Friday July 16, 2010
Leaving Fairbanks Alaska, southbound and down and a long way to get there. I’m heading south along the Alaskan highway retracing the route that allowed me to pursue my dream of riding to Alaska.
Memories of the trip flutter through my mind about the people I met along the way and the adventurous route over sections of the roadway designed literally for all terrain vehicles. I’m a little anxious about returning to the sections of the road 15 miles north of the Canadian border to just south of Beaver Creek a total about 70 miles.
Traveling during the day with the sun in my face is a little better than the trip up in the cold rain. The roadway wasn’t wet so it was just bumpy and slow for me pulling the trailer that at times picked its own track in the road, which is unnerving as I maneuvered through one or two inches of gravel and the ruts left behind by other vehicles.
Construction repair of the Alaskan Highway takes place seven days of week rain or shine and in some cases it can last into the night. Speaking with the flag people they tell of bears coming out of the wood curiously checking them out.
I attempted to travel to Haines Junction however the spotty rain and the setting sun suggested I stop 77 miles shy for the night at a town called Burwash in the Yukon Province. The hotel / campground and fishing resort sits next to the beautiful Kluane Lake.
The owner who was really polite but looked like he was in his eighties had trophy heads of animals he killed including a moose, deer, and several large lake trout 20-30 inches in length.
The building is made of wood and once inside I got the distinct feeling I was at the Norman Bates Hotel. The steps leading to my room creaked and moan, the key issued to me turns the lock and a distinctive loud clack indicates you are entering the room. My room door closed shut against the wooden frame with a loud thud. As I listen to people moving about I felt like Normans mothers would eventually call out “Norman” Norman”.
At 10:30 pm after settling in, the sun appeared from behind the clouds and didn’t set for another hour and a half. There I lay wide awake listening to other travelers arriving and walking up the steps. Spooky night before falling off to sleep. (698 miles)
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