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| | Alaska
2012 | |
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| | Breakfast
is a no-brainer, so we stroll across the street to Timmys. They have some biscuits
with pig meat and hen fruit on them, so I get a couple of those and some hot chocolate
and I'm good. I tell Alain - "Well,
my friend, it's gonna get hotter and hotter every mile we travel until it gets
pretty miserable. Just thought I'd encourage you a bit." But
he's a tough buzzard and the man for the job, so I'm not worried. | |
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| | It
doesn't take us long to get the bikes loaded and up and soon we are headed for
the US Border. | |
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| | The
views are a far cry from the lovely snow capped mountains of just a few days ago. | |
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| | But
there are still the occasional lakes to break the monotony of the landscape. | |
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| | We
come across more canola fields and I have to figure that this is a pretty big
cash crop around here. | |
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| | But
being from the hills and the hollers, I still am amazed how the farm fields stretch
out as far as you can see in this part of the world. | |
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| | And
I guess the level ground explains how they can run these trains so long that the
engine reaches the destination before the tail end of them leaves the origination. | |
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| | The
heat is starting to work on us, so we make relief stops as frequent as need be. | |
| |  | |
| | When
we pass this lake, I'm about ready to pull over and take a dip. It sure looks
inviting to my sweaty self. | |
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| | When
we get close to the US Border, I do a quick U-turn to snag a Saskatchewan province
sign since the ones I have earlier are probably done for. | |
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| | The
border crossing into the US is pretty interesting. I get motioned over to the
search area and the officer goes through my saddle bags and trunk. I'm just glad
I don't have to pull my duffel bag off and empty out my dirty clothes. Soon we're
rolling again and into lovely North Dakota. | |
| |  | |
| | I
often forget that North Dakota has a lot of lovely lakes also as I have not ridden
a tremendous amount in this state. | |
| |  | |
| | When
we pass this sign, I have to have it. Kenmare was the name of the town Sharyn
and I stayed in on our 2010
Ireland adventure. | |
| |  | |
| | In
this part of the country, the roads tend to be long and straight - just like the
land. | |
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| | You'll
get a curve every now and then but it is every now and then. | |
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| | This
old, weathered church catches my eye as we move toward our destination. | |
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| | I
see this feller baling hay and it makes me think of my younger days in the hayfields.
Our bales were the old smaller square type, but they could get well over a hundred
pounds if the feller running the baler decided to do it. | |
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| | I
wonder if there are any folks still alive who attended this old school house in
it's prime. The church and the school used to be the centers of the community
years ago and the country was lot better for it. | |
| |  | |
| | When
we hit this back road, I notice an interesting little addendum to the speed limit
sign - "Minimum fine $375". I radio back to Alain - "Be
careful my friend. This has all the makings of a speed trap." We finally
escape unscathed, but the signs go on for what seems like miles and miles. | |
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| | When
we arrive at the Super 8 in Jamestown, it feels goods to be in air conditioning
again. We wash the road grime off, and take off walking for the local Applebees.
It's reasonable grub and the air is nice and cold which suits me. I know the heat
is just going to get worse and worse and I am not ready for the descent into it.
But for now, the room is cool and I am tired and the combination does the trick
to usher me into a blissful state of unconsciousness. | |
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