Picto Diary - 06 June 2017 - The Cassiar Highway

Above: Helicopters at Stewart, BC. 06 January 2017.

This image about 7:00 AM captured during an early morning walk.

Above: Map of Cassier Highway. 06 June 2017.

This map shows my route today. 400 miles. From Stewart, BC/Hyder, AK northbound to Watson Lake, YT.

This highway is the "alternate way" to drive north to Alaska. The Cassier Highway intersects with the Alaska Highway in Watson Lake, YT. The Alaska Highway starts in Dawson Creek, BC, very near the Alberta border. I took that route last year.

I like this map (seen on a story board at a road side stop) because of how well it shows the relationship of the Cassiar Highway to the lower part of Alaska. Besides the access from Canada to Alaska at Hyder, there is no way to drive into any other part of Alaska, other than to reach the Alaska Highway 400 miles north of Hyder/Stewart via the Cassiar.

Above: BC 37 Cassiar Highway. Northbound. 06 June 2017.

This and the following shot are representative of thousands of like vistas along the Cassiar Highway. Patagonia redux.

The final (and only) gas stop before Watson Lake is Dease Lake. Between Dease Lake and Watson Lake is 150 miles.

So, I stopped for gas and a snack at Dease Lake. There I chatted with two mid 30's motorcyclists from Ontario. One of them was riding one of the new Honda Africa Twins. The rider of the Africa Twin said he bought the bike in Soo Saint Marie, ON when his other bike broke down. He and his friend lost a week on their trip because of the bike change. They had hoped to reach Fairbanks, AK. Because of the lost week, they had to turn south from the Alaska Highway to the Cassiar Highway, where I met them today, and head back home. Their destination today was Stewart/Hyder where I had spent the previous night. Sheepishly, they said they wanted to say they had reached Alaska. Not sheepishly! It was a big ride they had accomplished already. And, Hyder is in Alaska. My first ride to "Alaska" was on a ride to Hyder ten years ago.

Above: BC 37 Cassiar Highway. Southbound. 06 June 2017.

Above BMW F800GS motorcycle at the border between British Columbia and Yukon Territory. BC 37 Cassiar Highway. 06 June 2017.

This sign also marks the near end of the Cassier Highway. The Alaska Highway is only a couple of miles further down the route.

'OK' animal sightings along the road today. Four bears in three different sightings. One moose.

Above: Air Force Lodge. Watson Lake, YT. 06 June 2017.

The structure is a restoration of one of the barracks used by US Air Force Pilots in WWII.

A German (now Canadian) couple owned and managed the Air Force Lodge. Clean... but, you stay in the style of the flyers of yore eg. common bathrooms and showers.

It was a bit more work to get to the bathroom at night... but, overall, I liked staying at the Air Force Lodge. A bit different. Interesting owners making their way in life.

Above: Bud doing bucket drums. Park Sill Market. 06 June 2017.

Addendum:

I am docked at Devil's Island and plan to go ashore and walk around, Saw the Boi Bumba show in Parintins. It was great. Costumes are 2nd only to Carnival. We still have Barbados and San Juan before two days at sea and back to Fla.

Bridge,
Palm Beach, FL

Want to hear more about your Devils Island visit.


Steve, one of my good friends in Stanfordville where we spend weekends is G... C..., who has a wanderlust gene like yours. In fact he is leaving in the middle of next week on his 1200 for a solo road trip like yours to the Prince Edward Islands. He was over this morning and I shared your June 5 Picto Diary with him. He loved in and asked if I would share it with him. Herewith I am sharing it with him and introducing you to each other for what I expect will be a great mutual friendship even if your paths never cross…But the might.

Park Avenue, New York, New York

Thanks for the intro. I'd like to meet up some time!



Nice job Steve thanks.

Brand,
Ventura, CA

Considering the source, a meaningful compliment.


This sounds like a very cool adventure! Funny, I too prefer measuring things in km when I xc ski or when I am on my road bike. Somehow pedaling 40k seems better than 24 miles...or bumping speed from 30kph to 33kph feels more intense than going from 18 to 19mph

All the best,

The Globalist,
Park City, UT

Like minds think alike?


Extraordinary Chinese in White Horse.
David Ow (known Chinese food expert; Tomato Beef) and I will no doubt sample
it again in August. Great trip, ride safe,

Mike,
Dallas, TX

I’d add to your song list:

Ghost Riders in the Sky- Johnny Cash and others

Danny Boy- Many

Little White Cloud that Cried-Johnny Ray

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes-Nat

Little Darlin-The Diamonds

The Great Pretender-The Platters

Georgia-Willie Nelson

Somewhere Over the Rainbow-Willy K

Hallelujah-Many

Rhapsody in Blue-

Time in a Bottle-Jim Croce

Classical Gas-Mason Williams

Rocket Man- Elton John

Mrs. Robinson-Simon and Garfunkel

Imagine- The Beatles

I guess that’s over 5

'Cake,
Park City, UT

No to Elton John's stuff. I only liked one thing he ever did and that piece didn't do that well: "The Club at the End of the Street."

Also, no to "Imagine." A sinister and misleading lure to an impossible human condition.


Incredible scenery but I hope you’re not riding in these remote areas alone.

Interesting difference in the slurry seal in Canada vs. U.S. One of my greatest fears riding in the heat is really leaning into a curve but then encountering a U.S. version of slurry seal.

Captain, Park City, UT

I'm not doing any roads where there aren't at least a few other travelers.

This here’s the "Side of the River!" What’s your handle? (aka Manhattan)

Convoy Lyrics

Boy I love that song. It should be an anthem for the deplorables and the bitter clingers.