I headed down to Carcross and Skagway. What a beautiful ride. Just when I thought that I have seen so many different types of Canadian and Alaskan landscapes… they through you something incredible, wild, and stunningly beautiful. There are a lot of fires right now. The Alaska Highway is shut down in a couple of places. Seeing the smoke rising from the trees across the lake provided an interesting view. I am staying a couple of days at Chilcoot Trail … Read More

I enjoyed lunch at Braeburn Inn – easy to miss and drive by, but definitely worth stopping. Huge, I mean really huge cinnamon buns. I resisted, but several other groups came in and shared one. I had an equally large sandwich and saved half for later. I met a couple of guys on their way up Canol Rd (at Ross River). 150 miles of dirt up to Northwest Territory. Arriving in Whitehorse, I checked for motorcycle shops. Listers Motorcycle Shop … Read More

The rain came in…. I awoke to a muddy camp, my shoes slipping in the mud as I made my way to the outhouse. I still have my book to finish, so I tried to wait out the storm. The campground at Engineer Creek has a shelter with a wood burning stove and picnic tables. Incrementally, my camp shifted to the shelter as I first brought things to read, then things to make lunch, and eventually my tent to drape … Read More

I stopped at the Dempster Information Center. The weather is good now, but low temperatures and possible rain forecasted. I’ve been hearing a few sounds from the bike that are starting to concern me… a bit like a rattle, but happens when there is torque on the chain. I rode 193km to the Engineer Campground. I hadn’t even got both feet off the bike before my camping neighbor had offered me a cold beer. I had a very enjoyable evening … Read More

With a full tank of gas (regular – not premium), I continued on. This gas station boasts the “only flush toilet in Chicken” – aah what a luxury. The second half of Top of the World was equally fantastic. The pavement ends at Chicken (although there are some stretches between Chicken and Dawson City that are beautiful paved roads – and some just paved). A little wait at the ferry as it was paused as the paddlewheeler passed. Then I … Read More

Decision needed…  The bad weather is projected to hang over Dawson, Chicken, Tok, the Dempster through next weekend.  A severe weather advisory for high winds in the highlands north of Chicken makes this path pretty risky.  I sat on the Yukon River bank overlooking the ferry landing for a reality check.  Not many trucks or cars are venturing out. While I expect I could find periods where it isn’t raining and make my way across Top of the World- it … Read More

Today is a day just to sightsee.  Dawson was a thriving town of 30,000 people in the frenzy of the gold rush.  Here are a few highlights of my wandering around. This 1957 film shown in the Dawson History Museum is posted on YouTube.  Many of the photos in the film came from glass prints.   Walked by the Robert Service cabin and read a few of his poems including The Cremation of Sam McGee. Just a block away is Jack … Read More

I made it to Dawson for my 55th birthday.  After a couple of weeks on the road, and a number of days of camping, my first order was to get a beard trim and do laundry. I have one of the nicest cabins for the next two nights – a restored 1896 cabin by the riverfront.  

It was a beautiful ride today taking me past mountains, lakes, and rivers.  The last few days of riding have been full of sunshine and good riding weather.  As the day progressed. The sunshine gave way to showers. The Alaska Highway is amazingly well maintained. I had expected potholes and a little dirt and gravel.  The Klondike Highway began to make the riding a bit more challenging – still better than my expectations. I camped in a rainstorm.