Spring 1997 - Cincinnati to Yukon
Journals - 21 June 1997
Day 82 - Dawson Creek, B.C.
21 June 1997 (mileage = 47.3) -- A - It was raining when we woke up -- big
surprise! We just laid there for a long time. It finally let up and we
probably left around noon. It drizzled a little and we got wet but we could
see blue skies ahead. We finally gave in and put on the capes. It cleared
up again until we got to the B.C. (super, natural) border. We had the capes
on earlier that time. It didn't last too long, though, and then it was
pretty nice. The riding was rolling hills with not too bad winds. Sometimes
they might even have been tail winds. Then we dropped down a really huge
hill and I, of course, was dreading an equal ascent ahead, but it wasn't
too bad and we were at Pouce Coupe where we ate lunch and had the cook
(owner?) telling us we would be bear food unless we got guns. Oh well. Onto
the Dawson Creek circus -- mile 0' of the Alaska Highway! We hit an ATM
for cash and a bakery for a pie, donuts and some rolls and then out of
town. Quick! We saw a campground on the left shortly and thought we would
eat our goodies and try to get water. Then we heard thunder and Chris had
seen lightning earlier. It didn't really look too bad, but still .... We
went to look for a shelter and next to it found some cyclists from
Switzerland! We got them to come in and talk to us. Susan and Hanspeter, I
think. They have been traveling for over a year and have done really neat
stuff! They did some in Europe first and New England area of U.S. with
Western Canada, then south to Mexico and up through the States. It would
seem they are making more of an adventure of it than we are. They stay some
places for extended time. They went to a school for 2 months to learn
Spanish in Mexico. They cook really complicated meals -- very impressive!
They have awesome German panniers (X - Ortlieb brand) that are waterproof.
They speak English very well. It's so neat to meet them and see someone
better than us! So we camped here and then this Japanese guy comes in on a
bike! He's coming from Alaska and pretty much doing the reverse route of
the other two, but he doesn't speak English very well, so it's tougher to
talk to him. X - I ate 7/16 of a pie today in contrast to the precision
Suisse chefs. It's dark! We're up late -- ironic for the high-latitude
solstice.
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