Bike Dust

Hi Seems like we have left the serious climbing and now ride in valleys with rolling hills.  Reminds me of Western Maryland.  Yesterday I was thinking of how much fun my friend Denise would like the ride.  Our mph have increased.  The road today was tricky due to cave ins under the road.  As I was riding a bald eagle joined me for awhile!  We have been where there is a lot of bear action but no problems for us.  One cold rainy morning when we started out I got cold but other than that the weather hasn’t been much of a problem.  We have met many other bikers and it is always fun to chat with them.  Houston lets me ride ahead of him and that keeps me motivated to keep on rolling!  I think of my friends and family often.  I am more than half way.  Body feels good.  Hope all is well with you!  Later, Sue

Beaver Creek with short day of 50 miles.  Internet. Hot Showers.  Free Coffee and Cocoa.  Laundry. Buckshot Betty’s.  Jive show next door for Holland Tour buses that stop.  22 miles to US border.

Did a long day (just under 80 miles) and camped at Lake Creek with some Harley boys from Spokane and Gee from Montreal who is doing a 9 month trip from Fairbanks to as far as he can ride south in South America.  Earlier in the day we met a dad and his just-turned-19-years-old son who were going from Alaska to San Diego.  (Lately, the Alaska highway has been thick with cyclists!).

Note added in Tok.  Met a couple who had a griz encounter here in June.  The authorities went back to trap teh bear, and it was aggresive to them, so they killed it.

Congdon Creek campground.  Often closed to tent camping because it is thick with soapberries and thus thick with bears.  Not ripe yet, so we decided to stay.

Talked to ranger for a long time at visitor center 10 miles back.  He was the one who de-bear-briefed Timo and ??? from Hamburg who we camped next to in Haines Junction.  They were hitching between backpacking trips.  A few weeks ago they had a black bear come into their tent at night at Jacobs Creek tearing a big hole.  (patched with duct tape…maybe a legitamate usage.)  Then last week they were backpacking up teh valley from the visitro center and encountered a momma griz and 3 year old cub who BOTH bluff charged them.  Their Canadian holiday was complete!

Map My Ride

56 miles

860 feet of climbing

Kulane RV park

Map My Ride

Another 50 today. Finished up pass and then…..Wait more climbing!!!!  No Fair!  Much bear poo, but no bear sightings.  Good.  Camped next to nice family from Toronto in Whitehorse brother-in-law’s Ford 350 and camper.

Note added August 17:  BEARS!!  BEARS!!

From Whitehorse star reported here:  Tents banned at Million Dollar Falls campground.

Map My Ride

56 miles

3747 feet of climbing. (Ouch).

Went farther than expected at about 50 miles.  Passed back into Canada with no nonsense border agent.  (Apparently, too young to shave or take a joke).  Found a high tundra bluff just up from road and just at tree line.  Intense insects.  I really hate them.  I really do.

Arrived in Haines around 6 AM after overnight ferry from Petersburg.  As promised by Don and Susan, saw many humpbacks in Frederick Sound.  Beautiful scenery the whole way. Pictures to follow.

Second day in Petersburg was mostly lazy, but Don dragged us out early afternoon for a nice hike on Three Lakes from near Mitkof Highway to beach on Frederick Sound. Came back to a delicious meal of big shrimp-, little shrimp, baked spuds, … Followed by nice evening of conversation.