A horse of the same color!

I took my time this morning, still hung over from a late and long day yesterday (my laundry was done before midnight)!

After packing and checking out I pulled the bike up to the pump.

Oops, not diesel. (Move to next pump)

Oops not unleaded regular. ( move to next pump)

Oops. Out of Premium?

I had a ride of 65 miles to Haines Jct. and had enough gas to make it that far, and them some. If I filled up here I could possibly cover the 165 miles to White Horse. But without premium my mileage drops drastically. The most I can hope to get on a tankful is 240 miles (with a tail wind and steady speed) but the last time I used unleaded regular I only got down the road about 160 miles. So I refueled, figuring to top off in Haines Jct.

I also took the time to chat with a biker from Tennessee who works as an independent contractor for Jim Beam. (He makes doll clothes for sample bottles?) He was talking to a young lady who said she was from everywhere. It turned out that she had lost her husband when he crashed his Harley. So she took off and started traveling the country. She had already been to 43 states and was headed to Alaska, taking pictures and writing a book! New twist on an old theme! I told her what I was doing and showed her Betty's picture. She chuckled and said she was traveling with her husband too, and showed me the locket she was wearing that holds his picture. "And this is my father" she said, showing me the center bead on her necklace. "I had this pressed from his ashes and put it in this neckless". We talked for awhile then wished each other safe trips.

The first part of the trip was really nice. A little on the chilly side but sunny and delightful scenery. I had already travelled this stretch two weeks ago, but that was in the rain and even colder conditions. Without rain clouds forming a layer of gloom over the mountains I felt compelled to stop several times for pictures, the first time was at the same spot where Mr. Jim Beam was stopped on the side of the road.

He pulled up to where I had stopped to explain that he was okay, thinking I had stopped to help if he had broken down. "It was too good not to take a picture" he added.

"I know" was my reply, as I pulled my camera out.

The road wound for miles along the banks of Kluane Lake, each turn revealing a new view.

When I arrived in Haines Jct. I pulled into the same gas station where I had last seen Chuck and Bobbi, refueling and calibrating. By adding my miles travelled to the expected range I could cover before running out of fuel I estimate the maximum distance I might have travelled on that tank of fuel. With only 65 miles on this tank my mileage had already dropped to where I was only projected to get 160 miles on that tank. It had already dropped far enough that I would not have made it to White Horse!

The first 65 miles of highway was nearly flawless; the next 100 was not. By the time I made it to White Horse I was exhausted and seriously considering getting a room for the night, despite it being only 12:30.

When I travel I often wonder how things and places get their names. White Horse is no longer a mystery to me. Any horse, car, Frog or even a HOG that travelled that road would end up white.

The lower foot or two was caked solid with a white deposit, as were the legs of my rain pants. The windscreen and my visor were still transparent however!

As I warmed up and (eventually) was able to stretch a bit I came to the conclusion that I needed to continue further before stopping for the night. The challenge there is - how far do you go? The map shows little villages along the route. As I found last year in Minnesota and North Dakota, some of these little towns are there, others are not. Some have motels (and gas stations), others do not. Some motels have rooms available, others do not. This is a Holiday weekend in Canada (July 1st is Canada Day) so the odds of finding no room in the inn increase. Add to that Canada celebrating the 150 year anniversary of their National Park System and you get a lot of people on the road. 

I had called ahead last night and reserved a room at a motel with which I was familiar, then regretted it when it turned into a very long day. Today I decided to roll the dice, wanting to cover somewhere between 250 and 300 miles. When I hit 250 I started to look and, in the town of Teslin, I found several motels. With crossed fingers I waited for them to scan the roster to see if I made the batting order - I did! A nice room with a grocery store downstairs, a restaurant and gas station across the highway and an old rag that I used to wipe down my poor bike.

My route in the morning will be to the gas station, then across the longest bridge on the 1422 mile Alaska Highway.

Sometime tomorrow afternoon I should be turning south and leaving the AlCan behind, as I take Hoghway 37 prior to Watson Lake (thank you Bobbi for reminding me I had chosen the same route you picked), through more mountainous terrain into B.C., then eventually back into the Yukon.

And just in case anyone (Lisa?) is playing the license plate game, here is a rare one for you: