Day 15 - Tok, Alaska to Haines, Alaska via the Yukon

from our balcony in Haines, Alaska!

Haines Harbor

Day 15: Tok, Alaska to Haines, Alaska, via the Yukon and BC
Sunday

Ironically the farther south we went, the colder it got. Woke up to rain minutes before we were supposed to check out. No shower and on the road..... kinda mild headache, probably because I haven't had water in days. I was groggy for a hour or so and then back into Canada and into the Yukon again for a few hours.

Had lunch (at 4pm) at the gas station, restaurant, hotel in Destruction Bay. A great bacon, egg cheese sandwich with some crazy vegetable soup. Saw several bikes come through and got kinda homesick, but when I walked outside to the rain and cold...... probably 40 degrees.

Made the trip back through the really rough road from the other day, back to Haines Junction and south to Haines. Thought it was an hour, but really two hours, gas would be tight, but we still have the last of motorcycle gas in the back.

Seconds after I closed my eyes, Jolie yelled out "BEAR"....... Got the camera ready as we turn around and watched it for about a half hour. Really funny. Like a dog eating and playing and scratching.

On to Haines and got here about 10 pm. Got a room and dinner, as I opened the door, the phone rang. I was thinking something like the card didn't work, or something bad..... turned out the room was considered "dirty" because of the stains on the carpet...... I didn't even notice and we were offered a jacuzzi tub suite because of the mess up...... Oh my gosh. We are overlooking the bay... paradise.

Dark at midnight! Heading south!
Sam



Day 15 cont.-
When we started our day it was raining- just the way we left off yesterday. I was happy though that Sam wasn't on the bike and all was well. After about 6 hours of rain, the sky cleared slightly and the gloom that had hovered over us all day was gone.
Then it happened- clearly the highlight of my day.... we spotted a big grizzly just off the road. I just new that by the time we turned around it would be gone, but we went for it anyway, And thank goodness we did. This beautiful big grizzly walked around and ate dandelions and scratched himself (just like a dog) for about 30 minutes- no more than 20 yards away from the truck. He was so close we could hear him chewing. AMAZING!!! If he's this big now, i can only imagine how big he'll be in the fall after having all winter to eat.
Now, I'm going to get a good nights rest and look forward to the ferry tomorrow- 3 full days of whale watching i hope!!!!
- Jolie