Critter Count:
 Deer: 2
 Black Bear: 6
 Bison: 16+
 Moose: 2
 Sheep:: 1

Bike packed and ready for its 4:00 am departure.

Headed west toward Dawson Creek. After a little over an hour it started to get light.

Crossed into British Columbia, Picked up Hwy 97 in Dawson Creek and was on my way toward Watson Lake.

Temperature was in the upper 40s with cloud cover. Just to my right I could see the sun.

Finally caught up with the edge of the cloud and was almost in the sun.

Came out from under the clouds. Sun was out for the rest of the day, and the temperature reached the high 70s by late afternoon.

The road began to change somewhat.

The town of Pink Mountain. Yes, this is actually on the map and is typical of many of the small towns.

Continuing on Hwy 97

Stopped for gas in Fort Nelson and continued west. Shortly thereafter, the road began to change.

Mucho Lake

Came over the crest of a hill and saw a black bear in the middle of my lane. Bear seemed to be on the small size. Was not sure if he was on his own of if he was with mama. Checked around for mama and did not see her. Bear was still in my lane looking straight at me. Checked to the left of the bear. Still did not see mama so I moved to the left lane. Bear moved into the left lane still watching me. Not sure what he as doing because they usually run. Too close to the bear by now to stop so I move back into the right lane. As I come up next to him, he finally decides to get off the road.

Picture was taken with the camera over the left handle bar. His back feet were even with my front tire.

Town of Coal River

A few locals just hanging around chewing the grass.

The bull that as lying the closest to me started getting a little twitchy, so I decided that it was time to move on.

Black bear

Another solo bull.

Couple of black bears

Finally made it into Watson Lake. Of course I had to stop off at the Sign Post Forest.

Darlene, the manager at the Big Horn Hotel. She was there 5 years ago when I went through on my Ultimate Coast to Coast ride.

Critter Count:
 Moose: 1
 Elk: 1
 Fox: 1
 Coyote: 1

Lois will be arriving in Anchorage today. I was suppose to be there to meet her. Looks like I will not make it on time.

Another 4:00 am departure

Still an hour away from sunrise, but plenty enough light to ride by.

Going back toward the mountains on Hwy 1.

Coming into the town of Teslin.

The Teslin bridge

And of course it is metal grating.

Gas stop. Got there too early and they were still closed.

The only Elk that I have seen so far.

Back in the USA. Finally made it to Alaska.

Canada to the left, USA to the right.

A few pictures of Alaska.

Critter Count:
 Moose: 15 +/- lost count

Crossed into the Alaska time zone yesterday afternoon so I as able to get up at 2:30 am and was on the road by 3:00 am.

Headed south on Hwy 1 from Tok under cloudy skies. Temperature in the upper 40s.

Mama and baby moose on right side.

Short distance down the road and another mama and baby, on left.

Moose jumping the guard rail.

Moose going up the bank on right side of road.

Coming into Anchorage, the road started feeling a little wobbly right before I reached the hotel. Got to the hotel only 18 hours late, and with a flat tire.

Unloaded the bike, got semi settled in, breakfast, and then the wife and I went for a short 3 mile hike.

Toward the end of the hike, we came across this sign.

Playing tourist now. Today we drove (via cage) along the Turnagain Arm to Whittier and took a glacier tour. Weather was mostly rainy but still a great tour.

The drive from Anchorage to Whittier.

To get to Whittier we drove through the longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America. The 2.5 mile tunnel is one lane, handles traffic in both directions, for vehicles and trains.

Arriving in Whittier, we boarded the boat that would be taking us out into the Prince William Sound.

Sometimes Lois gets camera shy.

The first glacier.

Harriman Glacier

Harbor Seals

Sea Otter

Surprise Glacier

Baker Glacier

The Kittiwake Bird Rookery. Over 5,000 birds call this home. The white dots are Kittiwakes.

Left of center, there are two hikers (small gray dots) that are almost to the top.

There really is a trail in there, somewhere.

Found the main trail again.

The summit.

Anchorage and Turnagain Arm below.

A 130 mile round trip river excursion through Denali State Park and into the nationally registered Wild River Park of “Devil’s Gorge” .
The turn around point for the tour is at the base of a class V rapid.

The jet boat. 19 tons. 3 engines. 1,000 hp. Capable of operating at speeds up to 60 mph. Only needs around 12 inches of water.

The trip up river.

The Rapid.

Today we did the Matanuska Glacier Trek using the services of MICA Guides.

The route to the glacier.

Matanuska Glacier

Ben, our guide.
Ben was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable of the area and the glacier. He let us set the pace and taught us many interesting facts about the glacier.

The walk to the glacier.

Stewart had also joined us on the hike.

The hike on the glacier.