Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Day 12: to Quesnel, BC
Hyder to Quesnel, BC
Once you leave Hyder everyone begins to drop subtle comments like: "you know, we could be home in four days", followed by light laughter; then everyone gets real quiet, and in the awkward silence its decided, the sight-seeing portion of this trip is over. It has officially become get home by any means necessary and as fast as possible.
We tried to get to Williams lake in British Columbia tonight but both of db's headlights have gone out (along with whitley's main lamp). So we stopped in Quesnel at dark. On to Spokane tomorrow to the BMW shop for new bulbs.
Once you leave Hyder everyone begins to drop subtle comments like: "you know, we could be home in four days", followed by light laughter; then everyone gets real quiet, and in the awkward silence its decided, the sight-seeing portion of this trip is over. It has officially become get home by any means necessary and as fast as possible.
We tried to get to Williams lake in British Columbia tonight but both of db's headlights have gone out (along with whitley's main lamp). So we stopped in Quesnel at dark. On to Spokane tomorrow to the BMW shop for new bulbs.
Aug29-1-bear glacier
Check out this video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZzGIzEY5nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Bear glacier coming into Hyder.
Monday, August 29, 2011
End of day 11: to Hyder, AK
Nothing like the final 40 miles into Hyder to lift your spirits. Next to homer, it may be the best motorcycle road in north america. The glaciers come right down to the road, which follows a river that empties into a pacific inlet in Hyder. We saw 10 black bears during the drive in. And we got the last room at the grandview inn. All in all a good end to the day.
We took the cassiar hwy from Watson lake to Hyder. It is completely paved now and in great shape. Whitley took some pics that will follow.
We took the cassiar hwy from Watson lake to Hyder. It is completely paved now and in great shape. Whitley took some pics that will follow.
Mid day 11
I would like to congratulate august 29,2011 and the 162 miles from Teslin to Watson lake for cracking the top three in the "Coldest I've Ever Been" category. The rain from yesterday has continued thru today. The temperature never rose above 38 until Watson lake, which lead to this exchange at the gas station three hrs into today's ride:
Me (while trying to extract my hand from my dripping, soaked-through leather glove): "I can't feel my hands."
Whitley (whistling as he removed his water proof, electrically heated gloves): "godamighty, what'd ya think, we were riding down to el campo or something!"
Me: "thanks."
Trying to get to hyder, but Db forgot his rain gear at the motel in Teslin and it's still 45 and raining, may be a short day. We' re in dease lake now.
Big thank you to motohank for assisting us with our water-in-db's-gas-tank-problem in Watson lake. Everything is running fine now. (db isn't having a good day.)
Me (while trying to extract my hand from my dripping, soaked-through leather glove): "I can't feel my hands."
Whitley (whistling as he removed his water proof, electrically heated gloves): "godamighty, what'd ya think, we were riding down to el campo or something!"
Me: "thanks."
Trying to get to hyder, but Db forgot his rain gear at the motel in Teslin and it's still 45 and raining, may be a short day. We' re in dease lake now.
Big thank you to motohank for assisting us with our water-in-db's-gas-tank-problem in Watson lake. Everything is running fine now. (db isn't having a good day.)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Day 10: to Teslin, YT
Dawson, YT to Teslin, YT 440 miles
Our run of good fortune with the weather came to an end today. It was 35 and clear leaving Dawson. but the rain got us 100 miles from whitehorse. it was in the mid 40s with heavy rain all afternoon. finally gave up on making it to watson lake about 140 miles short in teslin at the yukon motel.
At this place (again):
Our run of good fortune with the weather came to an end today. It was 35 and clear leaving Dawson. but the rain got us 100 miles from whitehorse. it was in the mid 40s with heavy rain all afternoon. finally gave up on making it to watson lake about 140 miles short in teslin at the yukon motel.
At this place (again):
Day 9: to Dawson, YT
Glennallen,ak to Dawson, Yt. 310 miles.
We returned to Tok then headed north on the Taylor hwy to Chicken, Ak. Just before chicken the pavement ends and continues on for 100 miles as a dirt/gravel/unpaved road to the Yukon river and Dawson as the Top of the World Hwy. Chicken was a cool little town except for the fact that they have started to bus traveling senior citizen groups there from Dawson. Ruined. You feel like you're in the middle of no where (and you are) and then a giant tour bus pulls up and 50 grandmothers step out taking pictures. We didn't stay long.
We got lucky on the weather, not a cloud in the sky.
The Top of the world hwy dead-ends into the Yukon river and you take a barge across to Dawson. Dawson is exactly as it was 150 years ago. Old gold mining town. This was the farthest north we were on the entire trip. From Dawson It's 230 miles to the artic circle via the Dempster hwy. we didn't have the days to go up and back--next time.
Tomorrow to Watson lake.
We returned to Tok then headed north on the Taylor hwy to Chicken, Ak. Just before chicken the pavement ends and continues on for 100 miles as a dirt/gravel/unpaved road to the Yukon river and Dawson as the Top of the World Hwy. Chicken was a cool little town except for the fact that they have started to bus traveling senior citizen groups there from Dawson. Ruined. You feel like you're in the middle of no where (and you are) and then a giant tour bus pulls up and 50 grandmothers step out taking pictures. We didn't stay long.
We got lucky on the weather, not a cloud in the sky.
The Top of the world hwy dead-ends into the Yukon river and you take a barge across to Dawson. Dawson is exactly as it was 150 years ago. Old gold mining town. This was the farthest north we were on the entire trip. From Dawson It's 230 miles to the artic circle via the Dempster hwy. we didn't have the days to go up and back--next time.
Tomorrow to Watson lake.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Day 8: to Glennallen, AK
Homer to Glennallen. 400 miles
Spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning in Homer. The high water mark of the trip. Just an unbelievable place.
With heavy hearts, about 10 am we did a final lap of downtown and the spit and then headed for Texas.
The road back out to anchorage was just as impressive the second time. We got through anchorage just before rush hour and saw the state fair in Palmer. Weather was great, low 50s and no rain.
At a construction stop this afternoon, we met a guy on a ktm from Croatia who was 8 months into an 18 month tour of North and South America. He had already gone down to tierra del fuego once and was heading back down again from Alaska. Made our little trip seem embarrassing.
Heading to chicken, ak tomorrow and then across the top of the world highway out of alaska to Dawson city, yt.
Spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning in Homer. The high water mark of the trip. Just an unbelievable place.
With heavy hearts, about 10 am we did a final lap of downtown and the spit and then headed for Texas.
The road back out to anchorage was just as impressive the second time. We got through anchorage just before rush hour and saw the state fair in Palmer. Weather was great, low 50s and no rain.
At a construction stop this afternoon, we met a guy on a ktm from Croatia who was 8 months into an 18 month tour of North and South America. He had already gone down to tierra del fuego once and was heading back down again from Alaska. Made our little trip seem embarrassing.
Heading to chicken, ak tomorrow and then across the top of the world highway out of alaska to Dawson city, yt.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
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