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Published: July 31st 2010
End of the Alaska Highway
Offical end - Delta Juntion, AlaskaHospitality and Endurance
Hospitality - - the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
Endurance - - the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions
"North to Alaska, we go North the Rush is on".
SO July 19, 2010 sees us leaving Whitehorse to go North into the Interior of Alaska. We've seen much of costal Alaska and are now curious to see what the interior has to offer. We are headed to Fairbanks, which will be our most Northly point on this adventure. We saw a distance sign on the road that told us Fairbanks is 946 kms North. That's a long way north!!!
While we were in Dawson City, we went to the Vistor Information Centre and picked up these Yukon passports. The idea is to visit all of the sites in the passport and get the passport stamped in each venue. We had fun checking out the venues, getting the stamps and riding off again. Well....O.K really I had fun and Rene just tolerated my "fun". We had a couple more stops to make in the Yukon ending in a
little community called Burwash Landing. The Alaska highway had been great travelling until now. The gentleman at the Museum in Burwash Landing told Rene the road was about to test his driving skills for the next 100 miles (to the Alaska border) with many "dippidy doos?!!". WOW was he right! For the next 100 miles we bounced around the frost heaves and pot holes. Rene weaved in and out of these and I bounced around on the back like a little jelly bean. At one point in the highway we saw a semi over turned and it looked like it had just happened before we arrived on the scene. There were lots of folks out helping so we just continued on our bouncing and weaving way. Now I was praying in earnest for safety. Can't imagine what it must be like in those gi-normous motorhomes pulling vehicles. Anyway got the the Alaska border and the road seemed to improve greatly. Not sure what that is all about. Finally arrived in TOK just in time for supper and decided to eat out. I giggled as I orderd a California burger (MMMMMM) in Alaska. (if you're curious about California burgers, I guess
Randy and Anne
Hospitality at it's finest you'll just have to invite us for dinner one day and I'll make it for you).
July 20, 2010 we are up and the sun is shining and we're on our way to Fairbanks. This stretch of the Alaska Highway is smooth travelling, But Oh My Goodness is it BORING!!!!! These not so nice looking spindly Black Spruce on either side of the highway with no other views in sight. The weather got cold as well. It got cold enough that we stopped to put on our rain gear. Our rain gear helps keep the wind from freezing us as well. We arrived in Fairbanks early afternoon. Rene had been somewhat worried about the wear on the back tire and so we found a Kawii dealer and Rene went in to ask about a tire. They didn't have the tire but told Rene to check out another bike shop a couple blocks away named "Thunder Road". Off we went to this shop. Randy, said he had a tire and could change it right then and there. He told us to unload our gear on the picnic table outside and he would get right at it. While he was changing
Rain gear
still smiing the tire and the breaks, he very casually said "so you look like you're camping along this journey and I saw your New Testament Bible in your gear and how would you like spend the night with me and my wife in our home?? Well, Rene and I just looked at each other, smiled and I said without thinking twice that we would love that". Turns out that Randy and his wife Anne regularly invite travelling bikers into their home to have dinner and a nice warm bed to sleep in. Randy is with the Alaska Chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association. We had a wonderful evening out for dinner and desert with Randy and Anne and ohhhhh the bed and shower were wonderful.
Up for breakfast on July 21, 2010. Randy made us waffles and eggs. Randy left for work at aboout 9:15, Rene packed the bike and Anne and I visited. Woke up to rain and an invitation from Randy and Anne to stay longer if we wanted too, but decided to carry on and hope for better weather as the day went on. Well, we hoped with all our might, but the weather did not really
MUD
After our little trip on the Denali Highway improve one tiny little bit all day and all night long. We were very disappointed as we drove through Denali National Park as we could only see the fog covered town and nothing else. Roared right through the park because it was just COLD and WET. We wanted to find WARM and DRY. Didn't get to see Mount McKinley (tallest mountain in North America), but as we found out, you are one lucky traveller if you get to see the whole mountain as it appears fully, out of the clouds and mist only about 10 days a year. Travelled through the day and into the night with on and off again rain. At one point we found a road called the Denali highway. Looked like it might have been a shorter route than the one we were taking so off we went. Well----- it was gravel and it had rained, so the whole road was like wet paint. Slipping and slidding. We went on the road for about 20 minutes before we decided it was a really DUMB idea. By the time we turned around and got back to the real highway we were mud from tip to toe. We
Matanuksa Glacier
WOW - see the sun shining on it? were blessed to see some incredible mountain scenes on the drive from Palmer to Glennallen. As we drove this stretch of highway from about 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm the clouds opened up and we saw this amazing glacier. It is the Matanuska Glacier and it was truly wonderful. It was like the sun shone at exactly the right time at the right place, just for us. We finally got to Glenallen and just simply could not go any further. We found a motel for the night and while I brought the wet stuff in, Rene was able to find this little bright PURPLE van that served up fast Tai food. Food out of a purple cube van???? Anyway it was REALLY GOOD. Maybe because we were just cold and hungry??? We were certainly thankful for another nice, dry warm place to sleep.
July 22, 2010 woke up and it's still raining!! Certainly did not want too stay in Glennallen. Just a small town and nothing to do in the rain, so suited up once again and out in the rain we went. All part of the "adventure" right? Hope the weather adventure changes soon!!!!!! This day was going
to be a big decision. If we turned right we were going to Valdez Alaska or if we turned left we were going to be headed back to the Yukon. Well ,the weather again decided for us and we turned left. Yup it was raining and cold and the forcast was for more cold and wet in Valdez. We are certainly sad and disappointed, but since we can't control the weather, we just needed to make the best of this. Off we went to Haines Junction Yukon. Camped in a nice campground there and talked with some other travellers and off to bed.
July 23, 2010 we woke up with some sun and some hopefullness that we could once again ride into Alaska to Haines and Skagway. Supposed to be an amazing mountain range there to see. Yeah---- more rain and cold, so off we went to Whitehorse. We got a Hotel room in Whitehorse to give us some time to lick our travellling wounds, re-group and re-focus our attitudes and carry on. We decided that instead of waiting this weather system out we are going to head towards home for our scheduled home break. Of course going home
Tai Food anyone?
seriously good food!!!!! to see the kids, family, friends and grandbaby has rejuvenated us and we are excited to spend some time with them and head out on the next leg of this journey.
July 24, 2010 we travelled from Whitehorse to Coal RIver Lodge for camping. We rode in and were warmly welcomed at the lodge by Donna and her staff, Paul and Dave. They invited us to join them and some others at their camp fire. The other folks at the fire were 4 people from St.Barbe NFLD. Shane, Gina, Wayne and Dalen were there to do some bridge construction. Gone from home for a long time. Well these guys started telling Newfy jokes and Rene and I laughed like crazy. Not sure the jokes were all that funny, but with that thick Newfy accent they were HILARIOUS!!!!! Had a great night with them and of course an invitation from them to look them up if we were in their neck of NFLD. Such nice folks.
July 25, 2010, we only traveled for a couple of hours because we wanted to stop and spend some time at Liard Hot Springs. Ummm, the Hot Springs felt so great after a
Sign Forest
67, 934 signs in this forest. couple of cold and wet days. While we were at the Hot Springs, we called Sharon and Kurt, who live in Fort St. John. Sharon is a very special person in our lives who lived with us for about 4 years on the farm in Westlock. We thought we would have a visit with them before heading home. Called Sharon and unfortunately she and Kurt were in Smithers at Kurt's brother's wedding. Oh man we were really bummed about that, but all the more reason to head home. We first had a full day of R&R and were ready to continue the journey towards home.
July 26, 2010, Another FULL day of travel. We were just like horses when you head them home to the barn. Galloping all the way!!! We both just want to be home now and are excited to see the loved ones. Spent the night in Dawson Creek.
July 27, 2010 just a 6 hour day to Westlock to see Cyndi and Dallas. It has been so interesting seeing all the sights and sounds of other places, but driving home and seeing the ripe canola fields, the big round bales of hay is so
Fireweed
Fireweed. Makes yummy honey and jelly we found out incredibly comforting. Feels and smells like home.
So this last journey through Alaska has held some incredible highs and some lows. Randy and Anne, your gift of hospitality was so unexpected and appreciated. We will not soon forget your warmth and generosity. God Bless you and your family, Thanks again. Our funny new friends from NFLD, what a great sense of taking life lightly and making the best of your situation.
We endured the elements as best as we could. Yukon and Alaska, you certainly tested our endurance and we think we passed with flying colors. We feel that we didn't quite get to see and do all that we wanted to see and do, but again, we need to leave some things undone so we can return one day again. I think Rene said it best when said "if it would have been sunny, beauiful and warm, we may have never met the people that we met" O.K O.K fine then-----thanks for the rain?!?!?
What has become very clear to us already in this journey is that it truly is the people that we meet that make this trip so memorable. Yes the sights, sounds and smells
Newfy jokes
So much fun and laughter are amazing, but the people we are meeting and learning about make this trip AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
Now we get to see the best sights of all the world----- our kids, Amanda and Kyle, Cyndi and Dallas, Scott and Lauren and of course NATALIE our grand-baby.
And so we remain-------- In The Grip of Grace
Rene and Crystal
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helen Rae
non-member comment
what's next?
Hi Crystal, I just LOVE your blog - can hardly wait to see what's nest! Helen