A Long way in the Rain

Well its been a while, we where heading north towards the Alaskan Highway last time we spoke, Well from Stewart we hit the Stewart Cassiar Highway north, This is not a highway as you would normally think of one but a series of good and bad roads some parts very difficult to pass on a bike, The weather was again very bad, continually raining as we headed north. At Bell II (look it up on Goggle) we stopped for a warm and a bite to eat. As we arrived another biker called Al was just leaving. He was newish to biking and on a adventure of his own see
http://inuviktrip.blogspot.com.

Although we never saw Al?s face (see our photo album ?friendly folk?) he was infectious and enthusiastic despite the weather and road conditions, He was heading south and we where north so we swapped stories of what lie ahead and went on our way, Its encounters like this that really boosts us both. The rudest woman in the world served us in the Bell II cafe, not very nice when you?re cold and hungry, but the soup was good and we where ready to go after filling up with gas.

From Bell II it was north towards Iskut, but stayed in a log cabin in Tataggo. Nice place and the rain made it impossible to camp and stay warm the next day.

From there it was north towards the Alaskan highway. When we did stop at places it was a ritual to exchange road conditions and weather reports with people traveling from the other direction. It was incredible to find just how bad conditions can be on these roads. The tarmac, or pavement just will suddenly end and gravel and or mud just takes over. This on a fully laden bike, two up is tough, very tough with the rain as well, Lots of concentration and very bad language needed and given.

Anyway we hit the Alaskan Highway and turned right towards the USA. Now the night before I had seen on goggle that a fuel stop and accommodation was exactly 65 miles from the Alaskan Highway junction, it was called Rancheria and I knew we had enough fuel to do this, just.

The miles went by and 65 mile mark came and went, oh dear, All I knew of this place was I had seen it on goggle, no more evidence than that, so I started to question my decision . I stopped the bike and told Sandra That we might be in a spot of bother, less then 2 liters in the tank and who knows how far to go if Rancheria wasn?t there. This went down very well of course but we pressed on and sure enough 80 miles from the junction was Rancheria, PHEW!

I have learnt that the size of the Yukon is directly related to how much fuel you have in your tank. That last 20 miles of open, cold wilderness sure looked big.

Rancheria, was nothing to look at but what a welcome helpful lot runs this place we loved it. There even help repair the seat on the shed which needed a bracket bending into shape.

The next day was rain again but people had told us that sunshine would welcome us in Whitehorse, and sure enough it did.

A well earned two day rest in Whitehorse allowed recovery and proper drying out in a hot spring campground. Then onto our current location, Dawson City. This is an incredible place, it?s like the old west, the whole city is right out of the past and we will stay and explore a bit, and let you know how it goes.