Dease Lake to Stewart ( 390kms)
We ended up staying 3 nights in Dease Lake waiting for a tyre (a Harley at that ) and having it fitted . In the mean time we visited a Kiwi couple from Otorohanga, Jim and Sharon Reed they have been in D Lake for 18yrs flying Helos (and they knew some of my rellies from Otorohanga) , there was also a guy from NZ flying Helos in Watson Lake .
With a new tyre and a Service on the bike and the clutch seeming to be fixed (I gave it a good bleed), we were away and out of Dease Lake ( "happy as goats in a garden" , with all our troubles behind us ).
The ride to Stewart again was another spectacular ride with no traffic and at just a nice temperature , the last 50kms into Stewart on the Glacier Hiway was Mountainous even better with over 20 glacier formations overlooking the Hiway
Stewart and Hyder and the Bears
Having had a great ride to Stewart with no problems we were happy , we booked into a nice and cheap hotel (and the girl behind the counter was marring a Kiwi and living in Nelson) . So off to Hyder to see some bears and the Salmon Glacier ,( Hyder is about 3 kms from Stewart, and it is in Alaska so you have to cross the border into the USA). We were about 2 kms the other side of Hyder and it happened the clutch went and I had left the brake fluid and tools back in Stewart (so what now ) . I thought bugger me what now , so i say to Ruth you push me and we will jump start and I will go back and get the stuff . It worked well and off I went , but I had to stop at the border so up to the border and I chug to a halt . The border guard was a young girl, I show her my passport and then say well you will have to push me . She looks at me and says with a look of disbelief "what" and "why" and "no way" . But I explained that I was goin nowhere with out a push and I said it had to be a good fast push as well , so she says ok and away we go to no avail . Just then 2 cars pull up and she has to go a see to them . Anyway a guy pulled up took me back to our hotel and I was on my way back to pick up Ruth .
It was about 40kms up into the Mountains to see Salmon Glacier on a very steep and rough road and then down to see Bears at Fish Creek ,but there were none( but on the way back we spotted a black bear and 2 cubs on the road ). So we decided to come back in the morning early, and sure enough a big grizzly and a her cub turned up and did some fishing (it was fantastic to watch , and they had a great feed of salmon ) . This is not a Zoo this is real life , we watched for about an hour and then it is off to Smithers .
Stewart to Smithers (360kms) and on to Prince George ( 420kms)
With the Brake fluid now just about running out of the motor end somewhere I topped up the clutch and off we go . While we were in Dease Lake we run into a Lady (Jennifer Mulder ) from Smithers who's husband had just finished the run to Ushuaia in May . So she invited us to stay at there place in Smithers , we had a great meal and night at there place and lots of advice about South America ( thanks Jennifer)
The next day we checked with the Harley Shop in Smithers about the bike but they said Prince George is our best bet if we can make it , so on we go .
The ride to Prince George was a bit boring after such great rides over the last 5 weeks with a lot more traffic and now we are entering farm land apposed to forests .
On the way to Prince George I passed a guy on a BMW so he follow us the rest of the way, when we stopped he was a Kiwi Guy from Wanganui ( Bob Bourdon). We stayed at the same Motel and had a few beers and a good night out
The bike shop in Prince George has order the parts for the bike and we should get it fixed and be on our way tomorrow (11/08/10) to Jasper with (touch wood) a bike all fixed . Prince George has a population of 80,000 seems like a nice city and very sprawled out , today is warm at around 22c I would say and clear Sky's .
Photos
1. Black Bear and 2 Cubs
2 . Jenny from Smithers
3. Stewart
4. Hyder
5. Grizzles Bear and Cub Fishing
Then on the way into Stewart , on the Glacier Hiway
Awesome pic's. What an experience. You so Lucky Lucky !Glad the clutch problem sorted. having a great time with all the family here. hayley came over with the kids on Monday for the night as well,so lots of story telling and enlightening jason with family tales.Weather so nice we spent the next morning on the beach. Sharry goes home tomorrow,boo hoo. You guys take care and all eyes watching for your next blog. XXX
ReplyDeletelotto, at least u got a descent tyre on da bike now, pitty the rest of the bike wasnt the same, trouble free, and plenty of harley shops over there, though u wouldnt need to visit them . . . eh good lotto
ReplyDeleteHi there, thanks for the updated news! As always, lovely to read what you are doing. Aren't those bears amazing? Wow, to think they are in the wild - awesome! All good here - we are flat out at work. Friday can't come quick enough! Hope to go to the Mt next weekend - 21st August - all going well. Take care and lots of love, Wendy and Doug xxx
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of Ruth -- frame it and put it on your Steinway. And great photo of the baby bear eating the Salmon - you can put that on the mantelpiece. Hyder looks very atmospheric; reminds me of worn out old mining towns we visited in Colorado when I was a kid. Love the photos! Jenny SF
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