Day 17 - Tok, AK to Whitehorse, YT

So, we're starting today in Beaver Creek because of yesterday's schedule change. It will be a pretty slow day. We're backtracking over the same roads we came into Alaska on for most of the day.

The road ahead is the same road that we had the bad highway construction on. There is some curiosity and tension (for me) about what shape the road will be in today. As it turns out the roads are harder packed now. Not really a riding problem at all so the risk of our bikes falling is not there. The problem this time is dust. We've heard some stories from drivers passing through about how much dust there is. At our first stop we see it and a big truck or RV can kick up LOTS!

Fortunately we get head of the line privilege and have it pretty good. The flagman/flagperson/flaglady (a girl) tells us of a story where a motorcyclist asked to be last in line. They tried to convince him he probably wanted to be in front but he insisted he'd prefer the rear. When he got to the end he was completely covered. She said the only thing not dusty was his smile!

From Haines Junction to Whitehorse is new road again so there is more new to look at.

The land changes a little here. It looks a little more ranchish. Still lots of trees but a little more grassland and we're moving away from big mountains.

We pass through an area called the Takhini Burn. There was a big forest fire here 1958. Lots of dead trees on the ground. But instead of the dead one still standing upright that we've been seeing most of the time these trees are almost all fallen down. They have been replaced with a lush green new forest of birch/aspen style trees. Not many pines at all. This shows the life cycle of forests pretty well. More info at http://www.taiga.net/yourYukon/col349.html.

Whitehorse is the biggest town in the entire Yukon but still has only 25,0000-30,000 people. They have big aspirations though. The city limits sign starts 10 miles before the city center. There are lots of billboards lining the roads. You probably know every business in town by the time you reach it.

There are busy streets and traffic signals here.

You can tell we are approaching civilization again. There is a Starbucks here! We go there immediately after checking in at the hotel. It is hot here so Walt and I have cold drinks. Don savors his favorite black coffee.

Back at the hotel there are a bunch of bikes now. There is a group of BMW bikes parked next to us. They are on a guided tour. Lots of time to talk about bikes and such with the owner of the tour business. Harley riders also show up and Don gets to talk to those riders too.

The Harley rider asked about the road conditions for us coming from Haines Junction. We hit road construction but it was hard packed and not a problem. He said we got lucky coming in later. He went through it earlier in the day when it had just been wetted down. It was very slippery and he said he nearly dropped his bike a couple times. I'm glad we missed that. I hope the worst of the road is behind us but we still have 700-800 miles or so of the Alaska Highway in front of us.