Miles of this scenery passed by without change

Day 3

Day 3 started out good.

As I had come in to camp the night before, I noticed the camp spot next to me was occupied by a BMW F800GS and a KLR650 (09 Model).

I did not see anyone up, so I guessed they were already sleeping.

I when I awoke this morning, around 6am, they were up packing and I went over to say “Hi”.

Brian and Ralf, the two at the campsite, were from Calgary heading for Prudhoe Bay. Having done Inuvik the year before, they both gave me some advice. One of which was to watch the Oil Level on the KLR at all times.

Both of them had 08 KLR’s last year for the trip.

Come to find out, Brian had the misfortune of seizing his motor halfway between Eagle Plains and Dawson.

I wished them safe travels, and went back to packing as they set off. They did invite me along, as they were traveling to Dawson first, but their overnight destinations were much different then my own, with longer days of travel.

After packing up, I set out on my way. About 40 miles up the highway, I realized I missed a turnout (About 45 miles behind) to Sulfur Gate, an area I wanted to take some pictures.

Instead of backtracking, having the misfortune already of doing that once, I decided to push on to Dawson Creek.

The ride, for the most part, was uneventful. Grand Prairie is a rather large town of 50k. I fueled up, set my direction towards Dawson Creek, and continued on.

Most of this area is flat plains like area, with a nice 110kp/h speed limit.

Mile 0 - The official start of the Alaska Highway!

It didn’t take long to make the jaunt to Dawson Creek. I arrived sometime around noon, and stopped off at the information center, picked up a few post cards, and then took some pictures of the “Mile 0” Marker.

What surprised me, was that of all the pictures I see for the “Start” of the Alaska Highway, most people use the “Mile 0 Monument” which is located a block away from the actual highway.

The monument is just that, a monument built by the city to indicate they are the “Mile 0” City.

The actual Mile 0 Marker sits below the big Alaska Highway Sign in front of the Visitors Center.

As I went over to take a picture, a couple who I had spoke with inside the visitor center also made their way over. They were from Maine, traveling from Florida to Alaska. I took their picture, and then they took my picture at the monument. At about that time a carload of Australians stopped by and asked if I could take their picture, and another carload.

I am not lying when I say at one time, I had 4 camera’s dangling from my hands.

After taking a slew of photo’s, about 20 in all, I brought my bike over to the marker and took a picture of it in front of it.

Oh hey! It's the world famous Alaska Highwa!

After that, I suited up, rode the 1 block, took a picture of the monument, and head out on my way to find a camp spot for the rest of the day.

Wanting to take a afternoon off, I found a camp spot that provides free showers, free wifi, and has laundry facilities.

Cost is 22 dollars Canadian, which is not bad, considering I paid 20 the night before for a Provincial Park spot that just had a Pit Toilet and free firewood that I was not there in time to get any of. Not that it matters, the days are extremely long up here. I am in bed well before the light ever disappears from the sky’s.

So far, the guy next to me is riding a K1200L from Reno Nevada to Alaska, a bucket list item of his. He told me, camping is great when you are young, but this will be his last time camping on a trip, he’s getting to old for it, and would rather just have a comfy bed in a motel.

At least he’s out here doing it, and getting it marked off.

So with that, that was my day. Not a whole lot to update on. I will update this post with pictures later on, so check back with all of the articles for changes.

Until Next Time….

The start to a beautiful day

Day 2

Day 2 was a new day for me.

I woke up just around 6:30 with the sun shining down on my tent. The day before, I had made up my mind that without having access to my accounts, that I would have to cancel this trip.

With what money I did have, I realized I could at least hold out for about a week. With that, I packed my things, and rode back in to town, in hopes to find a wifi-hotspot so that I could update, and call my bank again on Skype this time.

Without any luck, I decided to just stop at a Tim Hortons and grab a coffee. I love their coffee btw. It’s so much better than Starbucks.

They do not have a hotspot. Apparently hotspots in Coffee shops has not caught on in Canada.

As I sad there, drinking my coffee, and just reflecting what I would do, two gentlemen came up to me and asked me about my bike. Wondering where I was going with so much gear, especially the spare tire.

Upon telling them, that I was planning on going to Inuvik, but so far, my bank has been uncooperative, I told them I may have to cancel it. Cut my losses, and head back to Seattle.

One of them, the older of the two (Possibly Father and Son?) looks at me, and says “If this is a dream of yours, do it now. Dreams are meant to be lived in the moment that they are concieved, not put back for another day. The day may come, when you are unable to live that dream, and you will have nothing but regrets”.

I honestly looked at him, and said “Thank You”. He knew why I said it, and I knew why I said it.

He was right. The events so far have been less than desirable. But this is my adventure, and my dream. I have put to much time, effort, and so far, money into this.

Several photo opportunities were around every corner

With that, I finished my coffee, got on my bike, and headed East on Highway 1 towards Golden.

With a little luck, I thought to myself, I may be able to still make it to Grand Cache. And get back on schedule.

I pushed on, limiting my stops, not taking half the pictures I would have liked to have taken. I must say, that the scenery that I saw, was spectacular. The way the mountains raise above you, dwarfing everything around them.

The rivers, so pure, they reflected in a jade like appearance. The waterfalls around every corner. It was something, that everyone must experience once in their lifetime.

Upon turning on to the Icefield Parkway, I paid up my toll of Nine Dollars Eighty (I love how they say that!), and made my way towards the Columbia Icefields.

This parkway, I could spend a week on. It is unlike anything I have seen before.

The glaciers far above you, the rivers, the lakes, the wildlife. Oh yes, for the first time I saw myself a Bear and a Moose!

I made my way to the Columbia Icefields, where I took some pictures. Again, the shear size of everything. I wish I had more time to spend, more time to explore. I will, I will come back, and I will spend the time it deserves to take it all in.

At the Columbia Icefields, a kind Asian man offered to take my picture

After departing the Icefields, I made my way to Jasper, where I fueled up, and pointed myself East towards Hinton.

It was here, that I saw a wolf as well!

I wish I had the time to stop and take pictures… Or the guts… To be honest, I’m not really looking forward to a personal encounter with anything that can either stomp me, or eat me.

I finally came to Highway 40, and headed North once more towards Grand Cache. This area, reminds me a lot like southwest Washington.

Dryer, warmer, but still forested. The sun glared down on me, as I pushed on.

Amazingly enough, this road, although not very good tarmac wise, is 100km/h. It is the only highway I have been on yet, that the full span of it was as such. Most of the others would have a few km of 100km/h, but not as much as most were 90.

Finally, I came to Grand Cache, where I grabbed some gas, asked about campgrounds, and was directed towards the Grand Cache Municipal Campground.

Upon arriving, it was full. So I pushed on further down the highway where I knew a couple provincial campgrounds where.

The Columbia Icefield is magnificent to see in person

Here, and Smoky River, I am camped. It is not bad, but a bit steep in cost at 20 dollars for a tent plot and no other services besides a pit toilet and water. There is free firewood, but it was all gone by the time I arrived. Which doesn’t bother me much. I type this currently at 10:16pm, and there is more than enough light out. I realize as the further I go north, the longer the days will get.

My hopes are to leave before 8am in the morning. My next destination is Fort Saint John, outside of Dawson Creek, where I will spend time getting a picture of the infamous, start of the Alaska Canadian Highway.

Until Next Time….

Ok, I’m running a bit behind this AM, but I’m about 15 minutes from heading out for my trip.

I hope to update as much as I can throughout this trip.

Make sure you check my Facebook and Twitter Pages for updates as well!

Here is my SPOT, you can track my last 7 day’s of travel: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0GVRPnYPF9i2d78BMJTIpmPLNfDokqMFP

If you wonder why it goes to Ellensburg first, well that’s me making sure the bike was all in order after packing it all up!

Welp, time to head out!

Quick little update on things:

I have over half of my food made prepared for the trip.

I have made around 160 pieces of jerky…

I have a case of cliff bars

I still need to dehydrate some apples!

Kickstand was shortened!

I have the new power outlets I am adding.

My RAM Mounts came in. Now I have something other than Velcro holding my GPS and SPOT!

I realized my Netbook has Bluetooth… Combine this fact and being able to use my bluetooth headset with Skype and the various hotspots at the campgrounds and cities I will be in, will give me a way to communicate back home.  I purchased a years unlimited plan. Easy 30 bucks to spend!

I ordered a new camera. It should be here Tuesday!

I got a AAA Plus+RV membership. the Plus+RV is good for Motorcycles, and AAA works in Canada in partnership with CAA.

I need to make a stop at Touratech at some point. I want to get a couple bottle holders to mount on the panniers. Not just for water and fuel bottles, but also a small fire extinguisher.

Also thinking a couple of there “Universal Shelf” Brackets. One to carry oil (bike consumes it. It is a 2008 Kawasaki afterall), and one to carry an extra gas can as a just in case on top of the just in case I have mounted to the back already (Rotopax)… It couldn’t hurt!

Front Suspension is off of the bike and at KFG being rebuilt. New springs, oil and seals, plus dropping in my emulators.

New TKC80 Twinduro tires came in. One front, two rear.  Front is already mounted, rear will be mounted when I get front suspension back and can weight down the front of the bike on the center stand.  I will be carrying the other rear with me on the trip!

I’ve made some last minute possible route changes to my trip.  This is an alternate route from Watson Lake to Dawson City via Highway 4, The Robert Campbell Highway.  It shaves 20 miles, but half of it is gravel.

This would eliminate 275 miles of the Alaska Highway that I would backtrack on my return trip.

I will make this decision mid trip, most likely day of leaving Watson Lake, as it is a schedule overnight stay.  If the weather forecast looks good, I will most likely take the Robert Campbell. If it looks iffy, I will stick to the Tarmac of the Alaska Highway.

Depending on when I get to Dawson, I may attend the D2D. I’ve changed my mind once more on this.  If I get there a day early, I will just leave for Inuvik the next day. If I get there the day of, I will stay an extra day for it.  Regardless of when I spend my extra day in Dawson, I will spend a total of 2 nights there.

Inuvik I am planning a 2 night stay. But we will see. I may get there early enough on my Arrival day, that I can get some town exploring in, and some the next day, leave mid day back for Eagle Plains.  Just depends on time.

I have also thought, depending on weather and conditions, and when I get out of Dawson, I may try and make a straight shot for Inuvik.  That will rest solely on conditions, both weather and road.