Aug 10 2012

12-07-10 Tuesday 141 days 56 km 35 miles Meeting new friends and lots of interesting folks

Here is breakfast in bed again for the boy, oatmeal and hot chocolate

The view of where we are headed. Everything seems so far and and we seem so insignificant and then we are there and are a part of the largness and beauty.

Another Great day little bit of a head wind and lots of sunshine for now

Great views and down hills – life is good.

Meet fellow bicyclist from Denmark

Self photo by Michael Pruiett

The old Papamike gets ahead everyonce in a while.

This is the beginning of great adventures on the left is Joe and Emmilee on right are hikers from France, Michael in the middle. The lady who owns the motel and restaurant gave hikers free room, the bicyclers 20.00 rooms and discounts, Michael and I pressed on to get more miles. To get more of the best info from Emmilee go to http://joeyandemmysbicycletour.weebly.com/

Later in the evening we meet up of two more bicycle folks from one from Spain and the other from Argentina they have been on the road for years

Michael and pressing on for the Contental divide

Aug 10 2012

12-07-09 Monday 140 days 50 km 31 miles Lots of food and new art works to view on the road

Morning on the side of the highway – nice sunny day

We have so much food now that I just hung the whole trailer in a tree to make it more challenging for the bears

The new art form is names and messages spelled out with rocks on the highway cutouts. There are many miles of them.

Here is one with my Niece Jen

There is lots of road and more ridges to go up ahead a long way.

While waiting for Michael to catch up I put up the FOX name – Perhaps some day other foxes will add their names – We decided that Pruiett was too many letters to spell out today – Michael will have to come back and spend more time to add the Pruiett name.

one of birds of the area – it really is unbelivable how many mosquetoes there are up here – ever persent all the time.

Some one else also needed mo money up here. Thats a lot of work to carry the rocks to make these messages on the shoulders

the rainbow in the sky

Our evening camp by a river Michael has fixed up his marshmellow stick – The tarp is up for the rain to start. Only sprinkled a little during the night.

Aug 10 2012

12-07-08 Sunday 139 days 27 km 17 miles We posted our signs in the Forest and had a short ride out of town.

Stayed for church at St. Ann’s mission.

The little church filled up just before the start of Mass – afterwards was coffee and ricecrispe marshmellow treats made by the priest. A great morning.

here is the Sign post for Leonard, Tx that Michael put up.for Leonard, Texas.

Here is the one for Nutrioso, Az. Tucson, az already had a couple, and even found one for Showlow, az there are over 70,100 signs posted from all over the world.

Crossing the Upper Laird River guess who is in the lead of the km markers today – yep only half a BP pill and I am back in the game.

This is a marked Stocked with fish Lake – neither Michael; or I took any out.

the Lilly pads on one end of the lake are cool

View from the tent on our highway side camp spot – only 27km today – I won the Martker race and Michael was comeing on strong untill we called it a day.

Aug 10 2012

12-07-05 Thursday 136 days 60K 38 miles Another good short day

Morning on the Coal River – Michael slept under the tarp and during the night had to get up to put on his head net to keep the Mosequetoes off his face.

Finally more Woodland Bison – along side the road.

And yet more Wildlife big black bear on the side of the road, just grazing on the grass.

So Michael and I are racing each other to see who can pass the most km marker signs on the side of the road here in BC they are every 5 km. Michael is wining so far today and I am giving him a run for it.

The Smith lookout over the Laird River – we are camping for the night – Michael looks a little tired – he did win the marker race but only by 2 out of 12 possible.

He still has enough energy to do crunches and setups. I have enough energy to boil water for coffee.

Aug 8 2012

12-07-07 Saturday 138 days 16K 10 miles Yea Watson Lake and the Sign Forest and Food

decided a few klicks out of Watson lake to camp out since everything was closed last night. Just a short rollin this morning. yesterday was a 55 mile 90kim day decided a few klicks out of Watson lake to camp out since everything was closed last night. Just a short rollin this morning. yesterday was a 55 mile 90kim day

The official entrance to Watson Lake – we are tired and hungry

The famous sign forest at the other side of town. Looking for food now.

Karen Cafe – I have to admit that even thought the prices for breakfast is high the portions are more than generous – and well needed – Michael really picked up after his french toast brunch.

Aug 8 2012

12-07-06 Friday 137 days 83K 51 miles Long hungry day and new mileage record for us

This RV from Texas pulled in yesterday., Joe and Janene Spratt from Sanger, Tx near Denton parked and let us store our food in the side compartment – Both packages of instant oarmeal.

Another buffalo on the way to Watson Lake – we got an early start and away we are.

Stopped for water at a stream that ran under the road – Michael climbed throuht to the other side – tried some Gold Panning -no luck there.,

At the first crossing from British Columbia into the Yukon – Michael is reall pumped and almost has a shut out on the race for the km markers. I am feeling out of gas.

Michael is really able to stay ahead today – here he is waiting for me at Contact Creek Lodge. Just candy bars and chips and packaged hamburgers for lunch. we are out of food until Watson lake.

I am begining to get hungrey enough to consider this fellow for dinner – We have decided to make it to Watson Lake today.

Even this fellow may be a candidate for dinner – although it might be a toss up who has who.

Great view of the Laird river again – we have nearly 80km in today so far 50miles – Michael is still leading the marker race, it is not a shut out though.

The view back to the mountains where we had been – wow this is long way.

this is determination in his gaze get to Watson Lake tonight

Aug 8 2012

12-07-04 Wednesday 135 days 60K 38 miles On the road out of Laird Hot Springs

Breakfast at the Laird Hotspings Lodge – these two young ladies were very gracous – providing a donation for expensed and packing a lunch of sandwitches and pie for later – Thank you for the assist.

There are many old cabins along the way and a number of closed lodges and stops –

As we head out of Laird Hotsprings and out of the Rocky Mountains the landscape changes as we head to the platue

This fellow did not even look up at us as we went by. We still cross to the other side of the road and it is kind of like being at a zoo with no cages. Weird feeling and then nothing to fear.

time for lunch from the Laird Hotsprings Lodge – this is really nice.

The other reason we stopped here was the wild Strawberries – they are really really sweet very small and all along the highway right of way.

Here are the little jewels hiding along side the road. Takes forever to get a handful and they are very good. Too bad Michael does not like strawberries.

This group of bicycle fellows are heading north following their RV support there are 5 -and take turns 1 driving and 4 pedaling.

Saw a sign for Smith River Falls and decided to take a side tour for 4 km then a short hike down this trail to the falls

Wow what a cool picture at the end of the trail – The falls are awsome and powerfull way out here in the middle of our lives today.

Part of the Alaska Highway history

This is Chris Figureida who is riding for Cycle for Heart. Chris spent almost an hour talking with us. He road up the road in the winter, climbed Mt. McKinely for 34 days and is now cycling to California –

A great day and this is the view from the tent This is our campfire on the shore of the Coal River near the Laird river. Nope no fish here either.

Aug 8 2012

12-07-02 Monday 134 days 25K 15miles Into Laird Hot Springs followed by rest day

Slept in late and packing up to head out Michael is getting really good and packing up.

some of the local foliage – There are flowers of every hue all along the highway and meadows.

More foliage not seen before.

Group shot of foliage

Meet two other young women cycling across Canada – Whitehorse to New Foundland. Michael and I had been Fishing along the river. They look more interested in Michael.

Crossing the Racing River bridge after a really cool downhill run.

Made it into Laird River Hotsprings – whoppe a rest day coming up spending 2 nights here at the tent campgrounds, they are cheaper.

As we were going into the campground Hiroaki Tamura from Japan just rode up going south, we invited him to share out campsite. Also let him know that the Hotsprings were open 24 hours and free entrance after 8 pm

Michael spent most of the day at the hotsprings which were across the highway from us. He really had a great time meeting folks and boiling in the lower pool.

There is long boardwalk that takes you to the Hotspring pools that good through this warm water marsh

this is the upper Hotter pool of water my favorite.

Here is Michael with friends from Edmington, Alberta he meet. Good folks again.

These forest around the Hot Springs is tropical lush and stays open all year.

This fellow was just on the other side of some trees from out tent site. We were of no bother to him.

Evidently this is his dusting pit to keep the bugs off him. Even the biggest animals are taken down by these mosquetoes

Aug 8 2012

12-07-01 Sunday 133 days 56K 30miles Muncho Lake and a beautiful sunset

Happy Canada Day like our 4h of July. A storm rolled into this valley and started to sputter rain, Michael and I ditched off the road and found a campsite. This is the next morning. Wow.

What a great camping spot. Made a fire for warmth and the tarp kept the rain off of us.

The moss is a foot thick on the ground in the shaded areas. very cool

Crossing the Toad River which is not by the Toad river Lodge – beats me.

still rolling to Muncho Lake the terrian is breathtakeing along with the bicycling.

The first view of Muncho Lake – feeling great

Here out side the lodge at Muncho Lake – This is were the cost food up here really starts to dawn on me. We have to get take out hamburgers at the restaurant because a dinner is $50.00 each The Hamburgers are

a parting view of Muncho Lake every look is like a post card.

The sun in the valley up ahead is our destination as we strive for our 56km 30 miles.

this is as far as it goes tonight is is after 10pm. The view with full moon is amazing and with the setting sun is awsom.

Just pretty wonderful

there is a God in Heaven and He is good.

The full moon and the setting sun on the mountains.

Moon over the mountains

Sun set in the clouds

Jul 31 2012

12-06-30 Saturday 132 days 60 km 38 miles

The RV where Michael and I had dinner of eggs, bacon and english muffins and Mike and his wonderful Wife invitation.

View of the Summit Lake Saturday Morning. Now the down hill starts, we hope.

Info on Summit Lake Alaska Highway.

This is Gordy and his wife who gave me a ride back to Testa River Lodge to find my phone still plugged in where I left it on the coffee bar. The are the park facilitators.

Another Bicycle fellow did not get his name. He is riding from Fairbanks to KeyWest Florida, I think. In any case his web site is Goodnews.org and he is sponsered and rides from motel to motel.

yep the down hill has started – Michael saw the Stone Sheep on the far slope. I was going too fast to take my water eyes off the road, in the rain.

Micheal likes the down hill when I finally catch up to him. It is raining a little and that is OK.

and then we are off down the mountain once again. What fun.

My first live Moose is in the middle of the road licking something He did move off but not because of me.

Muncho Lake is where we are headed for today – The park boundry is pretty far from the Lake.

at the botton of the hills are the rivers Raining off and on most of the so we are keeping rain gear on and the temps are pretty chilly.