We ended the day by camping at the Dawson Peaks Resort on the edge of the beautiful Teslin Lake in the Yukon.
Sign Post Forest
Interactive maps:
Watson Lake and Sign Post Forest
Dawson Peaks Resort
Showing posts with label teslin Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teslin Lake. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Teslin Lake
A video from day 9 covering bear sightings and the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake.
We ended the day by camping at the Dawson Peaks Resort on the edge of the beautiful Teslin Lake in the Yukon.
Interactive maps:
We ended the day by camping at the Dawson Peaks Resort on the edge of the beautiful Teslin Lake in the Yukon.
Interactive maps:
Monday, September 3, 2012
Day 10 - Finally in Whitehorse
Dawson Peaks Resort is a great camping site. We had a wonderful breakfast cooked by the owner in the morning and then leisurely started packing our bikes. The day before while I was walking around the supermarket I saw packages of chocolate pudding, with my mouth salivating I bought 4 packages, put them on one of the panniers and then completely forgot about them. In the morning while I was packing my bike I saw them. We had just finished breakfast, I wasn't going to leave them behind or carry them to Whitehorse, I distributed them and then we all proceeded to eat chocolate pudding, it was so good, I think it was the first time I had dessert after breakfast.
We left the campsite and headed north on the Alaska Highway with about 118 miles (189km) left to reach Whitehorse.
Dawson Peaks Resort here.
Just up the road from the campsite is the long metal grate bridge that crosses Teslin Lake. We stop on the overview and then proceed down the road to the village of Teslin on the other side.
Where the above picture was taken:
Bridge:
We continue up the road enjoying the beautiful scenery.
We arrive in Whitehorse around noon and head straight to Yukon Yamaha. It's a big building a couple of miles south of Whitehorse on the Alaska Highway, difficult to miss. None of the riders attending the event were there, after chatting with the people inside we leave and go less than one hundred yards south where our motel is located, we had passed without even noticing.
We check in at the Mountain Ridge Motel and head straight to the room to relax. Paul starts the relaxing with a beer even before we unpack. Don't know who took the picture but next time I have to remember to put it in completely auto mode.
While Pete and John are relaxing before continuing their trip north I walk around the motel. I find this cute "trappers cabin" and later find out you can actually sleep in it. It's available for customers and sleeps two. The motel has a beautiful view of the mountains in the back.
As I'm walking back to the room, a couple arrives on two Tenere's, a blue and a black one. They are husband and wife each riding a Yamaha Tenere. She mentioned she had a BMW 650 before and had been involved in an accident. She bought the Yamaha afterwards. They were also attending the event.
With nothing planned for the afternoon, I head to downtown Whitehorse alone after saying goodbye to Pete and John. They left and continued north, it would be the last time I saw them. Thanks guys for a great ride.
I was looking for Wi-Fi to call my wife and found it when I saw a Starbucks Coffee store. It was Saturday afternoon, the town was pretty much deserted.
After a cup of coffee and a long chat with my wife I walk around the downtown area admiring the architecture, it's as if I have stepped in a time machine and gone back a century.
Not everything looked old, there are some nice buildings in town too.
At the base of this sculpture it says "Dedicated to all those that follow their dreams", I thought about it and smiled, I was following my dream too.
As I'm walking back to my bike I see a couple walking across the street to a Kawasaki KLR. I walk over and introduce myself. They are a young couple from British Columbia and are on the way back from Alaska. We chat for a while, he tells me how a KLR is the perfect bike to travel up north and I kind of agree with him, except I had to do almost 4000 miles just to get to Alaska and there's no doubt in my mind the Tenere is a better bike for long distances. I'm surprised how the bike is able to carry all the load, two up and carrying all the camping equipment, I'm impressed.
I take a picture as they are leaving, can you see my reflection on the door?
I return back to the motel and spend the rest of the evening on the computer checking my e-mail and Facebook. We didn't even go out for dinner, I had eaten something at Starbucks and later just had soup and some crackers followed by a cup of coffee. The room had a full kitchen with refrigerator and microwave.
At 11:30pm I walk outside, the motel is quiet and the sun has just gone down behind the horizon. The days are getting longer and longer as I travel north and I'm still 1100 miles away from Deadhorse, my final destination up north. These two pictures were taken at 11:30pm.
Tomorrow is the first day of the "1st North American Super Tenere gathering", the group has a ride planned to Atlin, British Columbia, I'm so excited.
It's late and I'm tired but find it difficult to fall asleep.
More to come.....
We left the campsite and headed north on the Alaska Highway with about 118 miles (189km) left to reach Whitehorse.
Dawson Peaks Resort here.
Just up the road from the campsite is the long metal grate bridge that crosses Teslin Lake. We stop on the overview and then proceed down the road to the village of Teslin on the other side.
Where the above picture was taken:
Bridge:
Go ahead, move the image around so you can see where I was
We continue up the road enjoying the beautiful scenery.
We arrive in Whitehorse around noon and head straight to Yukon Yamaha. It's a big building a couple of miles south of Whitehorse on the Alaska Highway, difficult to miss. None of the riders attending the event were there, after chatting with the people inside we leave and go less than one hundred yards south where our motel is located, we had passed without even noticing.
We check in at the Mountain Ridge Motel and head straight to the room to relax. Paul starts the relaxing with a beer even before we unpack. Don't know who took the picture but next time I have to remember to put it in completely auto mode.
While Pete and John are relaxing before continuing their trip north I walk around the motel. I find this cute "trappers cabin" and later find out you can actually sleep in it. It's available for customers and sleeps two. The motel has a beautiful view of the mountains in the back.
As I'm walking back to the room, a couple arrives on two Tenere's, a blue and a black one. They are husband and wife each riding a Yamaha Tenere. She mentioned she had a BMW 650 before and had been involved in an accident. She bought the Yamaha afterwards. They were also attending the event.
With nothing planned for the afternoon, I head to downtown Whitehorse alone after saying goodbye to Pete and John. They left and continued north, it would be the last time I saw them. Thanks guys for a great ride.
I was looking for Wi-Fi to call my wife and found it when I saw a Starbucks Coffee store. It was Saturday afternoon, the town was pretty much deserted.
After a cup of coffee and a long chat with my wife I walk around the downtown area admiring the architecture, it's as if I have stepped in a time machine and gone back a century.
Not everything looked old, there are some nice buildings in town too.
At the base of this sculpture it says "Dedicated to all those that follow their dreams", I thought about it and smiled, I was following my dream too.
As I'm walking back to my bike I see a couple walking across the street to a Kawasaki KLR. I walk over and introduce myself. They are a young couple from British Columbia and are on the way back from Alaska. We chat for a while, he tells me how a KLR is the perfect bike to travel up north and I kind of agree with him, except I had to do almost 4000 miles just to get to Alaska and there's no doubt in my mind the Tenere is a better bike for long distances. I'm surprised how the bike is able to carry all the load, two up and carrying all the camping equipment, I'm impressed.
I take a picture as they are leaving, can you see my reflection on the door?
I return back to the motel and spend the rest of the evening on the computer checking my e-mail and Facebook. We didn't even go out for dinner, I had eaten something at Starbucks and later just had soup and some crackers followed by a cup of coffee. The room had a full kitchen with refrigerator and microwave.
At 11:30pm I walk outside, the motel is quiet and the sun has just gone down behind the horizon. The days are getting longer and longer as I travel north and I'm still 1100 miles away from Deadhorse, my final destination up north. These two pictures were taken at 11:30pm.
Tomorrow is the first day of the "1st North American Super Tenere gathering", the group has a ride planned to Atlin, British Columbia, I'm so excited.
It's late and I'm tired but find it difficult to fall asleep.
Interactive Map
More to come.....
Monday, August 20, 2012
Day 9 - Liard Hot Springs, BC - Dawson Peaks Resort, Yukon
Day 9 started just like any other day, we packed our equipment, left Liard River Hot Springs early and about an hour later stopped for breakfast at the first place we saw on the road, there aren't that many places out here. When we saw the sign "Berry Delightful" and "World Renowned Chocolates, Jams & Jellies" we knew it was going to be good. I had a nice egg & bacon sandwich with 2 cups of coffee.
There were a few bikers that showed up after we were inside and when I came out I saw this Kawasaki Vulcan, wow, that's all I could say, this guy is really packed, I have never seen a bike this packed, the load high on the bike can't be too stable. The extra fuel tells me he might be on the way to Alaska.
After filling up our bikes we continue north and less than an hour later I see this brown bear on the side of the road. I stopped about 50 feet from him but Pete decides to pass me and stops a little closer to him with John a little further up the road. Pete used his little camera, I wanted to take a picture with my Canon which has the zoom, that requires opening up the tank bag and pulling the camera out, if the bear started running towards me I would have to put it back in the bag and then take off, I needed the extra buffer. He wasn't bothered by us though, continued looking for food and didn't even look at us. I guess when you are this size you don't really worry too much.
The day was cloudy and cold, the clouds touching the mountain tops and the temperature in the mid sixties with a few rain drops coming down sporadically. We entered Yukon but the Alaska Highway travels along the border and soon we were back in British Columbia. We stopped when we saw this sign but the official sign came up later. While we were stopped taking pictures, a couple of Bison walked along the road on the opposite side.
Our next stop was at the bottom of this bridge. I saw the clearing from above and a dirt road leading to it, time to test the tires going downhill. There was a nice view of the river and allowed me to capture a nice panorama.
A little further up the road we ran into another bear, a black bear this time, doing the same as the one before, foraging for food. This one stopped what he was doing and kept looking at us while we took pictures. After a while he scratched himself and went back to whatever he was doing.
A few more miles up the road and another black bear, this is starting to be routine. I also see two ladies on bicycles and one of them was pushing the bike up the hill. Seeing them on bicycles kept me wondering what would they do if a bear showed up and started walking towards them? Luckily the bears are more afraid of us and usually will ran away.
I stop a lot during my rides, usually when I see something interesting and this little pony was sitting all by himself close to the road, I had to stop to take a picture. My friends continued, I had to speed up to catch up to them, not that speeding up is a problem for me. Check out the black one stretching his leg.
We finally reach the official welcome to "Yukon, Larger than Life" sign a few miles south of Watson Lake, we take a few pictures, stretch a little and have fun posing in front of the sign. I can't believe I've already been riding for 9 days, almost 3700 miles, it's Friday and I have to be in Whitehorse by tomorrow, a mere 275 miles to go.
Last night we had arrived at the campsite without buying any food, big mistake, we were not going to make the same mistake. We arrive in Watson Lake and stop at the first supermarket we see, time to go shopping for food. John had promised he would cook for us and he wasn't kidding, he didn't buy already made burgers, he bought ground beef, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and cheese and promised us we were going to have the best burgers ever. While he was looking for stuff I walked around and couldn't believe how pricey things are up north.
We left the supermarket and just up the road stop at the "Sign Post Forest", one of the most famous stops along the Alaska Highway. According to Wiki the forest has over 75000 signs. The forest was started by a homesick GI in 1942.
More info here:
There are signs from all over the world and I kept wondering how people bring them over, do they ship them? carry them on the plane? and more importantly, do they steal the signs?
After a while we leave Watson Lake, you can only read so many signs, and continue towards Whitehorse. I see the sign for Faro, the Tenere group had a ride planned to Faro but unfortunately the rain and floods the Yukon had a few days before had closed the road.
After a few more stops and a little over 2 hours of riding we come upon the Dawson Peaks Resort. The place looks nice, there's a restaurant inside, not that we will need it for tonight but it's great to get up in the morning and have a good breakfast, they have wi-fi, it's by a lake and the best part, the owner says we can easily fit 4 tents in one site, price? $20 for all of us. What? $5 a person, this is the cheapest and best place I have camped so far. They have cabins but they are already taken.
I walk down to the lake and grab a few pictures, the weather up north was threatening rain and a little later it did get to us. Towards the south there was still some blue sky.
Teslin Lake spans the border of British Columbia and Yukon, more info here.
This lady was throwing a stick into the lake and the dog seemed to be having fun getting it back.
Time to go eat the burger John was making for me, I walk back to the campsite, smoke was streaming from our site, that's a good sign. Earlier on we had picked up a 24 pack of beer, I had 3 and John had 1, he has a health problem and can't have more than one, that left 20 to be split between Paul and Pete. You can see the devastation they did to the 24 pack, the crushed cans are on the floor.
I have to compliment John on the burger, it was the best burger I've had so far, cooked to perfection, tasteful and eaten in the best company possible. Thanks John.
The earlier rain had stopped and the sun was peeking again through the clouds, I take one last walk down to the lake and get the best shots of the day.
Today was a really enjoyable day. We only rode 286 miles, a leisurely day, we are less than half a day away from Whitehorse, no hurry tomorrow, we should be in Whitehorse around noon. A ride with good friends, beautiful road and scenery, saw lots of bears and ended up with stunning views of Teslin Lake. To finish the day we had the best burgers cooked by John. I can't complain.
I take one last look at our bikes and then retire to my tent, the others were already snoring.
Interactive map:
More to follow....
There were a few bikers that showed up after we were inside and when I came out I saw this Kawasaki Vulcan, wow, that's all I could say, this guy is really packed, I have never seen a bike this packed, the load high on the bike can't be too stable. The extra fuel tells me he might be on the way to Alaska.
After filling up our bikes we continue north and less than an hour later I see this brown bear on the side of the road. I stopped about 50 feet from him but Pete decides to pass me and stops a little closer to him with John a little further up the road. Pete used his little camera, I wanted to take a picture with my Canon which has the zoom, that requires opening up the tank bag and pulling the camera out, if the bear started running towards me I would have to put it back in the bag and then take off, I needed the extra buffer. He wasn't bothered by us though, continued looking for food and didn't even look at us. I guess when you are this size you don't really worry too much.
The day was cloudy and cold, the clouds touching the mountain tops and the temperature in the mid sixties with a few rain drops coming down sporadically. We entered Yukon but the Alaska Highway travels along the border and soon we were back in British Columbia. We stopped when we saw this sign but the official sign came up later. While we were stopped taking pictures, a couple of Bison walked along the road on the opposite side.
Our next stop was at the bottom of this bridge. I saw the clearing from above and a dirt road leading to it, time to test the tires going downhill. There was a nice view of the river and allowed me to capture a nice panorama.
A little further up the road we ran into another bear, a black bear this time, doing the same as the one before, foraging for food. This one stopped what he was doing and kept looking at us while we took pictures. After a while he scratched himself and went back to whatever he was doing.
A few more miles up the road and another black bear, this is starting to be routine. I also see two ladies on bicycles and one of them was pushing the bike up the hill. Seeing them on bicycles kept me wondering what would they do if a bear showed up and started walking towards them? Luckily the bears are more afraid of us and usually will ran away.
I stop a lot during my rides, usually when I see something interesting and this little pony was sitting all by himself close to the road, I had to stop to take a picture. My friends continued, I had to speed up to catch up to them, not that speeding up is a problem for me. Check out the black one stretching his leg.
We finally reach the official welcome to "Yukon, Larger than Life" sign a few miles south of Watson Lake, we take a few pictures, stretch a little and have fun posing in front of the sign. I can't believe I've already been riding for 9 days, almost 3700 miles, it's Friday and I have to be in Whitehorse by tomorrow, a mere 275 miles to go.
 |
| John, Paul and Pete |
Last night we had arrived at the campsite without buying any food, big mistake, we were not going to make the same mistake. We arrive in Watson Lake and stop at the first supermarket we see, time to go shopping for food. John had promised he would cook for us and he wasn't kidding, he didn't buy already made burgers, he bought ground beef, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and cheese and promised us we were going to have the best burgers ever. While he was looking for stuff I walked around and couldn't believe how pricey things are up north.
 |
| Special K at $6.79? It better be special |
More info here:
There are signs from all over the world and I kept wondering how people bring them over, do they ship them? carry them on the plane? and more importantly, do they steal the signs?
After a while we leave Watson Lake, you can only read so many signs, and continue towards Whitehorse. I see the sign for Faro, the Tenere group had a ride planned to Faro but unfortunately the rain and floods the Yukon had a few days before had closed the road.
After a few more stops and a little over 2 hours of riding we come upon the Dawson Peaks Resort. The place looks nice, there's a restaurant inside, not that we will need it for tonight but it's great to get up in the morning and have a good breakfast, they have wi-fi, it's by a lake and the best part, the owner says we can easily fit 4 tents in one site, price? $20 for all of us. What? $5 a person, this is the cheapest and best place I have camped so far. They have cabins but they are already taken.
 |
| Back of the building |
 |
| Cabins by the lake |
After setting up the tent and help collect firewood so John could cook us dinner I went looking for wi-fi to call my wife. I was able to Skype which was great, the speed was fast enough to Skype with video. I go back to the site to grab my camera and these guys had arrived pulling trailers. In less than 5 minutes they had their tents up.
I walk down to the lake and grab a few pictures, the weather up north was threatening rain and a little later it did get to us. Towards the south there was still some blue sky.
Teslin Lake spans the border of British Columbia and Yukon, more info here.
 |
| Teslin Lake |
Time to go eat the burger John was making for me, I walk back to the campsite, smoke was streaming from our site, that's a good sign. Earlier on we had picked up a 24 pack of beer, I had 3 and John had 1, he has a health problem and can't have more than one, that left 20 to be split between Paul and Pete. You can see the devastation they did to the 24 pack, the crushed cans are on the floor.
I have to compliment John on the burger, it was the best burger I've had so far, cooked to perfection, tasteful and eaten in the best company possible. Thanks John.
The earlier rain had stopped and the sun was peeking again through the clouds, I take one last walk down to the lake and get the best shots of the day.
Today was a really enjoyable day. We only rode 286 miles, a leisurely day, we are less than half a day away from Whitehorse, no hurry tomorrow, we should be in Whitehorse around noon. A ride with good friends, beautiful road and scenery, saw lots of bears and ended up with stunning views of Teslin Lake. To finish the day we had the best burgers cooked by John. I can't complain.
I take one last look at our bikes and then retire to my tent, the others were already snoring.
Interactive map:
More to follow....
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