Milkshakes and Mountains..

We leave Watson Lake riding towards Haines Junction..I don't know what to except today as the travelling is starting to get to a few of the lads on the trip!

The weather has been kind to us with temperatures in the mid 60's in the mornings.. It gets hot at around 3 o'clock and its noticeable the extra effort required to keep concentration..as the roads are long and monotonous!

its a real bonus pulling in at one of the roadside diners for an ice cream or milkshake..we have just completed 260 miles in the morning and we have arrived at our mid day stop in the town of Whitehorse the capital of the Yukon....

We have dinner and suitably refreshed head into Whitehorse Town centre for a scan round..

We take a wrong turn and end up on the towns airstrip as a Dc 3 comes into land!! I must remember  two things!

1. to drive on the right hand side of the road..

                            2. Take my ear phones out so I can hear the traffic around me..

Not really...Only 'aving you on....

We decided to visit the transport museum after seeing the Dc3 long the roadside! stretching my budget I part with $4 for entry...

The Yukon community have an interesting outlook on life..what with the hard ships of winter up here it makes you wonder how they coped in the past travelling between trading posts and other cities and towns..

They took a liking to transport by plane in the pioneer days of aircraft..Only problem was they weren't    

particularly good at it! Its seems the exhibits were only replica's!! 

A plane called Suzy.....

A silver one..and very nice it was.. only the pilot was deaded on its second flight...

A piste bully for grooming ski slopes!

Back outside..

Some arty farty type.. with plenty of time and not a lot of imagination covered their pickup with knitted blankets..

Say no more...!

After filled our boots with some transportation nostalgia 

we head for the town centre and the famous SS Klondike..

Nope never heard of it! 

 The Weather was hot and sunny so we push back on for Haines Junction. 

The travelling today had been mundane not really boring but nothing to say I enjoyed that ride..

But....

150 miles to go and that all changed for the better right into Haines Junction and our stop for the night

 

We enjoy a celebratory beer and early to bed for the next and biggest leg of the trip yet...500 miles to Fairbanks we going back into America tomorrow..

Canada hello again...or is it?

Its early doors and it trying to rain when we leave Hyder! Drizzle grey skies and 350-400 miles of roads.. Again the destination is the goal of the day! I connect the music and ride steadily all day The temperature is mid to high sixties comfortable..The traffic is easy so I just Chill me Bones!!

Easy man...

I ride through forests and wonderful vistas that are the norm for this region of mountains ..Im also on the look at for the wild life Moose and elk are the ones to avoid..

Also as a precautionary the truckers have Moose bars fitted to their trucks, A moose can weight up to 2 tons and has the potential to wipe most things when out playing out their own spin of tig!..with a truck..

I ride to the edge of Watson Lake when I see the back side of a sign I pull up to take five at the rest area and read the sign on the other side!

Welcome to British Columbia..Ive just left it!

Today Ive been mostly riding on my own 140 miles without seeing another person..Comfort factor tested, riding through burnt out forests, riding past vast lakes and massive tarmac ribbons of roads which seem to go on for ever!

Thinking about all sorts of things I realise Ive just ridden through Bristish Columbia..Blimey Ole riley.. Its a big old place..

 The bike needs a clean!!

 To my surprise when I look to the opposite side of the road I see the familiar sign Ive read about many times in all sorts of publications and ride reports the YUKON sign...sense of achievement yeah!

 About 20 mins later I arrive in watson Lake trying to find my digs for the night.. welcome signs... don't they just love em?

 To cut a long story short when I arrive to meet up with all the other lads at the Air force Motel
I find the place is run by an eccentric german who insists that before I set foot over the threshold That I remove my boots!!! eh!

He then abruptly informs me that as He has no double rooms left ,

He says I have to share a double continental bed with Bonkers Bob, plus the rest of the group must share beds with each other!!!! Gettt too .... I say...He says" But ziss is vhat vee do in european otels.." 

So its off the Motel Andreas up the drag.. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with sleeping in the same room but I draw the line with Bonkers Bob trying to spoon me...

Next morning I hear the stories from a few of the lads who decided to stay there..  that Helmut was goose stepping and Svitching see lights uff at zero 22.30 ours.. Vee ave days of making you comply!!!

Ps Bob...aka Bonkers Bob is a top bloke... Its his Birthday today.. happy birthday  mate..lovely chap..just a bit...bonkers...

Bag and Cats comes to mind!

Thats all really for today I'm off to Haines junction tomorrow 400-430 miles dependant attractions we visit..

Night

Welcome to Alaska

The ride from Vanderhoof was again long and uneventful we're bombarded with outstanding views tree lined roads picture postcard portraits see to be around every corner.. We are heading for the next overnight stop in Hyder Alaska and if fact it will be our first double stay of the trip as we have some touristy things to do!

We travel up the I16 until Houston Bc then we take first right at Houston Bc towards Stewart and following on to Hyder. Again trying not to repeat things here but the mileage is huge! At times you have to ignore some of the sights as if you where to stop and get pictures you wouldn't be able to complete the the destination on time!!

the right turn towards Stewart and Hyder

Before this photo we had all ridden as individuals sometime 30-40 miles gap between us! Now we are entering the Cassier Highway the landscape is reported to be as stunning as it gets!! the difference now is we are heading into serious bear and moose country!! The truckers have warned us the this road tops their list as the most dangerous to travel on as the likelihood of an animal running out onto the road figures high!!!

The change in the landscape was amazing! from riding tarmac lined by pines which by any standard is beautiful we travel only a short while at the junction for the town Stewart and we are present with this! Bear Glacier!!! But about 1 mile earlier I had caught a glimpse of a beaver building its dam.. before getting the glacier cool or

We follow road again riding past huge glaciers lining the the roadway this area is absolutely breath taking..We ride on and arrive in Hyder

The town lies 30 yards from the US/Canadian Border.. The towns occupants shop and refuel in the town of Stewart 3 miles away this includes crossing the border every time! I refuelled the guard asked me how long I was going to be in Canada? 

About 15 mins was the answer!!

Hyder looking back to the border

The view from the Jetty

Muddy bear prints on the motel owners pickup outside my room!

Yours truly playing with the cameras timer!!

The plan was to visit Salmon Tail Glacier nearby to Hydar but first we thought we'd have a look at the bears in bear creek which was 5 minutes up the road! we got there mid-morning and were told that a couple of grizzlies have visited the creek earlier but at present none were there! The decision was made to come back later before dinner that night!

Carrying on the same road we headed onto Salmon Tail Glacier which was 20 odd miles of dirt track to get to the observation point! When we arrived the glacier was obscured by cloud and mist! it didn't take too long to see its majesty... These Pictures do not give it justice..Seriously Mind boggling..

It took 15 minutes of trail blazing to get to the bottom part!

 Helmet Hair or what!!!

 

Look at the state of my Bike!!

Hyder Is reliant on the Glacier and Bears for trade..without these it would not exist! everyone we met  is happy they live there but they admit theres not much doing!!

They try everything they can to make a living

We try Bear creek again and wait in the rain on mossie infested viewing boardwalk..We spotted a couple of bald eagles who were eyeing up the fish in the creek The salmon had started to run the river two weeks earlier and it was a waiting game for the bears to show! 

 Reading and waiting Hoping they would turn up some people were there all day but nothing! 

And then Grizzly George turned up..Good name I reckon I wonder who thought of that eh?? xxx 

                               The fish were skirting the sides of the river and they were huge!!

Get em George

"The Great Catch" 

Shot of the day I think???

Back at base after a fantastic time I look forward to tomorrows travels to Watsons Lake a mere 400 miles

This Picture makes me laugh! Im looking knackered and i'm looking miserable!

But that couldn't be further from the truth!! I'm actually telling Bonkers Bob to point the camera to where i'm standing!

A long and winding road...and little else!

I'm a few
We set off for Vanderhoff from clinton at 7.00am We need to get the miles under our belt a big old day travelling again!

Vanderhoof is a nondescript type of town where it seem nothing really happens! its like a stepping stone for everyone who travels here. The Town plays host to many oil and forestry workers, and it surprises me just how big a lump America is!

Just a few on the road piccies! we didn't stop for much more than 20 mins for refuelling and grabbing a bite to eat!

 Bed for the night in Vanderhoof

 Mile after mile 

 'Ouse man there a mouse loose about this 'ouse

 Mark trying to film us as we pass! Trying not to look gay!

After mile after mile...

Lets see what tomorrow brings were heading for Stewart and Hyder

See ya wouldn't wanna be ya!

Northern Lights..the Red and Blue variety..

After the overnight stop in Burlington we skirt the fringe of Vancouver City BC dodging the traffic heading for our next stop Clinton.

Although now the very thought of running up on the interstate is becoming slightly tedious.. but we are rewarded with a lovely ride along side the estuaries and coast line of the Strait of Georgia

 It was fantastic scenery.

Like a mill pool

Stunning everywhere you look

We followed the coast line after stopping in a town called Squamish for lunch I had 

"Steel Head Muffins"

Heading inland we head towards the town of Whistler,  we again flirt with some cracking views and we decide to stop off at a local view point.. One of the lads Jonno stripped off and dove in! This is the second time over the last few days he has done this, the last time he nearly got swept away in a swollen river current! maybe it because he's South African and they don't see much water?? 

Those darn Beavers!!

 We get to Whistler Ski resort and battle the traffic in the mid afternoon 30 degree heat! 10 bikes in a ten mile tail back! we decide to take the cycle lane down the inside of the queuing vehicles! 

Over this side of the atlantic is one thing they hate with a passion is filtering of any kind! But hey ho its hot ..the bikes are air cooled so we need to keep moving, and we're stuck in traffic in motorcycle gear!

So off we go down the open lane...what we didn't realise is the queue is there due to road line painting! Watching the bmw's spray white fish tailing paint over the queuing cars was a bit of a laugh! A laugh that lasted until we ride past the queuing highway patrol ranger.. Apparently he's the reason Gary and I were pulled in! flashing blue and red lights! shit.. Iv'e only been in Canada two and a half hours.. we used our limited charm smiled lots and agreed to never ever behave like retards again!

 Yes officer ! NO officer , Of Course Officer..

We got off lightly with a ticking off and were advised to inform the other feckwits who we were riding with who had subsequently scarpered up to the next fuel station to stop taking the piss!

 Anyway theres more... 

I wondered how I could tell you all about this road it went on for 30 miles way too much scenery over load..

Hot weather..Massive landscape.. 

Straight bit..Bendy bit..

We twist and turn on the roads cutting through a town called...

Salmon Rivers

Wooden Bridges

Come on hurry up!!!

We leave Lillooet and again push on towards our stop for the night in Clinton where we are booked in at the Cariboo Lodge 

A long day again but really enjoyable the best yet!

Nice place...

 When I rode into Clinton on the corner at the start of town,  I pass this odd ball place so we decide to have a gander down to it before dinner

 Jonno showing his Africana heritage again? Antlers zip tied to the front of his brand new bike.. 

he had bought them earlier at the place a perfect fit!

 Clinton and the Cariboo Lodge made us very welcome!

Onwards and upwards early start again in the morning got to get to Vanderhoof

300+ miles!

Good night x