The BIG one

If you’re sitting on the edge of your seat wondering who won Crazy Eights (I forgot to post on Day 9), my daughter put an old fashion whoop’n on me 12-7. 

Day 10 started in the sun and a beautiful morning.  We rode to Whitehorse (Yukon Provincial Capital) for breakfast.  Whitehorse was the first city we’ve been in for a while where we could replenish provisions before heading back into the Yukon. After breakfast, about 120 miles into our 322 mile ride, we saw nothing but black skies, not clouds like the previous 9 days.  We pulled over, put on our heated gear and prepared for what we’ve been accustomed too, rain.  Within 3 minutes of starting the bike, we were in a downpour.  For the next 1 ½ hrs we enjoyed a free bike wash (it needed it).  Once we approached Destruction Bay, the rain stopped, just in time for us to see the largest bear yet, a HUGE brown bear.   This bear made the past 9 bears look like cubs, he had a massive head and behemoth paws.  He was enjoying the intoxicating cream flower and wasn’t concerned with us at all. 

After lunch, the Alaska Highway turns into a rough road, with long sections of pavement missing, man sized pot holes, deep gravel and construction areas that last for miles.  Mix in a little mud and you have an exciting last 90 mile ride to our camp.  Due to the rain we’ve been staying in small roadside lodges versus the tent.  Once we pulled into our camp area, the clouds opened up again and the rain came down off and on all night.  Glad we slept in a small cabin. 

Our camp is close to the Alaska border and we’re excited for Day 11 when we cross into the Last Frontier….Alaska.  3,000 miles and 10 ½ days riding.  Due to a wet forecast for the North, I’ve moved our plans up a day to try and get to the Arctic Ocean and be on the return ride before the rain starts again.  The Haul Road is no fun in the rain, it is muddy and slick.  After 344 miles to Fairbanks, new tires will be installed (knobby off road tires) at Adventure Cycle Works, we will leave some gear at the shop to lighten our load, then depart for Coldfoot (halfway point and only town on the route) first thing in the morning.  I’m being told there is no internet access after Fairbanks, so the blog posts may be delayed and we will communicate with the family via satellite system.