Tuesday, June 30, 2009

June 29 and 30

I did not sleep real well last night as there was noise and the room was warm. I got up about 12:30AM and updated my AdvRider and Blog. While I was up I opened the window and turned on the fan to get some cool air in the room. Hope I didn’t cause any wrecks with people gawking at me. Probably scared them to death.

I was up about 7AM and started loading up in the rain again. I rode in the rain for about an hour and then saw a ray of light.
From Alaska Favorites
I was a pretty uneventful ride. I hoped to stop at Muckluck Annie’s but it not open any longer. Six years ago I stopped for some wonderful blueberry pancakes. There are many places that have closed throughout Canada and Alaska. I went on down the road to the Nisuitin Bay on the Telsin River crossing and ate breakfast there.
From Alaska Favorites
Telsin Lake which goes on for miles.
From June 29 and 30
From June 29 and 30
People do not have enough to do so they write on the side of the road. This went on for many miles.
From Alaska Favorites
From June 29 and 30
I rode on into Watson Lake to see if Mandeep still had my tires and mesh jacket and pants. He happened to be there and said we could put the tires on now if I wished. I wished! What a guy.
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
I put it up on the center stand a took the front tire off. My old front tire was getting about worn out. I told him he could keep the TKC 80 tires and maybe someone could use them as they were probably good for another 1,000 miles.
From Alaska Favorites
I put 4,370 miles on them and this is what they looked like. They served me well. Anyway he looked in his stash and found one like my front tire that had more tread so I put it on and left my old one for someone else. I put the Dyna beads in and put the front back on enough to remove the rear and we put my old tire back on which only has about 3,000 miles. I put the beads in it a put it back on the bike and Mandeep took off doing something else. I got everything tightened back up and worked on Lola a bit. When it rains I have trouble with the electrical connection at times and with the plastic ties I could not spray the connection with my visor cleaner. So I had some small bungee cords and will use that to hold her on. That works better anyway as I can take it off at night and not worry about someone stealing her.

I had a hard time tracking down Mandeep to pay him. He didn’t want anything but I managed to give him ten dollars. So if you are ever in Watson Lake stop at Campground Services for excellent service and friendly people. If you need tires changed Mandeep is your man and might even have a tire that will get you to Whitehorse for a new one.

As I was about to leave Chuck Weaver from Riviera, TX pulled up on his BMW. I had seen him down the road after I ate breakfast and he was waiting in line for gas. I waved at him and then because of the long line decided I had enough gas. We had met somewhere else earlier in this trip and talked but neither of us remember where. He had already gotten a room in Watson Lake at the Air Force Museum and I decided to head for the Cassiar. I hope we meet up again as he is coming this way also. He has been to South America.

I started down the Cassiar Highway not really knowing where I would spend the night. That’s the way I travel without much planning. What a beautiful ride. I hadn’t gone far before I saw a black bear. I stopped for gas at Good Hope Lake. I seen a couple of signs for the Dease River Crossing Campground and thought I might give it a try. It rained off and on the entire trip and I was in no mood again for the tent. Eureka! The had camping cabins for $55 and $4 for shower so that is where I am. Just what I was looking for.
From Alaska Favorites
From June 29 and 30
They have a table and a bunk and I have the sleeping bag.
From Alaska Favorites
No credit cards only cash or check. No phones but they did have WiFI until 8PM then they shut the generator off. It wasn’t a good connection but I did manage a Skype call home. I could hear Mary alright but she was having trouble hearing me but at least I made the point that I was okay. I also sent a Spot message that I was okay. I keep it on tracking so they know where I am anyway.
My gourmet meal.
From Alaska Favorites
It is 47 degrees here and I lit the burner of the 2 burner propane stove for heat and to warm my stew.
From Alaska Favorites
I have Pita bread I bought when I left Watson Lake the first time and it is still good. It’s a great thing to carry with you. I always carry something to warm up to eat for occasions like this. They did have a Coke so I had my Jack Daniels before dinner. Life is Good!

June 30th started out cold and remained so the entire day. It was 43 degrees outside and 48 inside this morning.
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
There was even some fresh snow on the ground.
From Alaska Favorites
No sooner than I left it started to rain and did so for several hours. There were probably 30 to 40 miles of gravel or construction. The bike and I really got muddy again. I stopped at Dease Lake for breakfast. I sat with a couple from Vancouver BC. When I said I had been to 11 Canadian Provinces she informed me there were not that many. So I have been to 9 Canadian Provinces and two Territories. I didn’t take too many pictures because of the rain. I came across one accident although it wasn’t bad. An RV went off the road. It was probably bad for them though.
From Alaska Favorites

I rode into Stewart, BC and back into Alaska at Hyder.
From June 29 and 30
From June 29 and 30
I checked into the SeAlaska Inn. I then went for a ride to the bear watch area in hopes of seeing my first bear in Alaska. Eureka! I found a black bear crossing the road and then on the way back another. Now I don’t know if these are really Alaska black bears or some that wandered in from Canada but at least they were in Alaska.
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
Some scenery on the way to the bear watch area.
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
A couple of shots of Bear Glacier.
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
I had a couple of beers and a pizza for $29 with tip. I am now up to 8,100 miles.

Monday, June 29, 2009

June 28

There were quite a few bikes at the motel and most were from Anchorage. They had been to Dawson City for the Dust to Dawson rally and had came through Chicken yesterday. They had lots of rain and mud.
From June 28
I got up this morning about 6AM and checked e-mail and a few things before my time expired for the Internet. I went back to bed for a while then got up and went to the cafe for breakfast. It seemed warmer than last evening. After breakfast I took the bike and went to the grocery store and picked up a few items and then filled with gas.
I got everything packed and ready to go then waited for church at 10AM. There were about 30 in attendance and 7 of those were travelers. I left Tok about 11AM. I thought there was going to be construction and the first sign I seen said construction the next 38 miles. Well it was all finished and the roads in Alaska were great. I crossed the border but the Canadian customs is not for about another 20 miles.
From June 28
From June 28
I pulled into on rest stop and this guy was looking for a handout.
From June 28
There was off and on rain most of the day so I didn't take as many pictures and also it has to be pretty good now to warrant a picture. I did pull over for these swans and had a surprise when I seen a small one with the male.
From Alaska Favorites
The female was on the nest.
From Alaska Favorites
There was some scenery that warranted a picture.
From June 28
From June 28
From June 28
This is Kluane lake which goes on forever.
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
From Alaska Favorites
From June 28
From June 28
As soon as got in Canada the roads went to pot. There were many areas where the ground caved in and so there were huge dips. Some are hidden and give you quite a thrill when you fly over them and bottom out. There were several long stretches of gravel where there was construction. This went on for about 150 and the the roads improved. My tires are about gone so I did not go to Haines. I am staying in Whitehorse tonight. The first place I stopped looked rather bad and they wanted $119 so the next one wanted $89 for non-smoking but had no WiFi so I found Westmark that is nice for $109 and has WiFi. I walked down to the Boston Pizza for pizza and a Yukon Red beer that is brewed and bottled in Whitehorse. It still cost $5.25. I will head for Watson Lake in the morning.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

June 27

It rained most of the night and was still raining this morning.
From Alaska Favorites
I slept in until 6:45 AM then rolled out. I made up my mind if I could get on the Internet I was going to spend another day here. As you can tell I have Internet and it is a fast connection. So I uploaded three days of pictures and posted them to ADVrider and to my blog.

I did some maintenance work on the bike by changing the air filter. I brought an extra filter with me as I knew I would have dusty roads.
From June 27
From Alaska Favorites
These dragon flies eat mosquitoes. Wished he would have not came my way.
From Alaska Favorites
And now a new filter.
From Alaska Favorites
Ah, I breathe better already. Maybe that is why I had a hard time starting it in the 39 degree weather yesterday morning. I didn't think it was going to start. I expected the next time I hit the starter button there would be nothing but it finally fired up. Whew!
Lola is also riding in style with plastic ties holding her on. Not pretty but I think it will hold. I now have about 15 plastic ties holding various things together. Make sure you bring some with you on your next trip.
From Alaska Favorites
About noon I wandered over to the cafe for lunch but they were closed. Just breakfast and dinner I guess. I ate breakfast over there this morning and visited with a guy from Toronto, ON and he was riding a Sportster and had came through the same area I did yesterday in the snow. He was heading out this morning again. As I was walking over the cafe this flew over.
From June 27
Since I am spending the night I looked to see if there is a Catholic church in the area and yes there is and Mass is at 10AM in the morning so I will attend. I need all the help I can get heading home. I walked a block to the church.
From Alaska Favorites
From June 27
After looking at the church I walked across the street for groceries.
From June 27
I had these in my tankbag so this is lunch.
From June 27
After church tomorrow I will head towards Canada which is only 90 miles. I may go to Haines then take the ferry to Skagway then back up to the Alcan. Probably a lot depends on the weather.
I looked at my first paper today since leaving home and found some interesting tidbits in the Fairbanks news. Their length of day is now 21 hours and 40 minutes and they have had 3.68 inches of moisture this year and that is above the normal of 3.21.