All the occupants of a broken-down bus now spilled out onto the road, they all seem to be focused on us, applauding our little ride group of four as we ride in on three near identical Kawasaki Versys and a Dacar to Paris looking KTM.
Perhaps they mistook us as firefighters. I’m still wearing Luis’ discarded Klim bright orange fireman pants. Here’s the fire brigade to help fix your broken bus. I’m working hard building road karma but, I’m no bus mechanic.
Most of the kids hung out of the school bus windows applauding us. Why all the fuss we thought?
The black bear in the picture below wasn’t quite so lucky. On a 40 km wildlife corridor near the totem pole village one can expect to find anything like well, wolves that recently fed on roadkill; or village dogs running off on the highway fending for themselves.
Our departure time was set for 0630 so, Roberto 1 and I set our alarm for 0500. By 0530 I already had my first cup of Hazelnut coffee at the nearby 24 hour Chevron.
Last night l found our dinner spot on google. Google maps said it was closed but, I verified that it was in fact open. Turned out to be one of the best homemade pizza’s we’ve ever eaten. While the guy cooked our pizza the mosquitoes buzzed us as we drank Canadian beer.
Roberto 2 was the first one who started noticing mosquitoes all over his black shirt. The other Roberto now becomes the target. First they sucked his blood from his sandaled feet and then they feasted on his wrists.
The town we stayed in is called Hazelnut on account of all the hazelnut trees that used to grow here. The river you see in the picture is so fast flowing that if you fell into it you would be a mile downstream before anyone took notice.
This little motel is called the Buckley Motel and it is owned and ran by a little lady from Thailand who married a Canadian in 1988.
She has a wall of shame when you first step into her office. You know the kind. Deadbeats that either trashed the place, smoked in her hotel or even looked at her funny. Their Canadian driver license pictures show their face. You can almost see trouble in their faces.
Dell is on a Gold Wing. I thought he was kidding with me when he said; which way is Anchorage? There’s two roads one to Stewart and the other to the Alaska Highway. Dell has traveled nearly 300,000 miles on three separate gold wings and visited 49 states.
Meziadin gasbar and food was the first location where we started to meet other riders on their Alaska adventure journey.
And we visited the Bear Glacier on the way to Stewart.
ON YODA Kevin’s philosophy: As a Yoda you have the wisdom but, you don’t need to share it; let the other rider experience it. That’s how the wholesome Yoda thing came about. Seek and ye shall find.
We have arrived at tonight’s lodging at Dease Lake Canada. Where we topped off with 3 liters of gas at the Tin Rooster from the previous gas stop. Our little Versys gets about 50 miles per gallon and travels up to a whopping 80 mph.
Tomorrow after all day of traveling we’re still in Canada. We lodge at the Stratford Motel in Whitehorse. Tomorrow is a 404 mile day.
End
Trawlercat Chronicles 