Day 29 - Thursday, June 18, 2009
Start: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
End: Watson Lake, Yukon Territory
Trip Miles Today: 271
Total Trip Miles: 6557
All in all today was a pretty benign day. There was no difficulty with construction zones as yesterday. The road conditions were much improved. The distance traveled was short-under 300 miles. The weather cooperated by remaining dry (though I’d wish for it to be a bit warmer-mid 50s most of the day), and the route was the same as I had traveled several weeks ago while northbound, so no surprises nor all new scenic wonders. Low intensity days like today give one time to ponder and ponder I did. One subject I kept coming back to is humility. Within a thousand miles this trip will become my longest motorcycle trip ever. At times it feels like a fairly substantial accomplishment (OK, recognizing that I’m not actually done yet.) but just when I let that little tinge of self satisfaction creep in I happen to meet somebody who is in the process of REALLY accomplishing something! See the picture above of the white pickup truck with the kayak on top, just behind my bike? The truck belongs to a fellow I met in Teslin this morning at a gas stop. What you need to know is that this guy, an Arizonan, is headed for Eagle, Alaska – about 700 miles up the AK highway from here. When he gets to Eagle he’s going to put that kayak in the Yukon river, ride the river and the rapids over 1000 miles to the Bering Sea and then he’s going to paddle across the Bearing Sea to Nome. All this hopefully before September 1. Solo. If that’s not humbling I don’t know what is. It makes my trip seem like a quick ride down to the 7-11 for a slurpee (and return!) Nonetheless today was a good and pretty day, as the pictures hopefully show.
I’ve made a decision regarding routing for the next several days. Rather than go to Prince George via the Cassiar Highway I’m going to continue on The Alaska Highway for 2 more days to Fort St. John, BC, then on to Prince George via that Route. It’s about 100 miles longer but I like the speed I’ll be able to maintain, and the towns with lodging seem to be spaced a little more to my liking. Also, I actually went South on the Cassiar for a few miles today and there are signs alluding to construction and highway closures some 400 miles South near Kitwanga. Besides that, I’d like to have a look at the mountainous portion of the Alaska Highway between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson. It’s supposed to be the most scenic portion of the highway and I kinda missed out while northbound due to snow/slush/ice/fog/freezing my butt off a couple of weeks ago. Unfinished business. In any case, after Prince George (I expect to arrive there on Sunday) it’s on southward toward Bellingham, WA and re-entry into the US on Monday or Tuesday.
One last thought, and again I'd refer you to the pictures above. The long metal grate bridges that seem to be favored up here are creepy enough on a bike, what with that "squirmy" feeling. What do you think it's like on a bike with a trailer?
Thanks for being along for my ride! More stuff soon!
Jack
There are always more pics at http://jackb1.smugmug.com !
The 2009 Ride to Alaska for The Austin Hatcher Foundation is supported by RevZilla.com , Philly's Premier Destination Motorcycle Gear and Apparel store and by Hermy's Cycles of Port Clinton, PA.
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