Daily Miles Ridden: 299
Cumulative Miles Ridden: 4,287
This Day's Route: Departed Haines Junction, YK [1]; Alaska Highway N
to Tok, AK [2].
Weather: Cold and rainy until the Alaska border. Then it cleared and warmed up to the mid 60 degrees F.
When I awoke in the morning it was cold, dark, and pouring down rain. After breaking camp in the heavy rain, I rode to a cafe about a mile away for breakfast. The place got real quiet when I walked in the door and it felt like everyone was staring at me - I must have been quite a sight standing in the doorway wearing my rainsuit and helmet. Once I removed my gear, sat down, and ordered a meal the conversation and noise resumed.
It was still raining when I finished eating and resumed the journey northward. The temperature was 38 degrees F.
The road worsened considerably in Canada north of Destruction Bay, with many frost heaves, potholes, and breaks in the pavement. I had to maintain a maximum speed of 35 mph and became concerned about the beating my suspension and tires were taking. This was not the place to have a blowout or worse.
