Into Alaska

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Today's Ride: Dawson City, Yukon to Tok, Alaska
Distance Traveled: 298 Kilometers

I've been having so much fun meeting people and seeing places that I've almost forgotten that I was supposed to eventually get to Alaska. Good thing this was about the journey instead of the destination. haaaaa I have met so many really neat and interesting people that I couldn't remember half their names were it not for making cheat notes. Must be that old age thing setting in. Finally made it to Alaska about 5 days ago despite being late on the post. Waiting to board the ferry to cross the Yukon River in Dawson City, Yukon. No charge for the ferry since the Canadians consider it part of their road system. The river's current is very strong at this point and its really amazing to watch the skill of the captain as he manuevers the boat against the water. As we load, he has to use significant engine power to hold the barge in place against the current. The wet metal decking was a bit tricky as the boat bobbed and weaved in the rough waters.



Picture # 2: Alaska at last! A land shaped by the power of running water and rivers. Endless river valleys cradle caribou, moose and elk while echoing the cries of peregrine falcons and the majestic bald eagle. A home of seasonal abundance to the people who inhabited this land first, the native Athabaskans. A source of hidden gold that beckoned strong-spirited souls to extract her riches from the ground. A land that still calls the adventurous to discover her history, wildlife and free-flowing waters. Alaska is not a land that I will ever be able to describe to you in this, or any other blog for that matter. It is a land and beauty that has to be witnessed with one's own eyes to truly appreciate. Make it a priority, make it your own. I have and I will never be the same.
Picture # 3: Sometimes, a dirt road can seen to go on forever and a day. The miles seem longer than a mile and I find myself totally lost in the moment. Modern day problems seem to slip into oblivion with little thought as to time of day, day of week or whether the grass needs clipping. You can, and I have...........become totally lost in this land with little thought as to what is left behind. I love this land and this trip.

Pictures 4 & 5: Just a few pictures taken as I made it into Alaska. There were taken along the Top-of-the-World Highway crossing into Chicken, Alaska. Not sure what year the old Ford was but it appears to have seen it's better days. The horns are moose and caribou. The licence plates on the building date all the way back into the 1940's.