Day 14 - August 05, 2013

Day fourteen.  All is well.  Still headed north.

A quick note about the photos....The photos included are in default sizing for the blog system I am using.  If you want to look at a larger, and better quality photos just click it.

I departed Whitehorse this morning and at first the highway was good, and it was good to fair for the first 50 miles or so, and then it got bad, very bad, with the full range of bad, from loose gravel to potholes, to dips, waves, and  broken pavement.  Many times it was only one of these, but often it was two, three, or more.  I reduced speed considerably to adjust, but it was still very rough, and slower traveling.

As I traveled further north the photographic opportunities increased.  The reasons for this are three: One, the heavy forestation that was present further south on the highway lessened, and the trees were smaller, providing a more open view to the skies and the mountains.  Second, the mountains appeared closer, and were more breathtaking, and three, the sun was shinning more today than yesterday which made for better shots.

I met a biker from New Jersey at my mid-day gas stop.  He said he had traveled from Florida.  Not a talkative guy.  I assumed he was from NJ.  The bike had a NJ license plate.  Anyway, he was gone in a flash after getting gas.  I stayed for lunch.  Don't even ask what I got.  I am trying to forget it.

Before I left the mid-day stop in rode two BMW riders (always unique in one form or other) who said they were from London, and were here on holiday (that is vacation for us state siders), and they said they were riding the Alaska Highway, and then going to Barrow and the Arctic Circle.  These were the only bikers I met that carried auxiliary fuel tanks.  Had to ask.  The response, "For those off-the-main-road rides when we get to the Arctic Circle."   He said that like I understood.  I don't.

The weather was cooler today, and at lunch I added another layer to the top.  That made for a cozy ride into Beaver Creek.

I was expecting to find more amenities as I got north of Whitehorse and neared the US border.  But, I was wrong, and it is the opposite.  There was not a gas stop, or any services from my mid-day stop to my evening stop (115 miles).  I previous mentioned the guide service that I am using for the trip.  It is called Guideposts.  It was previously available only in print, but it is now available on line.  Each evening I use the on-line version to identify planned gas stops for the next day, so I do not get caught in between..... The benefit of using the on-line version is that it is updated timely.

I am faring well.  After two full weeks of being on the bike I am rested, and remain adventuresome. Tomorrow I arrive in Fairbanks, where I spend three evenings.  I have things planned.  I hope those work out.

Another good day.