Canada & USA 2015
- Thread starter austin
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Chewbadger
Active Member
Re: Canada & USA 2015
Hope everything goes well Stubbsie, must catch up with you soon mate.
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Hope everything goes well Stubbsie, must catch up with you soon mate.
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Philwhiskeydrinker
Well-Known Member
This has got to be the weirdest thread hijack to date!
austin
Well-Known Member
Aw shucks guys, you are embarrassing me.
Anyway we had our ride down the Telegraph Creek and just beat the rain home. Just as well as its 70miles of hard packed mud and gravel in the dry with a few very steep hills (20%) with tight turns and loadsa loose gravel. It was bad enough on the bits where a dust watering truck had driven along let alone in the heavy rain forecast and that is now falling from the sky and cleaning the bike. Pictures won't upload, so I will post a link or two, but Telegraph Creek is supposed to be the most remote community in Canada (it might actually just be British Colombia province) and is a "First Nation" community. I think that means they have some autonomy from the government over certain laws, certainly over land use, hunting, fishing, etc and some taxes (different priced fuel for First Nation and everyone else) and as far as I can tell covers a huge tract of land - like the size of half of Wales or something. There are lots of these communities in Canada. They do seem keen to preserve a way of life that is not very western, although cars, well, huge pick up trucks abound, as did satellite dishes, a tiny medical centre the RCMP and some other trapping of modern life, but in the community there was not really a lot that would attract outsiders: gas station, small food store, a closed cafe (Anne asked when did they open as it was about 11.30am when we got there, proprietor said July!!
) and not a lot else apart from rather ramshackle homes. As far as I could tell the cafe offered a couple of basic rooms and there was one B&B about 30km further down the track. I think the place comes to life a bit more later in the year when the salmon run as the place was mostly geared around fishing - the traditional way apparently with nets and gaffs. We did see some huge salmon in the river - 40lb+ would be my estimate but when the main run starts the river is chock full of them. However the day was mostly about the road down there and getting used to riding on gravel roads, which we did as I mostly did 20-35mph on the way out and 40-50 on the way back.
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWPWX2tdvbY
http://www.graveltravel.ca/index.php?op ... d=1:routes
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=teleg ... d=0CD4QsAQ
Anyway we had our ride down the Telegraph Creek and just beat the rain home. Just as well as its 70miles of hard packed mud and gravel in the dry with a few very steep hills (20%) with tight turns and loadsa loose gravel. It was bad enough on the bits where a dust watering truck had driven along let alone in the heavy rain forecast and that is now falling from the sky and cleaning the bike. Pictures won't upload, so I will post a link or two, but Telegraph Creek is supposed to be the most remote community in Canada (it might actually just be British Colombia province) and is a "First Nation" community. I think that means they have some autonomy from the government over certain laws, certainly over land use, hunting, fishing, etc and some taxes (different priced fuel for First Nation and everyone else) and as far as I can tell covers a huge tract of land - like the size of half of Wales or something. There are lots of these communities in Canada. They do seem keen to preserve a way of life that is not very western, although cars, well, huge pick up trucks abound, as did satellite dishes, a tiny medical centre the RCMP and some other trapping of modern life, but in the community there was not really a lot that would attract outsiders: gas station, small food store, a closed cafe (Anne asked when did they open as it was about 11.30am when we got there, proprietor said July!!
) and not a lot else apart from rather ramshackle homes. As far as I could tell the cafe offered a couple of basic rooms and there was one B&B about 30km further down the track. I think the place comes to life a bit more later in the year when the salmon run as the place was mostly geared around fishing - the traditional way apparently with nets and gaffs. We did see some huge salmon in the river - 40lb+ would be my estimate but when the main run starts the river is chock full of them. However the day was mostly about the road down there and getting used to riding on gravel roads, which we did as I mostly did 20-35mph on the way out and 40-50 on the way back. Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWPWX2tdvbY
http://www.graveltravel.ca/index.php?op ... d=1:routes
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=teleg ... d=0CD4QsAQ
austin
Well-Known Member
Re: Canada & USA 2015
Yes I have a Heidenaus fitted. Both standing up well to the endless straight roads too. 4,000 miles so far and barely look worn. No big beasts to report apart from some very wild untamed Harley riders, but as we go north everyone says we will see a lot more bears moose and caribou. There's loads of big birds of prey and squirrels, marmots, groundhogs etc all over the place.
I also missed your post about Viv in my haste to get photos on here. I hope all goes well for you both.
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Stubbsie said:
Yes I have a Heidenaus fitted. Both standing up well to the endless straight roads too. 4,000 miles so far and barely look worn. No big beasts to report apart from some very wild untamed Harley riders, but as we go north everyone says we will see a lot more bears moose and caribou. There's loads of big birds of prey and squirrels, marmots, groundhogs etc all over the place.
I also missed your post about Viv in my haste to get photos on here. I hope all goes well for you both.
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
austin
Well-Known Member
Canada & USA 2015
Anne is holding up well and even enjoyed the gravel road and is looking forward to the next one. Mileage is actually just shy of 5k now. I need to find somewhere for a service soon.
Now in the Yukon camping at Teslin.
River Yukon in the background
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Yes, surface like a forest road but it goes on and on and on. We did 70 miles to telegraph creek. The "road" then went another 30 to a tiny community of just 3 houses and then onto what looked like on a map the middle of nowhere. And there's hundreds like it all over the place. In fact I believe you ride across Canada 90% on gravel/dirt.OhJ said:
Anne is holding up well and even enjoyed the gravel road and is looking forward to the next one. Mileage is actually just shy of 5k now. I need to find somewhere for a service soon.
Now in the Yukon camping at Teslin.
River Yukon in the background
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itspossible
New Member
Austin, you can check out this place in Fairbanks Alaska for service, Dan and his son Shawn, heard only great things about them. There's also a BMW dealer in Fairbanks although their hourly rate is considerably higher.
advcycleworks.com
advcycleworks.com
austin
Well-Known Member
Re: Canada & USA 2015
Most of the riding is very easy. Wide open roads, very little traffic and loads to look at. They are like a good Scottish Highland road but with everything bigger, much much bigger and only about 10% of the traffic. Today we went from Whitehorse to Dawson City. It's 330miles and we passed through one small town after about 80miles and a couple of places consisting of a petrol station with a small shop and a campsite/RV park. There was two junctions along it whole route: one returning South the long way round, the other a 500mile mud and gravel dead end to Inuvik on the arctic coast. In between its forest, Heath & Moor as far as you can see in all directions.
Bike..... We had the first minor problem today. The road we travelled is mostly Tarmac, partially gravel and several long stretches of roadworks where they take the top off to re-lay it leaving a muddy gravelly surface to ride on. In the showers we had today it was horrid. Anyway we hit two consecutive big deep potholes in a gravel section at about 45mph. The suspension bottomed and I think the little quarter mudguard caught the toolbox or flexed and hit the tyre. Whatever it was ripped off its mount on the FD and wrapped around the wheel. All ok and I managed to get it out. I don't think I will bother replacing for a long while as the bike had stayed cleaner without it. More thunder showers today.
Dawson City this evening just we arrived...
The Bunkhouse where we are staying dry out.
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Alba said:
Most of the riding is very easy. Wide open roads, very little traffic and loads to look at. They are like a good Scottish Highland road but with everything bigger, much much bigger and only about 10% of the traffic. Today we went from Whitehorse to Dawson City. It's 330miles and we passed through one small town after about 80miles and a couple of places consisting of a petrol station with a small shop and a campsite/RV park. There was two junctions along it whole route: one returning South the long way round, the other a 500mile mud and gravel dead end to Inuvik on the arctic coast. In between its forest, Heath & Moor as far as you can see in all directions.
Bike..... We had the first minor problem today. The road we travelled is mostly Tarmac, partially gravel and several long stretches of roadworks where they take the top off to re-lay it leaving a muddy gravelly surface to ride on. In the showers we had today it was horrid. Anyway we hit two consecutive big deep potholes in a gravel section at about 45mph. The suspension bottomed and I think the little quarter mudguard caught the toolbox or flexed and hit the tyre. Whatever it was ripped off its mount on the FD and wrapped around the wheel. All ok and I managed to get it out. I don't think I will bother replacing for a long while as the bike had stayed cleaner without it. More thunder showers today.
Dawson City this evening just we arrived...
The Bunkhouse where we are staying dry out.
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
austin
Well-Known Member
Canada & USA 2015
Yes, opposite the Eldorado hotel. From what we have seen I think we are going to like it here. Weather is shite though so we may stay for a few days to let the "top of the world highway" dry out before we tackle its chip seal and gravel. Then it's Alaska!!
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Mikey said:
Yes, opposite the Eldorado hotel. From what we have seen I think we are going to like it here. Weather is shite though so we may stay for a few days to let the "top of the world highway" dry out before we tackle its chip seal and gravel. Then it's Alaska!!
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
austin
Well-Known Member
Re: Canada & USA 2015
Copy of a post I just put on ADVrider. Just so you guys don't miss out....
Since the last update we have completed the Stewart Cassier Highway, staying at Dease Lake two nights and taking a diversion down to Telegraph Creek. Nice gravel road down to TC with a couple of somewhat challenging sections and associated spectacular views.
After Dease lake we stopped at Teslin on the Alaska highway after a rather long day as all the services and campgrounds on the Alaskan Highway were either shut or so grim we didn't fancy camping. The bike did 58mpg (UK gallon) on this stretch giving a theoretical range of 420+ miles, although at one time the countdown + trip added up to 470miles (750km) and we did Dease lake to Teslin on one tank. Nice spot to camp at the back of the services in Teslin just after the bridge but only if you look out to the lake and can close your ears to the road.
Next stop was the Robert Senior campground in Whitehorse. 3 nights here as we liked Whitehorse and the campground. The campground has a nice vibe and a good mix of travellers including several lunatics crossing Canada on bicycles. We see them on the road frequently. Completely insane the lot of them, meals on wheels for bears notwithstanding.
We are in Dawson City now, arriving late yesterday after a very wet final 100miles or so. I am sure the same thunderstorm just kept following us. We sheltered for a good hour along with some other bikers under the canopy at the filling station at Dempster Junction. The Klondike highway had a few nasty sections of roadworks. In the dry, fine; in the wet horribly slippy and the girl manning the stop/go sign at one of them was telling us of a couple of accidents involving bikes, gravel, mud and roadworks. Not what my wife wanted to hear, but all was fine except......in one of the early sections of gravel/works in the dry I took a line to avoid loose gravel but which pushed me into two big potholes close together. The suspension bottomed and the little quarter mudguard on the GS either moved and caught the wheel or caught the toolbox I have inside the pannier. Whatever it got snapped off its mounting, shearing a bolt and got wrapped up round the wheel. No lock ups or anything so drama free but if did picture allsorts of terminal problems in my mind before I got off to look. Once disentangled we were back on our way. While we sorted this out every passing vehicle, both ways, stopped to check we were ok. Nice. I am going to chuck away the mangled mudguard as the bike was cleaner without it.
We are staying at "the bunkhouse" in DC to dry out and the weather forecast for Thursday is now looking good so we will be off to Alaska then and a loop round Fairbanks back to Haines for the ferry.
It's been good in Dawson City on Canada day too. Lots going on. Diamond Peggy's beckons tonight.
Only pics are off my phone so limited choice and quality as I use the camera proper more.
Bunkhouse
One for the uniform lover - my wife included.
Riverboat in the distance
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
Copy of a post I just put on ADVrider. Just so you guys don't miss out....
Since the last update we have completed the Stewart Cassier Highway, staying at Dease Lake two nights and taking a diversion down to Telegraph Creek. Nice gravel road down to TC with a couple of somewhat challenging sections and associated spectacular views.
After Dease lake we stopped at Teslin on the Alaska highway after a rather long day as all the services and campgrounds on the Alaskan Highway were either shut or so grim we didn't fancy camping. The bike did 58mpg (UK gallon) on this stretch giving a theoretical range of 420+ miles, although at one time the countdown + trip added up to 470miles (750km) and we did Dease lake to Teslin on one tank. Nice spot to camp at the back of the services in Teslin just after the bridge but only if you look out to the lake and can close your ears to the road.
Next stop was the Robert Senior campground in Whitehorse. 3 nights here as we liked Whitehorse and the campground. The campground has a nice vibe and a good mix of travellers including several lunatics crossing Canada on bicycles. We see them on the road frequently. Completely insane the lot of them, meals on wheels for bears notwithstanding.
We are in Dawson City now, arriving late yesterday after a very wet final 100miles or so. I am sure the same thunderstorm just kept following us. We sheltered for a good hour along with some other bikers under the canopy at the filling station at Dempster Junction. The Klondike highway had a few nasty sections of roadworks. In the dry, fine; in the wet horribly slippy and the girl manning the stop/go sign at one of them was telling us of a couple of accidents involving bikes, gravel, mud and roadworks. Not what my wife wanted to hear, but all was fine except......in one of the early sections of gravel/works in the dry I took a line to avoid loose gravel but which pushed me into two big potholes close together. The suspension bottomed and the little quarter mudguard on the GS either moved and caught the wheel or caught the toolbox I have inside the pannier. Whatever it got snapped off its mounting, shearing a bolt and got wrapped up round the wheel. No lock ups or anything so drama free but if did picture allsorts of terminal problems in my mind before I got off to look. Once disentangled we were back on our way. While we sorted this out every passing vehicle, both ways, stopped to check we were ok. Nice
. I am going to chuck away the mangled mudguard as the bike was cleaner without it. We are staying at "the bunkhouse" in DC to dry out and the weather forecast for Thursday is now looking good so we will be off to Alaska then and a loop round Fairbanks back to Haines for the ferry.
It's been good in Dawson City on Canada day too. Lots going on. Diamond Peggy's beckons tonight.
Only pics are off my phone so limited choice and quality as I use the camera proper more.
Bunkhouse
One for the uniform lover - my wife included.
Riverboat in the distance
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
austin
Well-Known Member
Canada & USA 2015
That was a good evening: Bombay Peggy's for a few Yukon Gold's before going Diamond Gerties for food, more Gold and a Dawson City Canada day Dawson special vaudeville show:
I forgot to take more pics in Bombay Peggy's but it's a former whorehouse, now a pub and lodging. I think the rooms could fulfil a fantasy or two.
Diamond Gerties....
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
That was a good evening: Bombay Peggy's for a few Yukon Gold's before going Diamond Gerties for food, more Gold and a Dawson City Canada day Dawson special vaudeville show:
Diamond Gerties....
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
