The ultimate measure of a person is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Tok -> Takhini Hot Springs (509 miles)
I woke up around 5:30am, quickly packed my gear, and headed for Chicken via the Top of the World Highway. I had a long ride ahead of me and I wanted to spend a few hours in Dawson City. I had planned it so that at the end I would be rewarded with a dip in some hot springs to sooth my sore butt.
You have to leave the city of comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover will be yourself.
I got a late start to the day because I had some business calls in the morning. I told myself not to worry about finding a job while on this trip, but a couple of opportunities kind of fell into my lap and I had to take advantage of them. I had one call left when I realized it was about to rain. I quickly packed my gear and left Anchorage as it was starting to shower. I was headed for Chicken, AK just north of Tok.
Bill and I wanted to camp at Wonder Lake in Denali National Park so we could wake up early and check out Mt. McKinley. We didn’t realize it would take 5.5 hours to bus 82 miles to the campsite. We got there too late and decided to take the shuttle the next morning. Unfortunately, the earliest shuttle at 5:15am was full so we bought tickets for the 6:15am and would should up early the next morning. We figured somebody would probably sleep in and miss the early bus. We showed up the next morning at 5:05am and were lucky enough to get on with no problems.
Develop an inner candle flame that won’t flicker even when the worst goes before you.
For most of my stay, Bill had to work during the day but was nice enough to leave me his car. I wouldn’t normally take him up on his offer, but it pretty much rained my entire trip. He recommended I take it down to Exit Glacier near Seward because it’s supposed to be a beautiful ride. The entire time down I wished I was out on my bike, but I was happy to be inside away from the rain.
Bill had set me up with a fishing charter through Rust’s to go salmon and trout fishing. I met up with my float plane at 7am and took a half hour flight to Riversong Lodge on the Yentna River.
I was pretty disappointed about how much wildlife I had seen since I entered Canada. I was determined to see a bear before I left. To guarantee this, I went to the zoo. Luckily, the zoo was having a special event for donors, which Bill is, where you get closer encounters with the animals. Somehow we timed every animal exhibit at the best time. We got to the wolf exhibit as they all started howling.
I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.
Fairbanks –> Anchorage (358 miles)
I had been staying at an Airbnb in fairbanks with an old couple, Dolly and Andrew, who’s kids had moved out. Dolly was an amazing host and made me biscuits and gravy, my favorite, for breakfast.
I woke up to it still raining, but luckily the pavilion kept me dry. I met up with Nathan and Errin to grab breakfast at the campground lodge. Their speciality was sourdough pancakes and reindeer sausage. Rudolph never tasted so good.
There is no accumulation of strength without making choices that stretch you.
I ended up leaving Whitehorse a bit later than I had wanted because I was waiting for a light shower to die down. The ride to Haines Junction was pretty uneventful until I got closer. In the distance I started seeing mountains from Kluane National Park, but I also saw a grey veil that indicated heavy rain. I kept riding and luckily made it to the junction without a drop on me.
Rest and be thankful.
Teslin –> Whitehorse (110 miles)
I woke up to it raining outside my tent. I was in no rush to get moving since I was taking a rest day in Whitehorse, which is only two hours away. I laid in my tent until the rain died down and grabbed breakfast, complete with caribou sausage, at the motel near my campsite.
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