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Day
17 Tuesday June 22
Breakfast
at 8:15 AM after we walked 2+ blocks to “town.” Afterward, we found a One
Hour Photo shop (that couldn’t promise better than one day service) and I left
two rolls of film. I’ll try to pick them up at 6:00 PM today. We
enjoyed talking with an elderly lady named Joann who was the
receptionist/cashier at the local museum. She’s a retired (been retired 20
yrs) primary grade schoolteacher. Very nice person. Then we visited an Alaskan
Native Art shop and talked with a native Chilkat artist, “Sue,” who was
displaying her Traditional Tlingit art form jewelry. Later I went back and
bought a silver necklace pendant and chain - a sun symbol. I think I may wear it
myself. The day was warm, some sun, and no rain - but rain is forecast for
tonight/tomorrow. Jim
engages people in chit-chat everywhere he goes, so we spend lots of time in
conversation. Most of the time it’s fun.
Picked up the two rolls of film - good job of developing, and about the
same cost as in the “Lower 48.” Jim
cooked his Green Chile Soup and it’s really tasty! (we have kitchenette rooms)
Enjoyed that. Tomorrow we head north thru Haines Junction and on to Tok.
Later - sitting on a verandah that overlooks the small boat harbor, the
cruise ship pier, and another smaller pier. A cruise ship was here yesterday
evening, but it was gone this morning. Now, a small (100ft) ship is at the
smaller pier - maybe it’s the passenger ferry to Skagway. Above the water of
the inlet, opposite where I am, are some magnificent mountains with traces of
snow on their peaks. The trees are beautiful and it’s very quiet here. An
occasional car, pickup, or piece of equipment drives by, or a plane’s engine
is heard, but the scene is so tranquil - I am enjoying it very much.
Later
- 6:00 PM - Another cruise ship arrived - the Royal Viking Line ship “Rhapsody
Of The Seas.” I watched it come into the dock - so graceful and efficient.
Overnight at Haines, Alaska
Day
18 Wednesday June 23
Jim
cooked breakfast of eggs and his Green Chile Soup w/toast.
It was delicious and a nice change.
Left Haines at 7:15 AM. No
problems until we came to 33 Mile Roadhouse (33 miles from Haines). Jim’s
Honda Shadow ACE 750 has a fuel tank capacity of 3.7 gals, and it can go max 150
miles (ideally) down to 100 miles if there is wind, high speed, or other special
circumstances. Jim carried a 2-1/2 gal gas container in order to safely reach
the next available fuel stop on long legs of the Alaska part of the ride. But,
he had planned to fill his fuel container at 33 Mile, and the next available
fuel was Haines Junction over 100 miles from 33 Mile Roadhouse. That meant that
he did not have enough fuel to reach Haines Junction, and we found out that 33
Mile roadhouse no has fuel (until they get approval for new fuel tanks, etc.)
Luckily, we were able to buy 2 gallons of emergency fuel and that got Jim to
Haines Junction OK. The road is windy through trees, over rivers, and through
construction zones of 2 - 6 miles. We average 50 mph on open stretches - the
traffic is light and not too many RV’s so far.
Long
Day! (471 miles) Arrived in Tok at 9:10 PM in bright daylight. The days are
getting longer as we move north. We navigated four stretches of torn-up road
today, but luckily the rain was light and the road surface was not too slippery
- nor did we have to deal with ruts. No real mud, just damp earth.
Both
Jim and I were dead tired and went to bed immediately after eating hamburgers
and fries, topped off with homemade pie. Overnight
at Tok, Alaska
Day
19 Thursday June 24
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