Hate to leave Racing River, but we gotta keep moving toward Alaska. In Watson Lake, we entered the Yukon Territory. Ten years ago, on my bike trek to Alaska, I came through here and hammered up a sign in the famous “sign post forest” at Watson Lake. Today, Linda and I proudly added a new addition to the over 75,000 signs posted there.
We arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon on Monday, turned the camper/truck back over to the CanaDream folks, and spent a day off in Whitehorse Tuesday shopping, running errands, and doing schoolwork on the three web classes I’m teaching. On Wednesday morning, we strike out again on the bicycle toward Alaska.
Day 28 Pictures 6/22/13 – Fort Nelson BC to Racing River BC
Making our way up the Alaska Highway toward Whitehorse, Yukon where we will ditch the camper/truck and start pedaling again. This section of the Alaska Highway is the most breathtaking as we change our heading from north to west to cross the Rocky Mountains. Lots of big game and scenic vistas, following rushing waters and climbing mountain passes. We end the day at my very favorite spot along the whole Alaska Highway: Racing River. Not a town, but a place where the Alaska Highway pulls up alongside this amazing rushing river, full of spring melt and glacial silt, and follows it for about 2 miles, then crosses and leaves it behind.
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- Fortunately, this black bear was more interested in eating dandelions than us. Seen near Fort Nelson, BC.
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- Would sure make a nice bear rug in front of our wood stove at home. Just kidding! (not)
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- Mama moose and baby moose were too fast for us. They ran into these woods. If you spot them, let me know.
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- Indian Head Mountain near Steamboat BC (No foolin’!).
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- This big guy is a Stone’s sheep. He was guarding his harem of females and babies up at Summit Lake.
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- Ever seen a caribou in the wild? Those antlers will grow about 4 more feet or so before fall. This one was spotted near the Summit Lake in BC.
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- British Columbia’s version of the wild Cherokee rose seen at Racing River.
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- Linda at Racing River. Pretty, ain’t she? I’ve climbed up that mountain in years past with sons Jason and Michael (in 1994 and 1995) and friends Mikey and Micah (in 1996). Lots of mountain goats on those rocks!
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- Racing River, BC.
Day 26 Picture 6/20/13 – Jasper AB to Dawson Creek BC
It was rainy and foggy most of the day, so not many scenic shots to offer. This single picture sums up the excitement for the day as we drove from Jasper to Dawson Creek.
Day 26 6/20/13 – Cochrane AB to Jasper AB
Hi All,Rain, rain, rain. Six days of rain plus that wind through Wyoming has put us so far behind schedule that we will not be able to make it to Alaska and back to work in Steamboat on time (July 29), so we made the decision to rent a vehicle and zoom ahead to a point where we can pick up the bike ride and make it to Anchorage in good time (barring any further weather delays). We rented a camper in Calgary that the CanaDream Co. wanted to get up to Whitehorse ASAP, so we are on our way to Whitehorse, Yukon where we will pick up our bike ride for the final 700 miles or so into Anchorage.
Spent last night in the mountain town of Jasper AB; headed for Dawson Creek BC and the start of the Alaska Highway tonight. Once on the AlCan Hwy, internet will be sparse, so be patient and we’ll post new stuff as we can.
Thanks for tuning in 🙂
Jimmy*** & Linda
Day 25 Pictures 6/19/13
Day 22 Pictures 6/16/13 – Okotoks AB to Cochrane AB (60 miles)
Lots of big climbs and big descents today on the way to Cochrane. The rains held off for a day of nice riding. Long glide down into Cochrane on the Bow River.
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- Price of gas (per liter) in Okotoks (about 5 bucks a gallon!)
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- An abundance of red barns in Canada
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- Looming Mountains on the Road to Cochrane AB
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- Oh! Canada!
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- Raising Unicorns in Millarville AB
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- Our Route North through Alberta
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- Rothney Observatory (1.7 meter telescope) near Calgary AB
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- As close as we got to Calgary AB
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- Nearing Bragg Creek AB
Day 21 Pictures 6/15/13 – Day Off in Okotoks AB
Our recumbent tandem bicycle became the hit of the 100th Okotoks Fun Days parade. The main road through town was closed off so we joined the parade to get to the bike shop on the other end of town!
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- Joining the parade in Okotoks AB
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- One of the floats in the Okotoks parade
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- Linda, Sue, Chris, Jimmy at the Wheel Life Bike Shop in Okotoks AB
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- Okotoks Country Inn
Day 20 Pictures 6/14/13 – Fort MacLeod AB to Okotoks AB (82 miles)
Thunderstorms stopped our forward momentum toward Okotoks AB where we had an appointment at the Wheel Life Cyclery shop. We ordered parts to replace the entire drive train for the bike: chain, chain rings, and rear gear cassette. No way to get there by closing at 6pm, so we thumbed a ride with "Al" who took us all the way in to Okotoks. Chris Brown at Wheel Life stayed hours late to get the bike ready for travel. Thanks to Al, Chris, and Sue — indispensable members of our support team!
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- The Fort Motel in Fort MacLeod
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- The actual fort (reconstructed) in Fort MacLeod AB
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- We give up – what are these for?
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- The gathering storm near Granum AB
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- Snacking at a little store while waiting out the storm at Granum AB
Day 19 Pictures 6/13/13 – Warner AB to Fort MacLeod AB (79 miles)
Today’s ride started with rain and ended with rain, with sunshine in-between.
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- Seeking shelter from the rain in the Warner Hotel in Warner, AB.
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- The Warner Hotel, over the Warner Bar, rebuilt after fire in 1950s. Our room at top left.
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- Stacks of giant 200-foot wind turbine blades. Note size of truck beside blades!
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- Instead of giant roadside billboards, hay bale ads are the big thing in parts of Canada.
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- This railroad trestle, built in 1909, crosses over the Oldman River in Lethbridge AB and is over one mile long and 314 feet high!
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- Yellow-headed blackbird on a cattail wand.
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- Our route west through Alberta.
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- Crossing the Oldman River for the second time near Fort MacLeod AB.
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- This storm caught us as we entered Fort MacLeod.
Day 18 Pictures 6/12/13 – Shelby MT to Warner AB (63 miles)
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- Kit Checkin’ Us Out
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- Montana Kits
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- Pastel Landscape Near Sunburst, MT
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- Notice Anything Unusual? Taryn & Taylor
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- Waiting at Canadian Customs
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- We Made It to Canada!
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- We Made It to Canada!
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- Gopher Everett
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- Pappy Jim & T-Rex at Milk River, AB
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- New Friends Al & Lane at the Warner Hotel Warner, AB
Day 17 Pictures – Conrad, MT to Shelby, MT (29 miles)
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- Northgate Motel in Conrad, MT
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- Jimmy & Linda in Conrad, MT
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- Red Barn Near Shelby, MT
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- A Couple of Double-Crested Cormorants Near Shelby, MT
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- Yellow-Headed Blackbird
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- Jimmy Lowering the Colors Due to High Winds
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- A Non-Tumbling Tumbleweed
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- Little Buck at Marias River Crossing MT
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- I-15 and Frontage Rd into Marias River Valley MT
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- Little House on the Prairie
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- Pronghorn Antelope near Shelby, MT
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- Veterans Memorial Park at Shelby, MT
A new storm is moving across Montana and the strong headwinds slowed us down on Day 17. We did not make it to the US/Canadian border as hoped and pulled up for the night in Shelby, MT.