Day 11 Tires singing in the rain

    It seemed to be all downhill this morning, with cool weather, no traffic (or shoulders) and just gradual climbs. Summit Pass, at an elevation of 4,250 feet, may be the highest elevation on the Alaska Highway but was a relatively easy one for Bryan. 


Along the way, we both spotted a yearling caribou and later four Stone sheep. The caribou even trotted along with Bryan but the sheep caused a bit of a traffic jam for him. Tourists!

I was able to take my photos while going very slowly. The winding road with cliffs and tight downhill curves were designed to make us take life easy, but seriously.  Bryan said it was very technical cycling as the wind bounced off the trees and rock walls but that he had his yellow jersey on.  Maybe this is his training for the Tour de France after all! By noon, he had covered 60 km without feeling tired. The chicken soup and sandwich for his second lunch was my nod to the drizzle that had started to fall.

One of my stops today was the Summit Pass Provincial Park, complete with abundant flowers, fragrant balsam poplar, and postcard views. There were also hikes up to the top of Stone Mountain but my reluctance to meet a bear kept me closer to the RV.  




By 12:30, the mist had enveloped the mountains and the rain started in earnest but Bryan has his rain gear on. As the rain increased, I left my cozy table at the Toad River restaurant and caught up with him. A second meal of spaghetti and dry socks had him ready to roll in no time, ready for the uphill segment to come. Apparently the rain creates less friction so it’s faster and the cobblestone roads are smoother.



Another leg of climbing in the rain didn’t deter Bryan, in fact, he considered it a nice challenge for the day. At one time, he was almost enveloped in cloud and even some snow! The light rain didn’t appear to faze him even though he could see his breath at times,  while I had enjoyed my novel. He felt even better after some hot soup and tea before heading out for the final leg of 21 km for the night.

The curves allowed me to slow down to really appreciate the beauty of Muncho Lake along the way to the Northern Rockies Lodge where we would park for the night. This lake is one of the largest in the Rockies.


The Lodge is very nice, but camping in a parking lot at WalMart would be about the same….an asphalt campground. Oh well, after 137 km today in the wet, Bryan will sleep well anywhere.  Perhaps tomorrow we will find a cozy spot just off the highway in the trees at no cost!


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