Thursday, June 16, 2005

Alaska Road Trip - Day 6

For the first time this trip the day dawned sunny and warm. Actually I didn't see the dawn, as the sun rises at something like 3:00 am in Whitehorse, so I am just guessing it was sunny. When I poked my head out it was sunny anyway.

Of course things change and soon the clouds appeared and the rain was coming down. I have gotten used to riding in the rain so I don't mind now. Again for much of the day it was a case of alternating rain and sun.

For the most part the road conditions on the Alaska Highway have been excellent, it is a good road surface that will allow good progress at 70-90 mph. There is little law enforcement so you could probably maintain even higher speeds with impunity. Every now and again there are some rough bits where they are doing road construction - extensive road construction. Typically, they stop everyone and then lead you through in batches with a pilot car. That makes for either a wet muddy crawl if there is rain or a dusty crawl if it is dry (and you are not at the front of the pack) - neither one ideal, but it makes the road interesting.

At the border, the customs agents are their usual surly, unwelcoming selves. They must go to school to develop that attitude - no engaging anyone in pleasant chit-chat, no smiles, no welcome back to the USA. If they are like that to their customers, I wonder how they are during the rest of their day - are they all happy and joking when they are away from the counter? Not the best job in the world I think.

In the evening I reached a place called Tok Junction (the Junction of the Anchorage, Fairbanks and Whitehorse roads). It is quite the thriving intersection with hotels, gas stations and restaurants. Like all the other places it is scruffy and characterless. A place to eat, sleep, gas up and then move on.

A light day today, some 420 miles.

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