Picto Diary 16 June 2017 - Prince Rupert, BC (Supplement)
Last year, I rode my BMW F800 GS from Park City to Delta Junction, AK, the length of the Alaska Highway.
Why do an Alaska motorcycle ride again this year?
Different route. Different ultimate destination - Dawson, YT. I love being up in that part of the world. This alternative routing would give me a chance to see different things... learn new stuff!
My Yukon/Alaska ride was not intended to be a solitary ride. My friend Ahn Rhee, from Larkspur, CA was going to join, until his motorcycle conked out as he was riding up from Larkspur to meet me in Ashland, OR where I had been seeing OSF plays with Aunt Joyce. Ahn Rhee bailed, saying he wouldn't be able to get his bike up and running again in time to catch up. He thought the problem on his KTM 950 Adventure motorcycle was a defective fuel pump. His motorcycle just stop working. He had to have the bike towed over one hundred miles back to his home.
At first, hearing that I wouldn't have a riding companion, I contemplated bagging the trip. But, before I decided whether or not to ride home to Park City, I had agreed to stop off at John Galt's and Dagny Taggert's house in Walla Walla, WA on my way up north, so, at least, I decided, I should make that rendezvous.
As I rode through the heretofore unfamiliar hilly terrain of central Oregon on the way to Walla Walla, WA, I had time for self reflection. I had planned the Yukon/Alaska trip... most of the key reservations had already been made, the bike was riding well, and I had some familiarity with the destinations. By the time I reached Walla Walla, I decided I would make the trip solo.
Different routes... different destinations. In lieu of riding the Alaska Highway from its beginning, at Dawson Creek, BC, I rode the Cassier Highway, from Kilwanga BC, to Watson Lake, YT, where I connected with the Alaska Highway.
Also, rather than continue on up the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse, YT, as I did last year, I rode north to Dawson, YT, before cutting over to Tok, AK using the Top of the World Highway (YT) and the Taylor Highway (AK) to Tok, AK.
Combined with a visit to Skagway, AK, which I made while on a cruise a few years ago, this year's motorcycle trip, following the Yukon River, from Whitehorse to Dawson, YT, gave me a sense of the path followed by the gold seekers of the great Yukon gold rush of 1898.
There were other things I did differently this year as compared to last year. I wanted to spend a little time in Prince Rupert, for one.
Last year, starting from Haines, we (John Galt, Earp, Cal Poly and myself) arrived at Prince Rupert via Ferry Matanuska, at 2:00 AM. After coffee and a bagel at an all night Tim Horton's, we rode on without getting much of a sense of the town.
So, this time, one year later, I booked The Crest Hotel in Prince Rupert for an overnight stay. Matanuska arrived at 1:00 PM. I had plenty of time to check into the hotel and go for a walk to check out the town.
Above: Crest Hotel room. Prince Rupert, BC. 16 June 2017.
Cool. They put binoculars in the room to look at hump back whales in Skeena River inlet.
Above: Museum of Northern British Columbia. Prince Rupert. 16 June 2017.
Mostly background and art pieces from Native American history of the area. In Canada, Native Americans are referred to as First Nation members.
Above: Prince Rupert Marina. Skeena River Estuary. Prince Rupert. 16 June 2017.
Above: Two images showing Mt. Morse. Prince Rupert, BC.
The first image is from the Waterfront Restaurant located in the Crest Hotel.
Second is a file image from 1910.
Waterfront Restaurant had excellent fine dining with vistas of the Skeena River estuary right from the table.
Prince Rupert is a port city, mid way up the Pacific Coast between Vancouver and BC's border with Alaska at the Portland Canal. Prince Rupert is Canada's furthest north, ice free port. The city is located on Kaien Island and as a population of 15 thousand people.
The city has a fine natural harbor which is claimed to be the third deepest commercial harbor in the world. A rail line was built to Prince Rupert in 1910. The line connects to Canada's national network at Jasper, BC. So, Prince Rupert, isolated as it is from the BC's population centers, serves as an important supplementary west coast harbor to Vancouver, BC, 400 miles south.
For anyone that wants to spend a little more time in Prince Rupert, there are whale watching boat trips and boat trips to areas with guaranteed grizzly bear watching.
Addendum:
Of your knowledge and adventures. You write well and I think most of us read when we have a chance. Keep having fun.
Comic Mom,
Park City, UT
Dear Steve,
I was interested to read your musings about the Dempster Highway up to Inuvik, NWT. I was there in an SUV in 1996 and, as I remember, it was quite dry and I have since wanted to try it on a motorcycle. I was up there last year and in Haines Junction, I talked with a couple who had just driven that road. When I asked them what the road condition was like, their reply was “slippery”- they were glad they were in an all-wheel drive vehicle.
I asked Phil Freeman if he ran any tours up there and he said that although he used to, he did no longer as there were too many accidents.
I would still like to try it; but it would require at least three, I think, riding together.
Hopefully, your current trip has been delightful.
Cheers,
Ahn Rhee, Larkspur, CA
Two guys I talked to up in Dawson had started out, turned back. My friend the Colonel did it but said it was an arduous event. Fighter, of Anchorage, has done it. Says, it depends on the weather. More than one report said shale in the road gives rise to punctures. One said, bring an extra tire. Another said, ride only tubeless tires and bring a lot of plugs and a good portable air pump. Lets talk.
Hi Alaska Traveler Steve:
Three pics shows how down hill Dalton Highway has gone. First was when I took Donna-Rae, the lady with Parkinsons, in 2006, up to the top of the Dalton Highway on the back on a KLR. Sign was a virgin, so I "stickered" it with one of my personal stickers. Second picture was a couple of years later when I started up to the top again, and I noticed stickers had started to "grow" on the sign. Last photo shows my last trip up to the top - almost no room for one of my MOTORCYCLE SEX stickers.
Now I'm rolling around the world, stickering places with my www.rtwmotorcycleadventuyrerally.blogspot.com stickers. My goal is to paste one on the moon and in The Bermuda Triangle :-)
Best,
Dr. Gregory Frazier
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine
I don't know when you took the last picture, but, that could be my "Big Cat" sticker just above the third post.
The two Arizona guys I talked to about riding the Dalton this trip said the road, up on the north slope, was in pretty bad shape due thawing and re-freezing... and some rocks washed out onto the road.
You are looking more devilishly handsome every day...need to enter Hemmingway look-alike contest! Another spectacular motorcycle Odyssey . Have acquired fine K1200R and hope to ship it end of summer to PC and take cross west trip...looking for cohorts...ride safe hombre....via con Dios
KAT,
Richardson, TX
Looking forward to some rides together!
What a Life! A bit late for me but I can dream, can’t I? -
Manhattan,
Park City, UT
Sounds like a great trip, Steve. I have spent a lot of time up in that neck of the woods. Especially Prince Rupert and Smithers. Steelhead fishing. I'd live up there if I could.
Night Rider,
Jackson, WY
Looks like you're having a adventurous trip; so glad you are enjoying, as I've always said you have a wonderful way with words; you did a great job in explaining the trip on the Sea of Cortez -:)
Mr. Z3,
Ojai, CA