June 4, 2022 - Tok, ALASKA - 380 miles

GNV4ALL made it to Alaska after 4,400 miles and 12 days! There is another 300 miles or so to Anchorage. Susie flies in Tuesday. 

Today was a lot of rough paved roads with potholes and sections of dirt. Mostly good weather with rain late afternoon.  

Short video of Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory 

https://youtu.be/-D8GVZuqefo 

Entering Alaska - yes, I forgot to take off my helmet

My route to Alaska 

You see a lot of places like Ida's along the Alaska Highway where they do anything and everything you need or want 

Thechal Dhal Visitor Center 

Thechal Dhal Visitor Center - I had to use a telescope to see the Dall Sheep walking on the steep slope.

My new friend Alaska State Senator Roger Holland riding a fairly new Indian motorcycle with a rough looking Czech sidecar. He bought it in Seattle and was riding it home to Anchorage. He had to stop once to have several broken supports welded after the sidecar almost fell off. He invited Sooz and me to meet he and his wife once we arrive in Anchorage. Of course I gave him several GNV4ALL Goes to Alaska information cards.

Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory 

Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory 

June 3, 2022 - Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada - 277 miles

Pierre and I road together most of today. I had to change my plans a little after speaking with the owner of the place I stayed last night. I planned on heading north on Highway 4 to Camacks. Michael, the hotel owner, said I needed to be able to travel 250 to 300 miles without getting gas.  He kept repeating that there is nothing on that route until it finally sunk into my thick skull. I don't have that kind of range on my bike so I decided to head to Whitehorse  on the Alcan Highway. And I didn't run out of gas which was good.

Temperatures ranged from 55 in the morning to 78 in the afternoon and was sunny with no rain or wind. Ideal conditions. 

We went through 2 sections of dusty unpaved road that were each several miles long. It was hardpacked and pretty stable with only a few wobbly loose gravel stretches.

A black bear was the only wild animal I saw today.

From yesterday  - a still-frozen Summit Lake at 4,200 feet above seal level

Me trying not to fall over on the gravel road

Random shot

Stream shot

New sticker for the bike's side case

Me trying to remember which is the clutch lever and which is the brake lever

Create a caption for this picture 

June 2, 2020 - Watson Lake, Yukon Territory - 410 miles

Wildlife seen today close to, or on, the road:

- 1 slowly meandering porcupine crossing the road

- 6 bison (buffalo)

- 5 pronghorn

- 1 dall sheep

- 1 caribou (reindeer)

- 8 black bear

The weather was beautiful again ranging in temperatures from 55 to 77, sunny and no wind. The roads were in good shape, even the dirt sections were solid but dusty.  I went well over 100 miles again without seeing a gas station. 

I made a couple of stops for coffee, homemade rubarb/strawberry pie and chocolate chip cookies- time well spent.

The road went through parts of the northern Rockies, next to fast moving rivers and some leftover snow in the shadows.

I met and rode for awhile with Pierre from Quebec. It's been nice riding with a fellow traveler. Nice guy.

Highway 97 in Yukon

Liard River

Bison

Black bear

Love this sign warning motorcyclists of an upcoming bridge with grating

Right after I put my phone away after taking the picture I turned around and saw a very big black bear staring at me about 20 feet away. I wasted no time getting on the bike and getting out of there

Pierre from Quebec took this of me while we waited for construction to clear

June 1, 2022 - Ft. Nelson, British Columbia - 280 miles

Today was wildlife day.

I saw my first moose on the side of the road.  Scared the crap out of me. Massive and dark. I thought it was a larger-than-life statue until it turned around and galloped into the brush. 

I also saw a total of 4 black bears casually eating grass on the side of the road. Luckily they paid me no attention and stayed put.

While I haven't seen any beaver I have seen their handiwork. Who else would build log dams on small streams out in the middle of nowhere? 

I am really feeling like I'm in the far north. The ride was through solid forests and I had my first peak of snow capped mountains. I rode over 120 miles without seeing any commercial business including a gas station. 

I'm doing good with my plan to get to Anchorage before Susie flies in Tuesday, June 6. I have traveled 3,600 miles and have about 1,300 miles to get to Anchorage in 5 days. That's doable.

if you look closely you can see snow capped mountains 

Mile 5 of the world famous Alaska Highway 

Lunch break in the northern Alberta woods

Lookout!

May 31, 2022 - Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada - 370 miles

Today was a beautiful day beginning with mid 40s temperatures and by the end of the day electric gear was off and lighter gear on. It was full sun and no wind - a glorious day. 

The day was spent riding, listening to a few podcasts and enjoying the remote scenery of northern Alberta. It may sound boring to some people but I was hooked in. 

I pegged the cruise control at the 110 speed limit and chugged along. That's 110 kph which is 68 mph.  Gas mileage increased by almost 10 mpg due to the lack of wind which is amazing. 

I met a really nice retired couple from Wisconsin at one of the few rustic rest areas. The woman taught school for 35 years and appreciated the GNV4ALL Family Learning Center. Of course I gave them a couple of cards so they could learn more and maybe contribute. 

Alberta

Alberta 

Morning temperature

May 30, 2022 - Edmonton, Alberta - 450 miles

Springtime in Canada. Temps were in the mid 50s to low 60s with strong winds. I put on my heated electric vest, used rain pants as a windbreaker, turned up the heated grips and wore heavy gloves. It all worked well and kept me warm. I use ear plugs to protect against the wind noise which also help.

The ride was pretty uneventful which is good. Although I think I saw a pronghorn and a real bison. No pictures because I was holding on for dear life in the wind.

This morning 

Today's route 

About 3 hours more daylight than Gainesville 

May 29, 2022 - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada - 300 miles

I feel like our trip was officially christened today. Temp got down to 58 during a solid rainstorm, it felt like gale force winds all day, I crossed the border into Canada, I missed a turn and had to ride 2 miles on a wet, muddy, slippery dirt road and I almost ran out of gas. And I can honestly say it was a good day.

I had a fun and long conversation with an official Canadian Geezer in a Burger King while drinking coffee. He confirmed that the Canadian restaurant chain Tim Horton's has the best coffee.  He asked me if there were Burger King's in the States and I let him know that they are Miami-based. 

I visited the town where they filmed the sitcom Corner Gas. It's a fun show and they were showing reruns in my hotel room.

Gas in Canada is over $8 a gallon! It cost me about $35 U.S. to fill up the bike and an extra one gallon container I carry. 

One liter of gas costs $2.12 Canadian which works out to be about $8 a gallon U.S.

Corner Gas (Did you notice the mud on the bike?)

Saskatchewan 

One bar reading on the gas gauge with 14 mile range left. That's too close for comfort.