Monday, July 9, 2007
The Cassiar: rain, gravel, mud, construction and more
We left Whitehorse, YT yesterday after changing our tires back to the street tires. Here is a picture of John the technician that did the work. He is a great guy and really helped us out:
Notice Doug kept his knobby tires. I don't know if he is emotionally attached to them or if he really might use them. In any case he looks like a gnarly adventure rider by carrying them on his bike.
I am starting to sound like a broken record with all my complaining about the roads. Today was especially bad because of the road construction. Yesterday and today we traveled the Cassiar Highway. It is quite beautiful but our views were hampered by the constant downpour. Even my waterproof bags leaked!
The road construction reminded me of the feeling I had on the Dempster when we went up to the Arctic Circle. Here is the interchange that took place between me and the pilot car driver just before she led us through the construction. She said, "Follow me and I will lead you through the best spots. Watch the rocks because they are razor sharp. Don't get over confident because what looks firm is actually very soft and slippery. If you go down don't worry because we will have a truck there soon to bury your bike; we will name the bump after the color of your bike."
By the time she finished I was trembling in fear. Sure enough it was like she said. Once I got in trouble and shouted over the intercom, "Doug I'm in trouble." Doug's response was not too helpful when he said, "just keep it out of the deep gravel." The reason I was in trouble is I was already in the deep gravel. So, I stood up on my pegs, shifted all my weight to the outside peg, closed my eyes and twisted the throttle. To my surprise I escaped the gravel and stayed up. Of course I escaped to the slimy mud which was not much better.
Last night we stayed in a wide spot in the road called Dease Lake. Not much to report there.
This morning we set Hyder, AK as our goal. On the way into Hyder I snapped this photo of a beautiful glacier:
It really is spectacular and we are hoping tomorrow when we depart the weather will be clear so we can get better photos.When we arrived in Hyder it was nothing more than a muddy town. For some reason it attracts bike riders from all over the world. Both Doug and I are wearing t-shirts that say: I've been Hyderized. Not sure what that means but we have the shirt!
Here is a picture of the hotel. It looks a lot worse in person! On the other hand it is part of the adventure.
Tomorrow we depart for Prince George. We on our way home. Our goal is to be in Medford, OR on Friday. Then from Medford to A&S the next day. I think the worst roads are behind us. I know it will start warming up as we go south. We have been freezing the last week or so. My heated clothing keeps me warm but it is a bit bulky.
By the way this hotel has no TV or telephones in the rooms but it has WiFi. Go figure?!
Dell
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Just read you blog, What a trip.
I thought that I would let you in on what it means to be Hyderized. My wife and I spent the summer of 1972 in a construction camp at Meziadin lake. I and my crew surveyed the first 20 miles of the road south of the bridge across the Nass River by Meziadin lake. Anyway, At the time there were three bars in Hyder, The First Chance Saloon, one in the middle which I can't remember the name and then the "Last Chance" Saloon. At one of these places, I think the First Chance, to be Hyderized was to order a shot of grain alcohol ( it probably had a name but I forget.) It was as close to pure alcohol as possible to make, 190 proof or better. The goal was to drink it down without getting sick. If you were successful it was free and you could get another. If you got sick then it cost you $1. , which in 1972 was quite a bit for a drink. If you were successful then you had been Hyderized, if not you had just got sick.
Did they still have all the money tacked to the wall?
Again, What a trip. Way more than I would ever dream of attempting.
Congratulations
I thought that I would let you in on what it means to be Hyderized. My wife and I spent the summer of 1972 in a construction camp at Meziadin lake. I and my crew surveyed the first 20 miles of the road south of the bridge across the Nass River by Meziadin lake. Anyway, At the time there were three bars in Hyder, The First Chance Saloon, one in the middle which I can't remember the name and then the "Last Chance" Saloon. At one of these places, I think the First Chance, to be Hyderized was to order a shot of grain alcohol ( it probably had a name but I forget.) It was as close to pure alcohol as possible to make, 190 proof or better. The goal was to drink it down without getting sick. If you were successful it was free and you could get another. If you got sick then it cost you $1. , which in 1972 was quite a bit for a drink. If you were successful then you had been Hyderized, if not you had just got sick.
Did they still have all the money tacked to the wall?
Again, What a trip. Way more than I would ever dream of attempting.
Congratulations
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