Haines Junction - Burwash Landing
20.05.2009
I got up at 9:30 and washed and dried my laundry. It was full of salt from all the sweating...
My face, hands and legs are burnt, the sun is already very strong here...
After packing up, we went back to the bakery for a roll and two coffees.
The drive out of Haines Junction was very beautiful, with the mountains as a panorama. People had warned me about the long climb, but what came next was really hell.
It took me 4.38 hours of pure driving time and about 7:07 hours with breaks until I was over the pass and could set up camp by a river. It was only 31.61 km, the ascent was about 8 km!
That was really close to the limit. With an average speed of 6.82 km/h, it was really hell.
But the camp site by the river was a very nice compensation...
-If it goes on like this, it's going to be torture ...
I've heard that there are still a few more passes ahead of me and, to make matters worse, a long stretch of roadworks and gravel ...
In the evening an Alaskan came by, I made us a cup of tea, and we chatted for a while, he invited me to Homer, let's see if I'll head in that direction.
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Past snow-capped mountains.
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Simply superb!
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Always beautiful views
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Not far now until I arrive at the pass...
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At last! On the pass...
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From now on, it is more or less downhill...
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Can things get any better?
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The reward for the strenuous mountain stages. A super nice camp by a river!
21.05.2009
The night was quiet except for the usual trucks that kept waking me up, that's just the disadvantage of a bike tour, that you're always close to the road...
I set off at around 11:29am. As always, it was uphill, and again very long climbs.
The landscape was still the same, with occasional views of the mountains.
I cycled 56.33 km today in 5:48 pure riding time and 2:53 break time, so 8:01 hours in total.
After a few hours, I finally headed downhill for quite a while towards Kluane Lake. I took a break at a viewpoint. An older couple gave me a can of V8, root beer and water, all of course ice-cold from their fridge in the mega camper van, really nice people, thank you very much.
Thank you for the cold drinks Tom & Priscilla Clark !!!
There was a construction site at the lake, which was right in the flats and incredibly dusty. The gravel was a corrugated iron track, unfortunately it was too dusty for my camera. Now, finally, along the beautiful Kluane Lake, the gradients are bearable.
I hope it stays that way in the meantime...
There's supposed to be a nasty stretch of gravel before the border to Alaska, oh dear...
I set up camp right by the lake at around 8pm. Once the tent was pitched, I went to wash myself in the lake, it was cold, but also refreshing. Then I cooked something for myself. A super nice place.
However, it was close to the road again, which meant noisy trucks all night....
The inside of my thigh is sore from all the driving, so I put some Ballistol on it, but it still stings terribly!
Oh yes, today I moved the Sigma ROX9.0 bike computer. The heart rate recording and calorie consumption are now working perfectly!
I'll have lots of data to analyze during the trip!
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Despite the cap and sunscreen and Ballistol, my face is completely burnt...
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Endless climbs and at up to 25 degrees centigrade...
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At least there are views of the mountains from time to time.
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Otherwise, it looks like this for hours...
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The road is more of a gravel surface...
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Finally arrived at the last pass before Kluane Lake
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The lake is still full of ice...
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A short rest at a viewpoint...
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A couple gave me a can of V8, root beer and water, all of course ice-cold from their fridge in the mega motorhome, really nice people, thank you for the cold drinks Tom & Priscilla Clark !
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Construction work on a bridge, lots of dust...
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It's going to be a cold bath over the next few days...
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This is what my world looks like in the rearview mirror...
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And so I enjoy the surroundings on my trike, much nicer than on an MTB.
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I have finally completed the stretch with the construction section, it was dusty and windy...
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A short break to eat something. I'm always hungry ...
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The reward for all the effort, what a cool camp!
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My own bathing spot, albeit a bit cold...
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After washing up, I finally cooked myself something warm to eat. My new Optimus stove is really great, I've never seen a stove boil water so quickly!
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During the night it got cold and extremely windy, I woke up a few times because the wind was shaking my tent so much...
22.05.2009
Got a late start. The ride along the lake was nice, but there were a few climbs again, so I drove to Destruction Bay and updated my website in the coffee shop/gas station via W-LAN and treated myself to a big salad! Then I continued to Burwash Landing, where I arrived at around 22:00. The campground there wasn't exactly inviting, so I drove outside the town and camped next to the road. At 23:30 the camp was ready and so was I!
I cycled 45.46 km today. Riding time 4.01 hours.
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I've been really lucky with the weather
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The dimensions here are truly gigantic
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Dustruction Bay, not much more than a petrol station with a restaurant and a few houses. But an oasis for the traveler. Here I was finally able to update my website again and eat something proper ...
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Continue in the direction of Alaska
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I arrived at Burwash Landing in the evening.
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Since the campground there at a lodge didn't look particularly inviting, I drove a bit out of town and camped there next to the road, not nice either, but at least it didn't cost $20....
Continue with: Burwash Landing - Beaver Creek
Only those who risk going too far, will discover how far they can go!
Expedition in the USA, Alaska & Canada, Scandinavia with folding boat, motorboat, catamaran, motorcycle, off-road vehicle, bicycle ...
