Alaska 2012
 
 

Day 09

July 13

 
  
 
 
 

I figure I'd better stick to walking around in the campground instead of out on the highway. So I mark out my route and get after it. It takes me down by the lake and around a lot of the RV parking area several times. Since it is early, I try to be as quiet as I can in respect of those whose eyes have not contemplating opening yet. I notice on the door that the restaurant does not open until 8 AM, so I'll have to tend to breakfast on down the road somewhere.

Soon we are packed and ready to roll on to Tok, our stop for the evening. It's not a complicated route - just get on the ALCAN and ride for five hundred miles or so until we come to Tok.

 
  
 

Just past the campground on the way into Teslin, we encountered a grated bridge. They do not usually cause me much concern, except this morning it has been raining a little bit and the grating is wet and the bridge is long. I keep telling myself -

"Just like a bank robbery - don't make no sudden moves and nobody will get hurt."


But I am might glad when we get across it and back to the pavement. We make a gas stop since we couldn't fill up last night, and I pick up a sweet roll and some potato chips. It won't be much of a breakfast but it's the available option. Farther up the road, there's a nice pull off at the Yukon River so we stop to take advantage of it. When I grab a handful of chips, they turned out to be ketchup flavored. Now I like potato chips and I like ketchup, but I sure don't like 'em combined. They find their way into the nearest trash container in short order.

 
  
 The blue/gray of the mountains and the blue/gray of the clouds makes figuring which is which an interesting challenge. 
  
 As we head north, the skies don't look too friendly but so far we are still dry and making good time. 
  
 When I see the patches of blue, I have hope that I will not have put on my rain suit and 'bake in a bag' as I call it. 
  
 And every now and then the sun breaks out on the distance mountains, giving me more hope of a dry arrival. 
  
 We just keep motoring on as the clouds seem to be getting lower ... 
  
 and lower.  
  
 and lower ... 
  
 and lower ... 
  
 and lower. But as long as the moisture stays up there I'm just fine. I don't mind riding in the rain, but it's just a lot more pleasant when you don't have to do it. 
  
 It's time for a fuel and de-fuel stop, so we look for a place to stop in Haines Junction. The station appears to be closed, but I remember we passed one just a little ways back. So a quick U-turn brings here and we are able to tend to the business that needs to be tended to.  
  
 

Once we get back on the road, I radio Alain -

"We'll be headed back down this way to catch the ferry to Skagway. That road back there that went straight is the highway to Haines and I am really looking forward to riding it."

 
  
 The blue skies are a welcome relief from the light rain that we had early this morning. 
  
 The scenery we are going through now reminds me a lot of the high desert that I have ridden through out West. 
  
 These purple plants look like the purple thrift that my grandma used to have growing around her farmhouse. But that was a long, long time ago and far, far away from where I am now. 
  
 As we move along, it's nice be above the trees so we can enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery.  
  
 And having some nice sweepers like these only make the whole process that much more enjoyable.  
  
 As we approach Destruction Bay, the beautiful Kluane Lake spreads out before our eyes. Fortunately for us, the road hugs the western shore for almost forty miles. 
  
 We pull off at one spot to take a short break and soak up a little more of the lake's beauty. 
  
 Further along, I can see the ravages of a forest fire. This scene troubles me when I think of the suffering that must have been endured by the wildlife in the area. 
  
 When we pass Burwash Junction, I make a mental note of how long it took us to get there from Haines Junction. We'll be overnighting there on the way back and getting up early to catch the ferry.  
  
 Before we get to the Alaska border, we take a break near a small lake. It gives us a chance to get our passports out and get things ready for the border crossing. 
  
 There are some neat waterfowl floating around, and Alain - a much better photog than me - gets some great close ups of .... 
  
 different varieties. But we've still got over one hundred miles to go, so we get back after it.  
  
 

When we arrive at the Alaska crossing, we pull off to get a state line shot. There is a group of about eight or so RVers standing around the sign. I patiently sit there on SweetTreat for my turn for a while. There's at least six cameras and they do all sorts of shots and rearrangements. When they get ready to leave, one of the woman looks straight at me with a haughty stare and says

"Let's take some more pictures."

The poor husband gets down and fusses with the camera trying to get it set up. The whole time she just looks at me with this defiant smirk. I guess that she has this thing about motorcycle trash or something. I can see the man is getting frustrated as she urges him on and I really feel sorry for him. All this time, I never say a word but just sit there on my bike, waiting and smiling. Finally he blurts out -

"That's enough. Lets go on"

and the crowd moves down to the Yukon sign. She is obviously not happy but I sure am. I calculate that I can shoot right between the rocks to get to the sign and do so quickly. There's another couple that comes walking up after observing the whole scene and I tell them -

"Don't worry, I'll be out of the way in a flash."

We both grin as I shoot my state line pictures and start to move. About this time the woman with the smirk comes walking back along the road giving me her stare. In a moment of mischief, I gun SweetTreat and run right up the roadside, back between the rocks within about five feet of her. I nod my head and smile at her and head for the parking lot. One thing I learned a long time ago about living -

"The vessel that contains the contempt is more damaged that the vessel upon which it is poured."

 
  
 

The crossing is pretty quick and once again we are in the good old United States. What is interesting is the long stretch of territory between the US Customs and the Canadian Customs. It seems to be some sort of no man's land that stretches for several miles.

It's been a long day and that sweet roll did not fuel me very well for the journey. The SnowShoe Motel is very nice and I am mighty glad to be here.

 
  
 There's a Fast Eddys a bit up the road so Alain and I strike out walking to it for supper. I have a big burger and fries and tad bit of sweetening. They have breakfast on the menu and open up early, so I've got breakfast sorted out for tomorrow. By the time I'm back at the room, I am one tired feller. I think I fall asleep before my head even hits the pillow.