprogrammed all the way to TOK, AK.

Lata'

BTW - Cum milage to date is: 2,896

Day 8

Day8 -  June 23, 2013, 379.0 miles Travelled Lo 56°F Hi 85°F

Had breakfast with Chris, then we rode off in separate directions. He wrote me later: "I made it to Creston. Met up with Wilbur. Good thing we didn't go this way, some of the roads only opened last night. That being said, it was a great ride. You have to come this way sometime. Hope you are well. Chris" WOW!

I headed for Prince George, BC, and from there to find a camp site. I found one 46 miles north at Crooked Creek Provincial Park at Bear Lake. I had a great idea to use a tarp over my bike & tent in case of heavy rains; well I tried the set-up and it failed miserably. The cheap tarp ripped, the ferrules popped out, and it turned out to be a bad idea. After all that experimentation, I set-up my little tent just in time for the thunderstorm and downpour. It was 85°F when I jumped into that sauna cave, but when I emerged it was 10 degrees cooler.

Time for the shower to get all cleaned up - wrong! It seem here in Canada the quarter machine only works with "Loonies", their $1 coin. Waited for the camp host to come by and thankfully he had some to spare. Also provided me several pieces of firewood and shared that I'm in Black & Brown Bear country here, and last week he had a Large Black Male Bear, and a Grizzly Sow and two cubs prance though the camp to the other side of the lake. Tom & Liz took good care of me by loaning me their Bear Can; it was all there when I awoke.

After a few nights in hotels, my mattress pad & sleeping bag were a hell of a lot more comfortable than what I've been sleeping on. If the Bears walked through during night, I didn't hear them...

This picture of me relaxing was at 8 o/c PM! I went for my walk around the campground and it appeared everyone had gone to bed. How do they get use to this? I awoke at 10:30 and it was still daylight...

Tomorrow: DAWSON CREEK, BC & Beyond.