Media

I've been in Whitehorse now a couple days, enjoying the usual time off, and all the fine amenities civilization has to offer.  So glad I pushed it get to Whitehorse, because it rained the entire following day (it's raining again outside right now as I type this).  Bummed I had to cut the ride to Haines-ferry Skagway-ride to Whitehorse, stretch off, but it seemed necessary with fall approaching and the increase in rain, and decrease in temperature.  I know I'll go to Haines at some point because I want to do the ferry along the inside passage to Prince Rupert, that allows you to bike on three islands, and provides a great opportunity to see orcas... someday.

So, I called some couchsurfers from Haines Junction to find a place to stay in Whitehorse.  Chantal was the only one to answer and able to host me.  I stayed with her and her boyfriend Jesse the night I got into town, and  the following day helped Jesse with one of his construction jobs: doing some sheet rock and insulation (had to sheet rock part of a ceiling - not very fun!).  I was stoked to do some work and get some extra cash, and worked all day with him (thank you both!).  They are both great people that I had a good time with, albeit brief, too bad our schedules didn't work out better, but glad I got to meet them.

Jesse and Chantal were going out of town, so couldn't host me anymore, so I looked on warmshowers.org, and called Darren (Phillipe's place).  Darren kindly let me stay, and I've been staying here with Darren, and Sarah (Phillipe is in Dawson I believe, unfortunate because I would have liked to meet him).  The house has a very warm feel to it, and reminds me a lot of a hostel with the 2-3 other people that have stopped by to say hi to somebody, or that were previously staying here.  There are beautiful art pieces around the house made out of used bike parts.  Phillipe used to have a bike shop, so the back yard has racks of used bicycles and bicycle parts.

Yesterday I worked, so today I enjoyed a nice rest day in town after finishing laundry, a shower, and blogging.  I biked around town, had a tour at the local Yukon Brewery, of course, and sampled some great beers.   I was thoroughly impressed that they had a wide selection of DIFFERENT kinds of beer, i.e. not just a bunch of hopped-out beers claiming to be different styles.  Popped into the bike shop to have my rear wheel double checked...everything is still working great.

Canada sure ain't cheap.  On the way back to the house, stopped to get my chocolate fix - 2 domestic chocolate bars, and a chocolate chip cookie was a painful $6.50 (also a good reason to bike faster through Canada eh?).

Leaving tomorrow and have to load up on groceries again.  This time I'm going to be more thorough, and try to calculate better how much I will need (instead of carrying food from Anchorage across Canada!).

Enjoy all the pictures, and the videos I couldn't load from my last post.

In quite a few pictures, I tried to illustrate my appreciation for anyone that has provided me with something for this trip.  If there is something you supplied me with, I probably just forgot about it, but most certainly use it, thanks!

Goodbye Anchorage

Avalanche danger

Just ridiculous

Enjoying some fine David's Tea, thanks Janelle!

A decent meal, I never have salads, spinach goes bad so quick

A neighbor

Such a great spot

Keeping my coffee fresh, thanks Reza! (If only bears could read...)

Haven't seen days like this in a while

Very heavy, and flies were already swarming

Finally in there. She'll feed about three families at least

Paul and Rick gave me a good snack

Many years of evolution

Matanuska Glacier

Yeah...time to camp

Only stretch I haven't ridden

Iron-stained Gypsum

More construction, the worst is yet to come

Too funny

Downtown Glenallen

Tanekomo

Progress

You know you're getting out there when you see mainly bush planes at the airport

Rob, Karla and family.  Couple beers night before, and breakfast in the morning - Thanks again!

Great...

Such a pleasant sight

First of two good bungees I've found.  I used this in trade later for some glue for my helmet mirror and sandal

Lot of the same in some areas

Real bush strip

Don't stop too long, they'll get you

Yessss

Tok River

That's a lot of wheels

Meet Roy

11:30 at night

Tok

The start of the 'day of rainbows'

Window

Rainbow Lake

DOUBLE RAINBOWWW!

View from a campsite

Fire above

Fresh, wild, hand-picked, organic, etc

Thanks "sourdough joe", 3 packs for a buck - great bear deterrent

Mix in some wind and rain, you've got yourself a day

Breakfast in U.S....

...After sleeping in Canada

I said, "damn it" softly when I saw this

More swamps

So excite!

Close-up of road above

Not such cute outhouses on the inside

Great evening

My trusty, comfy tent... also hand-me-down, thanks Dad!

Hand-made, wool tooke, thanks Evelyn!

My mobile home

Taking care of my neck, thanks Craig & Ginette!

Keeping the bears away, thanks Sam!

Perfect size cook pot for me and my stove, thanks Don!

Cutting board, thanks Janet & Barry(?)!

When I need to filter some murky water, thanks Don!

Old Thermarest acquired after years of backpacking, thanks Dad!

One flat so far, but going strong, thanks Kevin for your help!

If you can download this picture, you can actually see the bear on the right side of the road, just as the road curves (look for the brown spot just below the green bush).  You can see the bear walking up to the road.

Here the bear is sitting down.

Lake Kluane

Some serious bear-nasty

Hanging with Brad & Bev after dinner, delicsh... thanks!

Very cold windy morning

Tough decision

Aspens? Birch? Or...?

Mike and Nancy?  I saw them about 20 miles previous driving with a flat on their trailer.  I caught up to them just before town as they had to put a new wheel and tire on it... this is whats left. (thanks for the beer!)

Jesse



Working construction



Chantal

A picture another traveler took that finally emailed me