Day 14 On the road again.....

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The Willie Nelson song that greeted me this morning when I pulled out was the perfect accompaniment to begin this sunny day. Sure there was wind from all directions but Bryan said that it was even helpful at times. It’s the sun that makes the difference. The lines from the song, “goin’ places that I've never been” and “seein’ things I may never see again”, confirmed that we were on the right track. Taking a risk can be heart-stopping but the unexpected rewards are so satisfying. 

At our second rest of the day, just above the Rancheria River Bridge, I saw more of the stone messages that people had arranged all the way along the route.  Although I may not see it again, I added our name to witness that we had been there.  In the restroom, others had added their sentiments and good wishes, such as “May poetry be with you”. These man-made marks might soon disappear but the Alpine lupines will return each season as cheery ambassadors on the roadside. We have been blessed with Yukon gold and purple and rose along with the many shades of green.  By noon however, the clouds had returned.

Bryan saw his first black bear cub today, sitting in the middle of the road with his mama.  Later, another oncoming driver stopped in the middle of the road to warn Bryan of a brown and a black bear on either side of the highway ahead. It’s nice that people are concerned but Bryan didn’t see either bear.  However, a construction zone did interrupt Bryan’s ride with 4” gravel on the shoulders that was being brushed to the side for about 10 Km. He didn’t mind missing that dust and loose gravel but resumed once the zone ended.

Ahead was the Rancheria Falls for me to enjoy…. a short hike and breathtaking look at the falls. It is amazing that the trees can gain a foothold among the unforgiving boulders. A boardwalk made my progress pretty simple for those 10 minutes to the overlooking platforms. There was a kind of island in the middle of the drop that created two waterfalls.  I also enjoyed the cheekiness of the gray jays but couldn’t get them to pose for the photo.

Bryan’s arrival in time for afternoon tea was welcome. He was in good spirits despite the cold, especially since Bruce, who had passed him three times in the past three days, stopped him to talk and left him with a granola bar and water.  The kindness of strangers! Not long afterwards Bryan pulled in for his grilled cheese sandwiches.

We have now crossed the Continental Divide for the third time this trip, encompassing the Yukon and Mackenzie River systems. This also meant that Bryan cycled uphill most of the day for a total of 152 km.

It is interesting to meet people along the way. There are lots of friendly motorcyclists in their 50’s and 60’s and many Americans headed to Alaska. Today I met a man from Chicago who wants to read the book that I am right now, The Devil in White City, a non-fiction account of Chicago in the 1880’s. I also met a man who was in Herbert, SK for a funeral, but he wasn’t an Engen. And then there was the Montana couple who decided that this was pretty boring landscape.

Tonight, we are a world away from people, parked alongside the highway in a sparsely inhabited region. The pristine forest just nods at the tourists and truckers who hurry through.