Aug 18 2012

12-07-31 Tuesday Rest Day Delta Junction, Alaska

a rest day at the RV park wash cloths, shower, pick up supplies.
Michael and I camped out here, next to some Electrical construction fellas – Michael took a couple o bike rides around town during the day. I spent some time at the library and bought some supplies. A really nice RV park.

Aug 18 2012

12-07-30 Monday 159 days 65 KM 40 Miles The END OF THE ALASKA HIGHWAY into Delta Junction Another mile stone completed. FANTASTIC!!!

07-30 Mon Can you believe we rode the whole Alaska Highway from the begining to the end Me and My 14yr old Grandson Michael.

Can you believe we rode the whole Alaska Highway from the begining to the end Me and My 14yr old Grandson Michael Pruiett. Only he will know what an impact this will have on him. He will have a hard time convincing even himself that he can’t do something after this. In fact he is the example to all his family and friends to be unafraid and you can DO IT when you start.

Aug 18 2012

12-07-29 Sunday 158 days 91 KM 56 Miles Good day with lots of miles

: Late morning down the road

: is easy Riding along the way

: Some views

: some history

: This i s view spot off the highway – going along here at 60mph this part of the country can look a little boring. at 5mph you see a little more detail.

: This is what I mean by broad flat rivers with lots of silt in them.

: Joe and Emma found a camp site and we found them.

Aug 18 2012

12-07-28 Saturday 158 days 52 KM 32 Miles Into Tok – a Salad Buffet and filled up on groceries – having Cell phone for a little while is nice too.

: The Tok River later in the morning.

: The mountains ahead – we stay to the north ot them.

: Michael Crossing the Tok river – just before noon.

: We found it the Tok Salad Buffett – Boy what a great deal.

: We were here

: The road out of Tok

: The end of another day with a beautful sunset at 11 thrity at night. Ya know even the days that do not seem to have much in them are full of the unexpected, unique never to happen again in either the time or space. The surroundings are always different. Even the routine of peddling the bicycle is always different as to the feel of the environment, views, cool, hot, up, down sun, rain and just what energy each of us has in the present. That is what makes the Bicycle or hiking journey different than a car, motor home trip with the constant set, speed, temperature, lighting in day, and at night, The constant blur and out of touch with the ever changing reality of nature. I wonder is perhaps there a reason to fix the natural environment into the constant of a computer program of predictable results – The weather changes, species have come and gone and come again humans change and so does the environment. Our own arrogance and ego demand that we are the cause and reason of all this. If only we can get every one and everything to perform the way we want it to then the world will be safe, secure, predicable, sustainable, balanced, livable. Of course the humans who are in charge then change their minds, whims, or something and the program they want. So it is Global Cooling of 40years ago coming, then Global Warming is coming for 20 years, now just Climate Change each with the same mantra, act the way we say or we are all doomed, “Be afraid!!” How about we clean up each mess we find, as it comes along and Fear NOT. Oops where did that come from.

Aug 18 2012

12-07-27 Friday 157 days 86 KM 53 Miles Great day riding Some rough roads and lots of Tater Tots get in the miles

: on the road again – slept in and this is our first encouter – this tandem couple moving out only waved as they passed us by heading south.

: Great paved roads and wide shoulders since crossing into Alaska.

: Good place to stop for snacks and stuff – this was unexpected since it is not listed on most of the brochures. Michael and I both had a pound of Tater Tots each for snack.

: Sign of the time.

: Only everyonce in a while can I get ahead of Michael – Usually on a long down hill or when he stops.

: view small thunderhead building

: The rivers valleys are wide and flat – the water is really silted up.

: at a rest stop above the road

: Getting closer and closer to Fairbanks – Joe and Emma riding ahead and finding a camp spot for tonight.- it turned out they were only a few hundred yards away from where we stopped for dinner by this sign.

Aug 18 2012

12-07-26 Thursday 156 days 18 KM 11 Miles Short ride and long rest day – learning to Kayake and canoeing on the lake

: What a string of good luck at outsmarting the bears – they still have not found the food or us at night.

: The road into the next adventure camping spot – it is early and we are taking a half day rest here.

: Camp is set up and naps are in order –

: At 7pm there is a ranger talk on Owls of the area- The storeie about the old Native Indians are more interesting than the owls. Michael is seeing what is taller then him. Looks like it is a moose for the next few months.

: Finallhy found some blueberries that are ripe. not many of them along the camp trail.

: The distant mountains, what a great spot., Earlier I was able to swim,bath in the lake and layout in the sun to dry – the real low humidity is really nice for that.

: The park attendant brought his canoe down to the lake for us to use – Emma out amoung the Lillypads .

: another couple had their Kayakes out and let Michael and Joe try them. Michael is moving right along.

: Michael is doing well – That was until he learned not to lean out to the side while paddeling – it turns the kayak upside down.

: The nice couple who let us use the Kayaks and the Camp Host with the canoe, he had just returened from Iraq in May and came up here.

: Michael in the Canoe and Emma in the Kayak.

: Today was another event filled day and we are tired. Off to roast marshmellows before bed.

Aug 18 2012

12-07-25 Wednesday 155 days 62 KM 38 Miles WE MADE IT TO ALASKA – Back in the USA

: The morning is fantastic – actually up before 8am.

: The Info center where the lovely host gave some of her home cooked lunch – Fried chicken legs, and great patotoe salad. She had also directed us to the swimming pool.

: Heading out of Beaver Creek.

: Michael coming up the hill – Let me say this young man has really done a fantastic adventure, he has grown maturity and strengthed physically more than I really know just before my eyes.

: Yea !! does this mean we can ride an extra hour today – I think we will do the extra hour of sleep.

: Made it to Alaska it is all down hill from here to Fairbanks, we have heard.

: Crossing into Alaska – great day and a real accomplishment.

: the four of us into Alaska – one of those for ever things. When ever we remember crossing into Alaska after thousands of miles, we will remember Papamike, Michael, Joe and Emmilee.

: A little excitment on make it back to America.

: The Burley Bent and it’s rider Michael

: It is a little flatter going after the border crossing – Going into the US side a lot quicker than going into the Canadian side.

: at the Infor center we hear about a nice little lake with boat and fishing up the road a bit.

: There is a 1 mile hike in and Papa Mike is bringing up the rear with the fishing poles.

: The area pretty marshing so most of the path is on boards – nice for keeping our feet dry – was not able to bring the bike down to the lake.The area pretty marshing so most of the path is on boards – nice for keeping our feet dry – was not able to bring the bike down to the lake.

: And the next adveture has begun – boating on the lake. The boat and life jackets are provicded by the park an just left there.

: While the boater were out fishig – Papamike caught one and has it cooking over the fire for dinner.

: The Lake boaters

: Michael caught some dinner as well. I like these Rainbow trout – they have less bones than the Pike.

: Evening view of the Mountains off in the distance with snow on them.

: Joe caught a little one and they are doing surgery on it to remove the hook and turn it lose- The surgery was not succesful – Emma was heartbroken.

: End of wonderful day – Crossing into Alaska, boating, catching fish, eating cloud berries, roasting marshmellows over the campfire. Wow life is as good as we want to make it Thank you Michael, Joe, Emma

Aug 18 2012

12-07-24 Tuesday 154 days 73 KM 45 Miles Beaver Creek – a really great Information Host, Indoor Swimming and Shooting Pool – is this a bike ride?

: The across the lake is different than last night

: came across this helicopter bringing in building stuff here.

: across another yet another river – still silted up from the rain runoff.

: Anohter bicycle rider going south.

: This is a busy day again for bicycle riders as we meet two more heading south.

: Well I wonder if we are going the right direction, when we meet another South bound rider. Emma and I really thought this would be many miles of forest on both sides and no people – so much for thinking what is up ahead or projecting into the future.

: Time for little snack break – Must be lunch

: Nice Yukon camping area with the covered shelter and free fire wood – nice deal – Emma is warming up by the big stove

: Beaver Creek, Yukon – Catholic church from the early 50’s great little town and a wonderful time

: Our Lady of Grace Church

: Hard to believe Michael and I have ridden over 1,202 miles just on the Alaska Highway section of this trip.

: History of the area

: Inside the little church – The lady at the Information Center told us where the key was to visit inside. We camped out behind the church.

: After swimming and taking showers at the Beaver Creek Community Pool – which was a really great indoor pool, we came over to the Lodge for dinner and shooting pool.

: This pretty much captures the day.

Aug 17 2012

12-07-23 Monday 70 KM 43 Miles 153 days A little assist from the Road Crew -Fried Duck for dinner and Roast Peeps for desert

: It’s Monday

: Michael riding ahead with his new found Alaska or Bust flag posted – Bust is not an option at this point

: Looks like some constructon ahead

: Joe and Emma are loading up their bikes for the ferry to the end of construction – Joe is not too happy He wants to pedal all the way.

: The Trike and Bent are loaded with me in the back, Michael is up front in the cab, we are both very happy for any excuse to get a ride.

: View out the back of the pickup – would rather be here than riding on the gravel road.

: views

: Back on the bike on a nice downhill – Thinking of the expanse of this beauty is hard to grasp This road is a small ribbon for thousands of miles through this vast wilderness and some people actually believe they are in charge of it.

: Another great camp near a lake and another little adventure. Wild game hunting by Joe with rocks and Michael to assist.

: Michael is thinning out and has the hang of this tent set up – looking good.

: Well we have cooked up fish we caught for dinner and a Duck Joe pegged with a rock. – I am not sure we could subsistance survive on the land but we would last long enough for help.

: Help has arrived – a group of RV folks came over to share out fire and brought Peeps for roasting – Peeps are easter candy marshmellow chick coated with sugar – really good when roasted and the surgar carmalizes – they are marshmallows on steroids

: The evening sun setting about 10 thrity – another full day of new things and good folks out in the wilderness. The evening sun setting about 10 thrity – another full day of new things and good folks out in the wilderness.