Alaska 2006: Day 10: Stewarts Crossing, Yukon to Takhini Hot Springs, Yukon
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Stewarts Crossing, Yukon to Takhini Hot Springs, Yukon: 278 miles, 55-60 degrees F, 1500-2500 feet elevation. (View in Google Maps)
Mud on the swingarm and rear brake. Notice all the mud drips on the swingarm.
Mud on the swingarm and rear brake. Notice all the mud drips on the swingarm.
Mud on the skidplate, oil filter, exhaust header.
Mud on the skidplate, oil filter, exhaust header.
Mud completely covering the oil cooler guard, plus caked on panniers, crashbars, skidplate, everything.
Mud completely covering the oil cooler guard, plus caked on panniers, crashbars, skidplate, everything.
Mud on forks, front calipers.
Mud on forks, front calipers.
Opaque goo on headlights, plus plenty of dead mosquitoes.
Opaque goo on headlights, plus plenty of dead mosquitoes.
Leaking aux gas tank. It is actually only weeping gas, not leaking.
Leaking aux gas tank. It is actually only weeping gas, not leaking.
I don't think it rained last night, which is nice. I buried myself in my sleeping bag, lounging and sleeping in until 9 or so. I then stayed in bed for another two hours, working on these ride reports and just enjoying the time to relax. I should get going though. The squirrels are making angry noises outside- at least two nearby.
The trip was very short and uneventful, as I figured. Not too many inspiring things, though it was neat to cross the Yukon yet again (I've been crossing it since the Prudhoe Bay run). Stopped in Carmacks and ate lunch- it was 2:20, the restaurant is closed from 2-4, but the guy said "I never turn away a motorbiker for food". That was cool.
As I was leaving Carmacks I saw another V-Strom at a gas station, so I pulled in. It was a DL1000, he was asking about my gas tank. In the "small world" department, he used to have a Goldwing with a Ron Smith tank, so he recognized this design. He really wanted one for the DL, so he was glad to see mine. Hopefully I'll hear from him when he gets back home.
Pretty scenery.
Pretty scenery.
I like the camping sign used in Canada- it looks like a sign for yurt rentals.
I like the camping sign used in Canada- it looks like a sign for yurt rentals.
I got to the hot springs, realized they were fairly commercial, but got a campsite anyhow. I hoped they might have swimwear- no luck, so I went 20 miles to Whitehorse. The only thing open on a Sunday late afternoon was Canada Tire. I looked through the 5 sets of swim trunks, smallest was a large. I was talking to Tamara on the phone, so I didn't realize I'd grabbed a set of extra large. Considering medium would be a little loose, imagine the XL on me. I should just wear one pantleg.
Met a guy, Bill, from Pennsylvania. His campsite is next to mine here. He has a BMW RT, headed up to Alaska after going to Sturgis. Always nice to meet folks.
Speaking of meeting fellows, met a guy from Nanaimo, BMW 650 GS. We were in the parking lot of Canada Tire. A guy came up to us to talk. In some ways he was bagging on us for being from the south, me for being from out of Canada, but mainly he was just a weird guy.
So, I lounged in the hot springs, listened to a group of local 'kids' who had just graduated from high school and were headed to various universities. I enjoyed the accent.
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