Epilogue

Now that I have been home a few days, I am getting used to normal food, sleep and surroundings that do not give you a sore behind. Actually my new seat was quite comfortable and I could still feel my behind when I finally got off the Bmer
With all that nature threw at me and some challenging roads there were only 2 little things I needed to repair.
Change out the Low beam bulb and fix my front left turn signal. A rock from a passing vehicle hit it and shattered the lens.
The new tires were a must on the back roads that I took.
The drive was 6764 Miles and the boat ride 1200+ miles.
The people I met along the way were fun to be with and we vowed to stay in touch after the completion of our tours. My companions were so concerned about my solo adventures they called 3 times to check where I was and how things were with me.
My other new friends form Germany as well as the folks who hosted my breakfast all helpful and friendly...good people all of them. I am thankful that I got to meet them!
Animals big and small from Whales to the the birds that I got to see and hear were awesome.
The landscaped from the hauntingly empty Arctic mountains to the bucolic settings of Southern BC and further south to the desert that met me in Nevada all of it impressive and beautiful in its own way.
Then there is my mode of transport, my bike. It performed flawlessly and got me through all situations in good shape.
All in all a great ride and one that saw me return healthy and a little richer for the experience!

In life as whole the saying goes:

It is not the destination but the journey that counts.

Mmontana/Idaho/ Nevada/ California

So here we go again . I wake up, pack up and ride off in the rain and cold fog along the banks of Flathead Lake only 40 miles from Glacier National Park but I see very little at first. As the day progresses I ride up a 12,000 ft pass past a beautiful ski area into Idaho and the weather is clearing, still cold but clearing! Heading down Hwy 93 along the Salmon River (of Lewis and Clark Fame) brings me to Twin Falls Idaho and out onto the high desert of northern Nevada. Call it a halt in Wells NV( you guessed it another Motel 6) and crash. Upload my pictures, call my Bea and drift off to sleep.
Wednesday dawns cool and clear as I leave Wells still on Hwy 93 at almost 7000 ft and freezing temperatures. I ride for 200 miles before a stop for coffee and a roll. Call mom and make a dinner date with her and for the first time since Haines Alaska I do not need my "Arctic Gear" What a joy to shed all of it!
And on I go past Las Vegas into California past Victorville Corona through heavy traffic I arrive safely at Home at 5 PM. Being greeted enthusiastically be my Bea and little Miss Heidi.
The ride is over.....all I have now is memories of a great adventure....a dirty bike and a wonderful and loving home!

I am Blessed!

From Jasper to Banff

Well we've made into the Rockies again and...the sun is shining and it is warm which is nice as I am heading south on Hwy 93 from Jasper to Banff and points beyond.
The road is fantastic long sweeps up the mountain passes all the way to the "Ice Field" a glacier that you can walk to and walk on . All of it on marked trails. After seeing the Juneau Icefields and its glaciers this one is a little bit of a let down.
We take pictures and continue past mountain sheep and bears with stunning views of the Rockies all the way to Lake Louise and Banff. I find a great camp ground and am looking forward to enjoying my surroundings. That is until a park Ranger recommends that I leave and head south as they expect the weather to turn bad, cold sleet and even some snow in the next 10 to 12 hours.
So with much regret I get on my "Stinger" and head out again. The goal is to make Kalispell MT which is another 250 miles to go.
It is a wonderful ride over 2 more mountain passes and I exit the Rockies at Radium Hot Springs BC.
Sure enough the sky turns grey and there we go again, cold and rain. I cross into Montana and find out that I am now in Mountain time zone and instead of 6:15PM it is 7:15. Undaunted I ride to Kalispell find a Motel 6 and crash after a quick bite at a neighborhood diner!
Tomorrow could be nicer....maybe!

To the Canadian Rockies we ride

Leaving the springs I ride southeast past a still mostly frozen Muncho Lake. The Ice is emerald green and glistening in the early morning sun, past Fort Nelson to Chetwynd. Heading south along the Peace River Valley we end up in Prince George for the night.
Again wash bike do laundry, make a call to my Bea and go to Denny's for my senior discount dinner.
Actually was petty decent and the weather for once seem to hold out! No rain for the last 3 hours!

Dawson City South to Campbell Highway and beyond

So off we go down the highway along the Klondyke River to Carmacks for an early lunch fill up and then 300 + miles on the Campbell Hwy to Watson Lake. It is a gorgeous route devoid of traffic leading through Central Yukon past lakes, mountains, rivers, and of course a few more bears eagles and a huge bull elk. Unfortunately by the time I get my camera ready to "shoot" he disappears into the forest. So sunshine temperatures in the high 60s a road, though dirt, wide open and along we roll singing "Oh what a wonderful Morning">>>>> and then Clouds cold and rain set in again for the last 100 miles. Needless to say the road turns a bit slippery and my song switches to "Raindrops keep falling on my head" So no camp again tonight in Watson Lake but a motel room with shower etc. Additionally I learn that my planned route via the Cassiar Highway is closed due to forest fires. At this point 14 forest fires are active in the Yukon and I have to detour along the Alaska Highway. The great thing about this is I get to Camp (REALLY) at Liard Hot Springs and spend some quality time in HOT WATER! Best remedy for a sore back and rear known to man.
Her too I meet some wonderful fellow campers who invite me for a great full breakfast at their site.
They'll be in Alaska for the whole summer and have more equipment than most people moving up there.

The Arctic Circle and heading Dawson City again

a
So it is morning I leave my heavy gar in the room and take off north for the "Arctic Circle" and beyond! The wind is even blowing harder snow flurries turn to snow and the temperature is a balmy 18 F. At this point the decision is made to turn around fill up and head south , back to the friendly confines of Dawson City and a campground recommended to me by a local biker. The ride proves much easier on the bike me and my gas and after a field refueling we arrive at our camp. Set up tent, wash bike, inspect for damage, do laundry and head into town for a dinner at Klondyke Annies. The food was mediocre but hot and I enjoyed my stroll through the town especially when I saw Maximilian's Empire Store!
Again an early night and then the trip south really begins in earnest! By now I have encounterd many bears , both Black and Grizzlies, Moose, Deer, Martins and more Eagles!
Martins by the way are like a huge Ferret with a very pretty brown coat. It is the reason they are so rare now as they were trapped and hunted almost to extinction, but due to some good efforts by the Canadian Government they have made a very nice come back!

The Noertnern Adventure from Chicken AK to Eagle Plains YK

So here I was heading northeasterly on a wonderful dirt road called"The Top of the World Highway" through valleys filled with streams and active gold mining claims across the Border into BC again down across the Klondyke River to Dawson City, a town that owes its fame to the "Gold Rush" Now it is a tourist stop with nice information centers, shops and restaurants. After a brief break where I was informed that I would not be able to go all the way up the "Dempster Highway" as the ferry crossing the rivers were still not running due to too much ice still on the river!
Well so I made the snap decision to run up the Dempster all the way to Eagle Plains and spend the night there. Leaving Dawson City at a balmy 72 F I headed north, straight north this time and soon the weather changed. It got very cold and windy and "Stinger" my trusty bike got a real work out. I used all my tank plus 2 gl reserve of fuel and made it with a sigh of relief. At this point we had snow flurries and winds for the north at 35 MPH so again a motel room was in order. Eagel plains is a stop on the ICE HIGHWAY in the winter but now only a few crazies come through as no trucks are running.
Went to bed early darkened my room with and extra blanket as we now had 24 hours of daylight and snoozed until 5:30 AM.