| July 12, 2007 - Dawson City, YT to Glennallen, AK |
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Before leaving Dawson City, YT today I took these photos....
...and met this trucker...
....who gave me the low down on the mammoth front grill:
"Costs $5,000 but saves, on average, $30,000 in damage as a result of moose strikes."
A free Yukon ferry takes people and vehicles across the river. Only problem - if you're not on
foot or a motorcycle (they board first--yipee!!) - is it's small, so you have to wait:
The RV'ers in line had been there 3 hours:
I waited 15 minutes, just for the ferry to come back across, but while doing so I met "Scooter"
the lab (ahem, Dad, remind you of anyone?!):
Then it was my turn to hop on:
Hey, wait a sec, are we suppose to be taking on water?!
I was told they have to dredge this every day so the ferry can land. It was definitely
what I'd call a beach landing and deboarding!
Off the ferry and onto the start of 100+ miles of gravel and dirt that runs above the tree
line and affords 360 degree valley views. The first 66 miles in the Yukon is called
the "Top Of The World Highway", a 66 mile long gravel stretch....
Back in the USA!!
(Thanks, for the pic MC)
This one is not to prove a destination or to disprove all the naysayers and critics; it's
merely a confirmation for all those who, like me, never doubted for one moment that my
journey would include... Alaska:
Ironically, my GPS at that very moment reflected exactly 6,000 miles to get to this point.
Fireweed:
Along the Taylor Highway there is but one sole community... Chicken. Population single
digits in the winter, but soars to "almost 40" in the summer according to the attendant at the fuel pump.
"Emporium" is a big name for a little place, don't ya think?
Safe journey, Max & Otto from Maine!
Just past Chicken en route to Tok, AK the dirt becomes pavement with frequent "Loose Gravel
Patches" as they like to call it up here:
I made it to Tok, rejoined the Alaska Highway before heading to Glennallen via the "Tok
Cutoff". Before making the turn for Glennallen, I met Oscar, who was broken down
roadside. He's riding from Anchorage to Columbia, South America (no, not South
Caolina!). Yes, South America! He said it would take him 15 months. GO,
Oscar, GO!!!! (p.s. I sent your email, Oscar!)
Once on the Tok (rhymes with "joke") Cutoff towards Glennallen it started misting rain
again. It eventually cleared and I stopped to walk around and gaze at a beautiful rainbow....
... and in the process came across these... YIKES! (Ok, you hunters out there, what
critter do these bones belong to??)
Another view on this road:
At one point the clouds lifted, I rounded a sweeper, and look what slammed into view:
AGirl
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WHAT A DAY!!! I have to say there is something kinda cool about crossing into the "Last Frontier
State" via a dirt road!
The "Top Of The World Highway" officially ended at the US Customs/Border crossing, and
the 50 mile dirt (versus the gravel in the Yukon) road called the "Taylor Highway" began...
Photos from my ride on the Taylor Highway dirt road, where I saw rain, sun, mud, dirt, dust, a wonderful views....
In concluding my day I will pause to reflect not so much on the experience today or yesterday
or the day before that... but on the enormous support and encouragement I have received along
the way. Thank you to all who I have met along the way who have enriched my journey.
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