BEAUTIFUL BRITISH COLUMBIA
Wed, Jul 30 2008 05:18
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BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRS
The province vehicle licence plate motto has got it just about right. The geography is quite pleasing to the eye up here. I passed over the border from Washington State into Canada at the quiet Aldergrove truck crossing. Vancouver was quickly behind me as I headed north on route 99. The coastal scenery was quite spectacular with steep wooded valleys and rocky gorges running down to the ocean. The road continued to climb towards the mining town of Lillooet where I made my first Canadian night stop. For the next couple of days, the terrain flattened out considerably, with many lakes and fir tree forests as far as the eye can see. The next towns were Prince George and Dawson Creek. Dawson Creek is the start or mile zero, of the famous Alaskan highway and the history of its construction is much recorded in this interesting town. The highway initially heads north for Fort Nelson, before turning to the west for Watson Lake and crossing the Continental Divide towards Whitehorse. So far the condition of the Alaska Highway has been very good, with only few construction and gravel areas. Long sections and snaking curves provide excellent riding. En route bikers I have met, advise that the section between Destruction Bay and Tok has suffered considerably from last winter’s perma frost. Here progress will not be as expeditious where surface damage, gravel and construction will require caution. This will make for an interesting run into Anchorage when I rejoin the Alaska Highway later on.
START OF ALASKA HIGHWAY-DAWSON CREEK
Towns are few and far between on the Alaska Highway and bikes with a small range have to pay close attention to fuel management! Not a problem with the 8 gallon fuel capacity of the GS, yielding 350 miles if you are gentle. There are however some service areas providing eating, drinking and most important fuel facilities. Another facility encountered at these service stations, are very basic airstrips. If you took away the orange runway markers from some of them, the land would not be recognisable as an aircraft landing area! Some are extremely close to the highway, where the approach must be quite precarious considering the surrounding steep terrain. One day, a Cessna was right on my shoulder and looked to be making an approach to the road ahead of me, before veering off to a rough strip a short distance ahead.
TYPICAL ALASKA HIGHWAY SERVICE AREA
ALASKA HIGHWAY AIRSTRIP
I have heard many folk talk about the abundant wildlife in the region. I was not really aware what I would encounter and the caution required as a road user. Stone Mountain Sheep, Elk, Moose, Caribou, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear and Buffalo are all very common. I saw all of these, both on and very close to the roadside. The Buffalo move in large herds and graze very close to the road. They are not at all deterred by photographers, but when an inquisitive Bull approached me for a closer look, I moved on! I encountered a close up of a Black Bear giving a deer carcass close attention and the Bear was not camera shy! Later that day, catching me quite by surprise, a Grizzly with characteristic shaggy brown coat, was taking in the sun a couple of metres from the road. Needless to say, I did not stop to say hello!
BLACK BEAR ON THE PROWL
ROADSIDE BUFFALO
MOOSE IN THE DRINKIt is possible to sample some of the territories fish and game in restaurants. Canadian Salmon with distinctive deep orange, almost red flesh colour is delicious. For the slightly more adventurous palate, Buffalo and Elk steaks are a must.
So 1663 miles after crossing the USA border into Canada has got me north of British Columbia and into Yukon. Whitehorse, the provinces capital and by far the largest and busiest city, is an interesting and convenient stop. From here, it’s a scenic drive down the South Klondike Highway, crossing into Alaska and onwards to Skagway to catch the ferry to landlocked Juneau, the State Capital.
