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Bill was gone when I awoke about 0830, he had sent me an email that his plans A & B didn't work out, and he was going to Plan C, the Yamaha Dealership south of town. We are at somewhat of a disadvantage communication-wise as Bill's eschews some modern conveniences, such as a cell phone. He has an iPad he uses for reading and Netflix, and I am pretty sure he has an iPhone too, but he doesn't have a cell account with anyone.
I am not saying he is a Luddite, but he doesn't think he needs it. Who doesn't need a SmartPhone? Who doesn't need the sum collective knowledge of the human race in your pocket? Who doesn't need a personal assistant that constantly misinterprets what you say, and translates speech to dirty words when you are texting your Mom?
Anyway, after receiving 2 somewhat cryptic emails from him checkout time has come and I have to leave, so I look up his last location, Yamaha Dealership south of town read the email, and head out to find him. Through luck more that skill I find my way back out to the Alaska Highway and head south out of town. When I looked it up on the web, I neglected to look how far it was out of town! Had to stop and consult my......Smart Phone......to do a quick nav check, 5.8 kms to go. I find Bill at the side of the road filling his tank with his jerry can, I turn around and pull up behind him.
Here is his version of the events that transpired this morning:
This morning I got up at the crack of Bill, as Lou would say, to see if I could either get my tire fixed or replaced. My tire was extremely low so I used my portable pump to bring it up to riding pressure.
The shops didn't open until 8:30 and was at the first assigned place at 8:25 but they let me in only to tell me that they sell tires but don't service them.
They suggested I try the Honda Dealer but they were even less helpful and said that they night be able to look at my tire in two or three days. They said that Yukon Yamaha might be able to help me but they were a mile out of town on the Alaska Highway. I was in full panic mode now.
On my way I stopped by our Motel, stood outside my door as I had already checked out, hooked up to the Internet, and sent Lou an email telling him of my plans.
When I arrived at Yukon Yamaha they were very understanding and agreed to have a look at the tire.
There was a tiny pin p****hole, too small for a plug, so they injected the tire with some kind of liquid rubber and let it sit for awhile with the hole on the pavement so the goop would seep into it.
About that time Lou had one eye open and phoned to check on the situation. I told him that Yukon Yamaha wanted me to take the Scooter for a run on the highway to warm up the tire and return to the shop for inspection which was perfect.
Five minutes later Lou showed up. He had gassed up in town and I didn't want to drive all the way back so I used my emergency jerry can of gas. It's always nice to have something to obsess about like running out of gas.
The fix on my tire worked perfectly and was able to make it to the next gas stop to replenish the jerry can.
Today was the best day ever for riding: pavement all the way, no rain and warm temp. I'm looking forward to today's ride as we should be back in BC.
(Bill is really coming into his own as a writer, don't you think? But don't tell him that! He used to complain alot and then write 5 lines, now I don't even have to remind him and we're getting Novella's from him! It is also a lot easier to get someone else to write this blog for me.)
So a big thank you to Yukon Yamaha for doing us a solid and turning Bill around and back out the door in about 2 hours for under 70 bucks!
We depart directly from YY and head east towards Jake's Corner, then we drive about 300kms of the AlCan that we already drove the day we went to CarCross, YT. You may remember CarCross is where we stayed in the cabins where we weren't asked to pay and Bill made his blogging debut with his Haida Gwaii photography. Here is a short expose of his native artwork shoot.
Also, wanna go to Alaska? One way in, one way out! It is amazing that the one road, one paved road that is, Yukon style as in ******, isn't in better condition or maybe 2 lane divided, nope, nothing! Also almost completely devoid of traffic. I think the Alaskans like to stay where they are, and the rest of continental North America like to stay where we are.
Except Bill & I apparently!
We stopped an a wayside and there was a mountain range on the other side of a valley from us. There was sign there talking about how the visible mountain range was part of an undersea range and that the sea level at that time was over one mile above our heads? How do they know that? When did that happen? The earth is amazing!
Around 1330 we stopped in Teslin for lunch and came across a large trove of Harleys all parked at our lunch spot, luckily they already had their food. We pass and are passed by them frequently over the next few days. That brings up an interesting phenomenon, that is that you see the same people over and over again on trips like this, because if people are headed the same place you, they will be on the same roads, stop at the sames places, etc.
On the way up we would consistently come across this ram shackle Toyota truck pulling a green '70's vintage Triumph TR3. On the way down in addition to the group of HD's we also repeatedly came across 2 Miata's driving from Davis, NY to Deadhorse, AK and back. One Miata, driven by a guy was full of junk food wrappers, the other, lady-driven, was curiously full of Teddy Bears!
I should mention that today was a blue sky day, our first in some time. As we approached our destination we started to see black clouds with rain curtains in the mountains ahead but as we approached the road kept heading towards the rain, you could smell it, then turn at the last second. Eventually we ended up beside the system, and never got a drop on us.
We stopped at a rest stop and found a couple from Ireland who had rented bikes in California, coming back south from Anchorage. Personally, having come all that way, I couldn't imagine not going to Fairbanks and beyond, but they said the weather was ******. Bill was happy to take his Irish accent out for a spin. I was thinking; ****** weather? from people from Ireland?.............*******!
Again there was a black ridge cloud spanning the horizon in front of us, there was no way we were gonna miss this one! We kept heading straight for it, we passed the hwy 37 junction, south to Dease Lake (no, not Dat Lake! Last time I get to use that, promise!) and the road was wet from recent precipitation. I could feel Bill's eyes burning into my back imploring me to stop so we could put on our rain suits, but I forged on. Remember, Mind over Nature!
It worked! That brings the success percentage up to 0.0000002%! We pulled into Watson Lake and after a few false starts in both criteria got us a nice mo'tel, and some vittles & brewskis. After dinner Bill was feeling a bit frisky and suggested going to the liquor store for a nightcap, but we were in Watson Lake, so the liquor store closed at 1730!
It was a good concept, instead we got bottles of water as Bill pointed out there was a sign at the front desk stating there was a town wide boil order in place. They could have mentioned that at check in, instead of telling all the lies they did!
Watson Lake's claim to fame is their; "steal a sign from somewhere and bring it here' display.
Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it: The Signpost Forest was started in 1942 by a homesick U.S. Army G.I. working on the Alaska Highway, who put up a sign with the name of his home town and the distance. Others followed suit and the tradition continues to this day. As of August 2010 there are more than 76,000 signs of various types depicting locations across the world.
When I was here is 2004 the 'forest' was maybe 50' wide and 1 layer deep. Today, it is huge, prolly 1/4 mile wide and 4 or 5 layers deep. This picture is from the webs, we weren't actually interested in going there.
White Horse to Watson Lake
428 km today, 8511 thus far
6.5 hours in the saddle
I am not saying he is a Luddite, but he doesn't think he needs it. Who doesn't need a SmartPhone? Who doesn't need the sum collective knowledge of the human race in your pocket? Who doesn't need a personal assistant that constantly misinterprets what you say, and translates speech to dirty words when you are texting your Mom?
Anyway, after receiving 2 somewhat cryptic emails from him checkout time has come and I have to leave, so I look up his last location, Yamaha Dealership south of town read the email, and head out to find him. Through luck more that skill I find my way back out to the Alaska Highway and head south out of town. When I looked it up on the web, I neglected to look how far it was out of town! Had to stop and consult my......Smart Phone......to do a quick nav check, 5.8 kms to go. I find Bill at the side of the road filling his tank with his jerry can, I turn around and pull up behind him.
Here is his version of the events that transpired this morning:
This morning I got up at the crack of Bill, as Lou would say, to see if I could either get my tire fixed or replaced. My tire was extremely low so I used my portable pump to bring it up to riding pressure.
The shops didn't open until 8:30 and was at the first assigned place at 8:25 but they let me in only to tell me that they sell tires but don't service them.
They suggested I try the Honda Dealer but they were even less helpful and said that they night be able to look at my tire in two or three days. They said that Yukon Yamaha might be able to help me but they were a mile out of town on the Alaska Highway. I was in full panic mode now.
On my way I stopped by our Motel, stood outside my door as I had already checked out, hooked up to the Internet, and sent Lou an email telling him of my plans.
When I arrived at Yukon Yamaha they were very understanding and agreed to have a look at the tire.
There was a tiny pin p****hole, too small for a plug, so they injected the tire with some kind of liquid rubber and let it sit for awhile with the hole on the pavement so the goop would seep into it.
About that time Lou had one eye open and phoned to check on the situation. I told him that Yukon Yamaha wanted me to take the Scooter for a run on the highway to warm up the tire and return to the shop for inspection which was perfect.
Five minutes later Lou showed up. He had gassed up in town and I didn't want to drive all the way back so I used my emergency jerry can of gas. It's always nice to have something to obsess about like running out of gas.
The fix on my tire worked perfectly and was able to make it to the next gas stop to replenish the jerry can.
Today was the best day ever for riding: pavement all the way, no rain and warm temp. I'm looking forward to today's ride as we should be back in BC.
(Bill is really coming into his own as a writer, don't you think? But don't tell him that! He used to complain alot and then write 5 lines, now I don't even have to remind him and we're getting Novella's from him! It is also a lot easier to get someone else to write this blog for me.)
So a big thank you to Yukon Yamaha for doing us a solid and turning Bill around and back out the door in about 2 hours for under 70 bucks!
We depart directly from YY and head east towards Jake's Corner, then we drive about 300kms of the AlCan that we already drove the day we went to CarCross, YT. You may remember CarCross is where we stayed in the cabins where we weren't asked to pay and Bill made his blogging debut with his Haida Gwaii photography. Here is a short expose of his native artwork shoot.
Also, wanna go to Alaska? One way in, one way out! It is amazing that the one road, one paved road that is, Yukon style as in ******, isn't in better condition or maybe 2 lane divided, nope, nothing! Also almost completely devoid of traffic. I think the Alaskans like to stay where they are, and the rest of continental North America like to stay where we are.
Except Bill & I apparently!
We stopped an a wayside and there was a mountain range on the other side of a valley from us. There was sign there talking about how the visible mountain range was part of an undersea range and that the sea level at that time was over one mile above our heads? How do they know that? When did that happen? The earth is amazing!
Around 1330 we stopped in Teslin for lunch and came across a large trove of Harleys all parked at our lunch spot, luckily they already had their food. We pass and are passed by them frequently over the next few days. That brings up an interesting phenomenon, that is that you see the same people over and over again on trips like this, because if people are headed the same place you, they will be on the same roads, stop at the sames places, etc.
On the way up we would consistently come across this ram shackle Toyota truck pulling a green '70's vintage Triumph TR3. On the way down in addition to the group of HD's we also repeatedly came across 2 Miata's driving from Davis, NY to Deadhorse, AK and back. One Miata, driven by a guy was full of junk food wrappers, the other, lady-driven, was curiously full of Teddy Bears!
I should mention that today was a blue sky day, our first in some time. As we approached our destination we started to see black clouds with rain curtains in the mountains ahead but as we approached the road kept heading towards the rain, you could smell it, then turn at the last second. Eventually we ended up beside the system, and never got a drop on us.
We stopped at a rest stop and found a couple from Ireland who had rented bikes in California, coming back south from Anchorage. Personally, having come all that way, I couldn't imagine not going to Fairbanks and beyond, but they said the weather was ******. Bill was happy to take his Irish accent out for a spin. I was thinking; ****** weather? from people from Ireland?.............*******!
Again there was a black ridge cloud spanning the horizon in front of us, there was no way we were gonna miss this one! We kept heading straight for it, we passed the hwy 37 junction, south to Dease Lake (no, not Dat Lake! Last time I get to use that, promise!) and the road was wet from recent precipitation. I could feel Bill's eyes burning into my back imploring me to stop so we could put on our rain suits, but I forged on. Remember, Mind over Nature!
It worked! That brings the success percentage up to 0.0000002%! We pulled into Watson Lake and after a few false starts in both criteria got us a nice mo'tel, and some vittles & brewskis. After dinner Bill was feeling a bit frisky and suggested going to the liquor store for a nightcap, but we were in Watson Lake, so the liquor store closed at 1730!
It was a good concept, instead we got bottles of water as Bill pointed out there was a sign at the front desk stating there was a town wide boil order in place. They could have mentioned that at check in, instead of telling all the lies they did!
Watson Lake's claim to fame is their; "steal a sign from somewhere and bring it here' display.
Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it: The Signpost Forest was started in 1942 by a homesick U.S. Army G.I. working on the Alaska Highway, who put up a sign with the name of his home town and the distance. Others followed suit and the tradition continues to this day. As of August 2010 there are more than 76,000 signs of various types depicting locations across the world.
When I was here is 2004 the 'forest' was maybe 50' wide and 1 layer deep. Today, it is huge, prolly 1/4 mile wide and 4 or 5 layers deep. This picture is from the webs, we weren't actually interested in going there.
White Horse to Watson Lake
428 km today, 8511 thus far
6.5 hours in the saddle
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