Today was another day chock full of YAFRs, YAFLs, and YAFMs. The landscape just continues and continues, each view more fabulous than the last, as the road just goes on and on.
Having been across the US a number of times, I thought that I understood grand-scale landscapes. West Texas. Wyoming. South Dakota. But these landscapes are nothing compared to British Columbia and the Yukon. I expect more of the same in Alaska. The vastness of these landscapes continues to keep us in awe.
Ok, so let's talk about the road. Once past Whistler, BC, the road has been primarily a fairly fast two-lane road, mostly with 100 km/h posted speed limits. This makes distance calculations easy; 100 km at 100 km/h means it will take about an hour to go the next 100 km. Easy!
Few people keep to the 100 km/h though, with most pushing 110 to 120 km/h (if you want to know what that is in MPH, consult the Internet). To protect the guilty, I won't say how fast I have the cruise control set (did I mention that the Spyder has cruise control? This is a truly splendid feature, as it is the first motorcycle that I have ridden that has a real cruise control and not just a throttle stop). Interestingly, we have yet to see a law enforcement officer monitoring highway speeds, which is probably why everyone is driving faster than 100 km/h, including the construction guys, one of which had his work truck airborne while passing us after his work shift.
Coming up on a slow camper is no need for concern (as it is in Colorado), for in just a short while there will be a passing lane into which the slow camper will move to let traffic pass. Or there will be a passing zone that will allow for an easy view to see for passing safely. Or even better, the camper will slow down and let faster vehicles pass. How refreshing for a Coloradan used to camper drivers who ignore the road hog law.
The Alaska highway is well marked with good signage, including orange cones with flags on the shoulder indicating road dangers, such as a frost heaves. If one ignores these cones, one does so at one's own peril, as some of these dangers are real doozys!
The roads are only bounded by the forest. There arent't really any fences, or ugly signs. And trash along the highway is nearly nonexistent.
One thing I learned today - What I would do for a Klondike bar:
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| I would go to the Yukon for a Klondike bar (and did)! |
Tonight's accommodation is the Beaver Creek Motel/Campsite. At $15CAD, it is an excellent deal and rather homey.
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| Now this looks like home! |
They even have roof joists should one be in need of one.
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| Need a roof truss? |
Sightings today:
1 Bobcat
1 Grizzly bear
So at this point I know what you are thinking: "You did not see a bobcat, no one ever sees a bobcat".
Well here is the proof!
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| Told you we saw a bobcat! |
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