Day 20: Off to Haines, Alaska to Catch the Ferry

We left Whitehorse in route to Haines, AK around 10 am local time.  We only had around 265 miles to ride, however, we also wanted to get some other errands completed before the end of the day.

Mick thinks we should buy this “fixer upper” as a joint venture. 

You know what they say . . . Location .. Location . . Location!!

 

Sorry Alli, it is not a measuring stick for moose antlers, but a clever guess! 

Kd:  Your guess is not specific enough.  It’s not just a “Yukon Chain Saw”.

Bill:  No. It's not a two man rip saw!
Look Closely!

 

New Contest picture:

Contest Picture.   This one is maybe too easy.  

What has been added to the back of Mc’s pack just for this day?

We made it to Haines Junction and pulled into two different gas stations, each being “closed”, appearing to be out of business. 

We continued down the road to Haines and happened to spy this sign, indicating no gas for 203 km or around 126 miles.  (note that Haines was almost 150 miles away.)

We pulled into this rest stop and debated our options.  Since there was no guarantee the gas stop supposedly 126 miles away would be there (short of Haines by 25 miles), and we would be pushing Mick’s range to the limit getting all the way to Haines, we decided we better go back and find some gas.

We stopped at the Visitor’s center at Haines and learned gas was available about ½ mile down the road to Destruction Bay.  When leaving the center, we ran into the Milepost Gal.  Milepost is a publication that tells you everything you need and want to know about traveling the Alaskan Highways. 

The Milepost Gal said we may make the Milepost facebook page as motorcycle adventurists.  So we decided to reciprocate and put the Milepost Gal in our extremely popular and influential blog!

 

It was a beautiful day for a ride to Haines

Mick finally got a good pic of the pretty Yukon Territory sign.  It was our last shot at it!

Scenery in route to Haines

More scenery

How did I do that?

Getting better!

Heading straight for it.

More road construction.  One more pilot car. 

One more Road Construction Sign Girl.

And we think our big bikes “eat up the road”, the heavy equipment running down the left side of this road is literally “eating up the road” converting our beloved pavement into dreaded dirt.

This one was a real dirty mess.  That’s the pilot truck way out there in front.  Sometimes its better to have four wheels.

If the dirt wasn’t enough, the watering trucks make a bigger mess.

At least this one wasn’t on our side of the road.

 

Dirt close up.

Above the tree line going through Chilkoot pass

 

Nearing the highest point on the Chilkoot pass

Nice wallpaper for Mick.

Immediately after leaving the previous rest stop, Mick lost part of his GPS at 60 MPH.  Went back and found it on the road, right where he left it.

We found snow again!

U.S. Customs . . . checking for “immigrators”.

Mick, sweet talking the U.S. border patrol.

Chilkoot river near Haines, AK. 

The water level is quite high, almost flooding the road.

Made it to Haines, Alaska!

Road to Haines Ferry Terminal.  Beautiful Blue Bay.

Oil Change by the Bay. 

This is how the final oil level check is conducted. 

The bike must be level and there is no center stand.  People with shorter arms must have to go to a service center to check the oil!

Cruise ship just arrived.











Another Contest question:

Contest question:
Why do Alaskans tie off their boats to flag poles?

 

Arrival at the motel, and all ready to go on a boat ride.

Today’s Stats:

Arrival in Haines approx. 4 pm local time

Riding Time:  5 Hrs. 33 Mins.

Today’s Miles:  265.8

Total Miles:  7630

Today’s MPG:  48

Today’s MPH:  49.8

Tomorrow’s Destination:    Somewhere between Haines, AK and Prince Rupert, BC.  It takes approx. 38 hrs to arrive at Prince Rupert, having stops at Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangel, and Ketchikan.