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

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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.

The Northern Adventure

The Ride is on... a phrase used many a time before came true as I left on June 26 heading NORTH to points unknown, unless you count my preparatory reading and map studying. I t was 5:30 AM getting through LA without too much delay. Believe it or not it actually happened! Two and half days later I arrived the the Alaska Ferry Terminal and the real "soft" part of the cruise began cruising the Inland passage all the way to Haines Alaska! Great weather and new good friends made this a very fun experience. Add the scenery Whales, Porpoises and Eagles to the stunning landscape and you have a tremendous beginning of the Adventure!




After passing Juneau with its cruise ships Haines was only 6 hours north and the ride began in earnest. The Highway leading out of AK into BC was very scenic over mountain passes and valleys shaped by the Juneau Icefields. Then came the first time camping at a provincial campground called Million Dollar Falls!
Setting up my tent for the very first time took a bit but it was well worth the effort as the tent is big and comfortable! While at the site I noticed there was no water supply so off I went to borrow some from campers a little better equipped with a beautiful motor home parked a few spots from me. As it turned out they were Germans, a retired Lufthansa Pilot and a Master Violin Maker from Frankfurt. Instead of just getting my water we ended up "talking story" drinking beer until there was none left!
Again leaving very early on I went to Tok AK. The high winds prevented me from putting up my tent so I got a room at the local hotel and met up with friends, bikers from the ship for dinner!
And then it was on to the TOP of the World Hwy north to Chicken AK and Dawson City!

A Fall to remember A Christmas to Enjoy

Hey By now all of you have heard about our Heidi's health issues.
In August she was diagnosed to have Mat Cell. 3 surgeries later, the stress, the medications took their toll and her system totally collapsed to the point she could not even hold up her head!
But thanks to my Bea, yours truly, some really caring veterinarians and their staff along with all of you visiting and praying for her recovery, Heidi did not give up and began a long and painful fight to regain her health. Sleepless nights, discomfort, labored breathing all followed but finally last week we saw some real improvements.
First she scooted, then she sat up, and at last this week mom and I came back from our exercise walk, there she was standing wagging her tail and greeting us at our condo door! Yes we did have tears of joy in our eyes as did everyone at Acacia Animal hospital as well as at PAWS when they saw her walk, haltingly at first but with more and more confidence as time goes on.
She can now walk as much as 75 feet, does her business on her own and is starting to react to the sound of the fridge door! She is a Mueller after all!
She is being treated with Insulin as well medicine for Cushings disease and various vitamins.
All of this is now making her feel better and we notice a daily improvement in her stamina and balance.
Imagine 7 weeks not being able to move at all and then walk again!
Our little black furry family member is coming back and soon will be back to her old loving self!
12 years and she never asked for more than love from all the people she met and she deserves all the love we can give her.
For me this experience was very humbling and I pray should I ever be struck like her I will have the grace and determination of that little dog.
We love you very much Miss Heidi!
God gave us our Christmas gift a little early but it is the best gift we could possibly get!

A Fall to remember A Christmas to Ejoy

The Happenings in 2010

Hey as stated earlier though old age is creeping up on me there is still a fire for adventure and fun in me that needs assuaging! To that end I have used my new toy the earlier mentioned R1200GS (aka the Stinger) to explore new roads and some that my "Blue Flash" aka K1200GT would have had a rough time handling. Tackling those primitive back roads was nothing if not addictive and leaves me with a whole new Arizona & who knows what else to explore.
Add Mom's and my adventure drives and hikes in the Chiricahua Mountains in our trusty ICE Bear and a wonderful stay at the Sunglow ranch, mix in adventure and great dinners with all of our Tucson family (led by the Great Maxini), a visit by our Hawaiians here in Dana Point where Megan and Rachel lit up our days, one could say that would be a full first half of the year but alas.....




The Ancient one needed one more adventure, so he with a trusty band of Canyon Crazies took off for Utah and a canoeing/camping and hiking trip down Stillwater Canyon of the Green River all the way to the Colorado!
What a wonderful experience to glide down this canyon surrounded only by unbelievable nature and good friends. I was transported back to my youth ( although my bones and muscles told a different story) enjoying God's creation.
Sitting by the river at night watching stars so clear and close that you felt as if you could touch them, hearing the sounds of the lazily flowing river and the songs provided by our friends, human and birds alike made me think about an old German saying:
"Warum in die Ferne Schweifen, wenn das Gute liegt so nah!"
Why do you have to go afar, when so much beauty is so close!
I may never see some of the other continents but our own country has so much to offer and to enjoy that it would take lifetimes to see and appreciate it all!

One more little philosophical thought as ramble on:
The rocks we were looking at were billions of years old at river level and they were covered by layers created by earth movements, shallow and deep oceans vulcanic activity and alike. What makes us, the human race think, we are so important? Imagine if by our human stupidity we render the earth uninhabitable for a thousand years or more, Earth and the universe will continue evolve as in eons past and we humanity will be just a fraction of an inch of layered rock barely visible by whoever comes after us!

Anyway we are now back in Dana Point enjoying civilization good food and friends and looking forward to adventures and fun things to happen!

Note:
It has almost been 4 years now since I RETIRED and I can honestly say that there has not been a day that I missed my job. I only wonder how I ever found time to work at all for those 37 years of schedules quotas and 4 door sedans!