Something Fishy

My First Attempt at Filleting a Salmon

Monday night I went fishing with Rich, Eric, and Tanya from work at Bird Creek about 50 miles south of town.

We heard the Silvers were running, and they were. Just not as hard as hard as we thought. Thats OK thought. I haven't been fishing in the river like that so they showed me the ropes and we had a good time hanging out and trying to catch some fish.

Tanya caught the first Silver, then Rich and Eric caught a few Humpy's and Chum. You'll have to ask me in person how I got my fish, because its kind of a funny story.

We're going to hit up Ship Creek down by the Port friday morning. Wish us luck.

Mirror

Alaska State Park in Haines, AK

This is at the end of the road into the state park in Haines. The road runs from the inlet, up a salmon river, to where it starts at this lake. In the Fall you are pretty much guaranteed to see grizzly bears stocking up their fat supplies for winter.

When we were there surveying in '05 we saw a couple large Boars and a Sow with two Cubs.

There isn't really much more to say about this spot besides its a lot more beautiful in person and on a clear day. Even though I had clouds there is still a nice mirror effect on the smooth water.

Open Road

Along the Glenn Hwy, South of Eureka

This was taken along the Glenn Hwy on my way to Dawson City. I left work around 3pm, but didn't get out of town until 5:00. I was afraid that I was going to get stuck behind miles of RV's escaping for the weekend. But that wasn't the case. As soon as I got east of Palmer there was almost nobody on the road.

There is just something about no traffic that makes things significantly more enjoyable. You can set your own pace, stop without worrying about getting run over, and you don't have to worry about busses getting in your picture of the open road.

Its hard to explain the feeling of the scenery passing as cool air transports the smells of your surroundings. Total freedom, you could ride in the other lane if you wanted too. Maybe there is a moose or a Caribou around the next corner. You get the security of a well traveled road with the serenity of the most remote places in the world which allows complete relaxation so you can enjoy the moment.

Beautiful Border

Alaska/British Columbia Border on my way to Skagway

This is the most spectacular border I've ever seen. From Whitehorse you head south and eventually start to climb and climb up the mountains, into the clouds, and past what looks like the surface of a different planet until you come to the unmistakable Alaska sign.

It was amazing as is but I can only imagine what it would be like with a clear sky.

The borders in Alaska are kind of strange. It seems as though there is never a good place to put two compounds, US side and Canada side, right at the border. So if your in Canada you pass their station and continue on, maybe for 30 miles or more until you get to the US station.

Kind of weird but it makes sense if you think about it. I just wonder what happens if you need to turn around in between. Do you have to re-enter the country even though you never left?

Whoops!

About 70 miles up the Dempster Hwy

The Friday of Dust to Dawson I decided to run up the Dempster hwy as far as half a tank would take me. Beezer and BeamerTwin took the same trip but left before me and passed me on their way out.

The Dempster Hwy goes north to Inuvik, which is way past the Arctic Circle.

This is where I decided to turn around and head back to Dawson City.

I was riding along and saw some thing glimmer in the sun. When I got closer I recognized the car, I'm pretty sure its a Saturn Ion. Anyway, it looks like they were booking along heading south when the missed a corner and flew off the road, rolled several times, and pretty much cracked up. Non of the doors were shut, the airbags went off, and it looks pretty wadded up in general.

I think the moral of the story is this...

I can find spare parts anywhere. Even in the Yukon.
Katie if you ever need anything for your car call me because I can find that again.

I wonder if Onstar would respond on the Dempster?

Not the Dalton

Valdez Creek Trail about 5 miles off the Denali Hwy

Well, BeamerTwin and I did not make it to Prudhoe Bay this weekend. I had some fuel problems with the KLR just before Fairbanks and they didn't clear up by the time we got a good distance out of town. So we decided it would be better to change our plans then rick breaking down up there and having to beg someone with a pickup to take my bike back to Fairbanks.

While it is a bummer we didn't make it to our planned destination we did make a trip across the Denali Hwy where we found that someone had repaired some of the creek crossings on a trail off the road. This picture is about five miles up the 25 mile trail. If you look close you can see our bikes center left in the photo. That is the Susitna River in the back ground.

This trail goes another 20 miles back to a lake that is supposed to have some great fishing. I'm assuming trout and grayling. But I also hear its prime grizzly country.

Maybe sometime this summer I'll ride back up there, make camp at the bottom of the trail, and ride up for a day of fishing.

Prudhoe Bay

Hey everyone,

Sorry the posts have been few and far between since Dawson.
I'm headed to Prudhoe Bay with Beamertwin this weekend and will be gone for another five days.

Then I'll be back and work is going to be slammed so It'll probably be a few more days after that.

BUT, I promise to get more pictures up as soon as I can.

Here is a picture of a bear.

Lutefisk Outlaws

The wall in the Pioneer Bar, Haines, AK

This is the wall behind the bar at the Pioneer Bar in Haines. Shown are probably just 1/10 of the bumper stickers tacked up. When I was working in Haines we would always eat Breakfast at the Bamboo room, a dinning room in the same building. Back in the day the two were separated by a bamboo curtain, hence the name.

After getting off the ferry from Skagway and putting around in the state park for a while I stopped in to get some breakfast. They were pretty busy and I ended up giving my table to a group that had people too young to eat in the bar, which was serving as overflow that day.

I had some flapjacks, sausage, and hash browns. All pretty good, but I haven't had flapjacks in a long time. I think I'm going to have to figure out how to make them for myself.

My favorite statement on the wall there is "When Lutefisk is Outlawed, only Outlaws will have Lutefisk!"

Followed second by "Move Willow to the Capital"
I think you have to live here to get that one.