Monday, June 16, 2014

Day 15 – 16 June 2014


What a day this has been. We left Whitehorse, Yukon around 7 am heading for Watson Lake about 250 miles away. No problems getting there but stopped for gas about every 50 miles until we were sure we had enough to get to Watson Lake; better safe than sorry.

It was noon when we arrived at Watson lake; too early to stop. We took some pictures at the famous sign location where thousands of people have left signs in the past as they travel the ALCAN. We decided to continue to Fort Nelson 325 miles away. Our estimated time of arrival would be 6 pm. With fuel stops we finally got there around 7:20 pm. I called in for a motel reservation about 75 miles out when I got cell service. This is the same motel Jim and I spent several days in the rain in 2012 because the ALCAN was closed due to wash outs and mud slides. As soon as we rode into town this completed our circle; we were back to where we stopped in 2012 AK1.

The trip over to Fort Nelson from Watson Lake was some of the best scenery I’ve seen on the whole trip including our time in Alaska. The last 150 miles before reaching Fort Nelson is breathtaking; rivers, huge rock mountains, animals. I saw 11 black bears at different times beside the road including a mother with two cubs. I had stopped earlier to take a picture of a black bear using my camera over my shoulder. I kept the engine running just in case I needed to speed off. The picture makes it look far away but it was about 50 feet behind me. I was going to stop to take a picture of the mother and cubs but figured she may not be as willing to have me that close. I also saw many moose and have a picture of one of them. I also saw several buffalo; also a pic. Other animals I saw were swan, a mother duck with chicks crossing the road and a porcupine just setting on the side of the road watching us go by.

Other items of interest are that we crossed the continental divide and also crossed 4 bridges with steel grates. The bridges are important because we have been dreading these since we started. The bike just jumps all over the place as the tires try to find a grove. After doing the Dalton Highway, we both just took these in stride.

I’m sure I’m missing something but will post it later.

More important is that since Jim and I have for all practical purposes completed our round trip to Alaska (we are back to where we stopped on AK1), we are separating tomorrow. We will complete the ALCAN to Dawson Creek together and I will ride with him to Grande Prairie, BC where he will lay over to have his bike serviced. I will continue tomorrow on my way to Tulsa, OK to visit my folks and kids. I plan on heading to Calgary then Cheyenne, WY, Denver and through Kansas to Okla. Jim will leave the next day on a shorter route back to St Louis. Not many more pictures to post on the next few days. I will be making miles (700-800) a day trying to reach Tulsa by Friday or Saturday at the latest. More tomorrow as I firm up my plans.

Pics in the next post.

 

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