A journey to fill my soul

Long distance travel can sometimes lead to some big letdowns that can ruin an entire vacation, or in my case, a journey. The good news is that I planned, and replanned for any possible problems that could come my way. The other good news is the problems weren’t exactly mine but I did end up dirty and relied on to help.

The first was a couple who tried to drive the Dempster but had not one, but two flat tires. I wasn’t part of that fiasco but the story was it took two weeks before they got help and turned around and off the road. I became part of a third flat tire for them which they had on a mountain road with a very steep incline. With no spare because it was still flat from the first letdown, and limited knowledge to change the tire on an incline, it was my turn to help. Actually, I came on them as the truck rolled off the jack as he raised the wheel off the ground. Scary….The tire had a simple puncture, and I had a repair kit, so tire off, puncture plugged, tire on, and off they went. Happy that turned out for them. Not sure I’ve ever seen anyone so thankful. The wife insisted I was a gift from God.

The second breakdown was a bit more challenging. A couple with a truck and camper setup similar to mine attempted the Dempster but drove a bit too aggressive. I mentioned how you drive slow while watching the road conditions for quick changes. I’ll guess the truck was probably air bound, or close to it. I met them in a camp on the Taylor Highway and started a conversation which led to a request for help and tools. Campers that set in the bed of a truck are tied down with simple hold downs that are anchored to the camper and the truck frame. The anchors on one side of the camper were literally torn off from the camper. Three hours and some angle iron bought from a gold prospector and the problem was solved, at least to get him down the road.

I always say, count your blessings when they come your way. I’ve been blessed with skills and many life lessons that have always been learned from. I feel obligated to help when I possibly can.

The Top of The World Highway

I left off last post in the Yukon River Campground across from Dawson City. I had a pretty simple goal for the day, reach Chicken, Alaska. If you’ve never heard of Chicken you should probably do a quick web search. After driving three hours, helping the folks with the flat tire, entering the U.S., driving past dozens of gold prospector camps, you come to the community of Chicken.

This is quite a quaint community populated heavily with prospectors and campers. The Chicken Creek runs beside the camp and for more than a century prospectors have been searching for gold. I planned to stay for two nights and ironically I was placed next to a camper who was a prospector, but was also from Wisconsin. It wasn’t hard to start a conversation with this gent and he was more than pleased to tell me his story and share what he was working on, he was cleaning his gold from the days work. An incredibly generous person to share his life story and teach me a bit on panning and cleaning gold.

Chicken was also the place I met the couple with the broken camper mounts so my two night stay went by very fast. I did make time to visit the Chicken Saloon. Judging by the decor I’m guessing there have been many good times in the place.

Tok, Alaska

Leaving Chicken, you drive the Taylor Highway. Unlike the Canadien side of the road, this side is mostly paved. And the views are amazing. Unfortunately I’m back into the smoke, views are incredible in person, but not so much on film. All good, etched into my brain. Leaving the Taylor Highway I finally found paved road that was good enough to drive with some confidence and speed. Not too much due to frost heaves, but it did feel good to drive and look at scenery instead of the next possible disaster. I took a 15 mile detour and drove west to the city of Tok, Alaska for fuel and a few supplies. Nice place except they’re fighting a fire just south so the smoke and fire crews had to be watched for.

That leads me to my current location. I’m at a free State of Alaska campground on my way to Haines, Alaska.

I’m on Alaska Highway 2 that turns into the Canadien continental Highway 1. I’m currently just this side of the Canadien border. I’ll need to drive about 5 hours in Canada before crossing back into Alaska on my drive to Haines. I’ll make one more night stop in Canada before crossing the border.

Another chapter down

So this is where I leave you. My next entry will be in Haines. I’m looking forward to this. After 7 weeks of rough camping I’ll start to stay at some nicer campgrounds with amenities, like power, restaurants nearby, and a laundromat.

As always, thank you. Thank you for following, the comments and likes are appreciated. My journey continues. All my best…Peace.