15 miles or so North of Dawson Creek finds me at my first gas stop. The “driveway” to the pumps and store is all rock and gravel, a way of life this far North I’ve read, and Kai adds an early morning layer to her grimed and slimed frame.
I take extra notice to this today, and as an Auto Detailer, is really bugging me (no pun intended), but I also have some superstitions, and one of is that all of this is PART of the journey, and bad luck to remove until the journey ends, so dirty she will be.
I reach deep into my tattered and torn Levis for more Canadian currency and the gas teller smiles, noted how nice it was to see an American using Canadian money, as she says that most Americans try to avoid it at all costs.
I suppose it is a little difficult getting used to, especially since it’s all so colorful. I find it’s sort of like Monopoly money, and at times, I find myself spending like it was.
I heel the stand up and rock the throttle gently, maneuvering out onto Rte 97 North (Alaskan Highway).
Due to my trusty atlas and Google Earth, I know all these roads, but the roads do not know me. I still shudder with excitement that I’m actually this far up here doing this trip. Especially when in January the shop was wicked slow and I was only a few weeks away from dressing up in a Gorilla outfit, cradling a large foam banana, handing out flyers, muttering something about not monkeying around with your money.
And NOT saving up lots of money to spend a month on the road.
I wasn’t even sure if I had the baubles for this, but here I am, jockeying Kai towards Fort Nelson British Columbia, a mere 300 miles from Dawson Creek. I love these days, as 300 miles works out to an easy day, not as punishing, and is perfect for taking your time.
Heading out of town didn’t appear any different than the last several hundred miles I just rode, but that still means it’s pretty to ride through.
I cross Peace River about 40 miles out of town and then blast into Fort St John, the Energetic City, and that’s about where I saw my first Moose.
At least I think it was a Moose, as I only saw its 4 legs and feet. I think it was sleeping. I had no idea they slept like that, all upside down and right alongside of the road.
And they kinda smell too.
I also saw my first Caribou, and caught a glimpse of 2 black bears. The bears were doing bear things behind a grassy knoll, and by the time I stopped to grab a photo, they disappeared back on the other side of it. Oh well, I still have about 900 more miles of this road to check out.
Had an interesting moment today, as I had about a half a tank of gas left, and passed a gas station that I was thinking of hitting. No worries, as I knew there was a gas stop at a “town” called Prophet River. So when I got to Prophet River, the only thing that was there were THE Prophet River, and a sign on the window saying
Check Fuel
Next Gas Stop 100 KM
Umm
Uh oh.
Lemmie tell ya, after spending 100 km locked at EXACTLY 60mph, leaned over for the best aerodynamics, I decided from now on I’m gonna ride like I promised. Drive on the top half of my gas tank only from here on in.
I ended up getting gas at my destination of Fort Nelson. As I was getting fuel, I pulled off my head gear, swabbed my sunburnt nose with some sunscreen, and chapped sticked my lips with some Chapstick.
Berry Red.
I can’t remember the last time I even HELD a tube of Chapstick, much less used one, and now I know why. As badly burnt as my face has gotten, I think chapping up in a trucking construction town, at the only gas station in town, while every manly man this north of Alberta was watching, was the most uncool, nerdiest thing I could’ve done.
Now, if someone could just come over and steal my inhaler, give me a wedgie, and shove me in a locker, my day will feel complete.
GORGEOUS Super 8 motel here in Fort Nelson. Feels brand new and I can’t wait to unwind. Across the street is a Boston Pizza, and I decide I will indulge in my first Boston Pizza.
I walk my mini pie and cheesy breadsticks back across the street and up to my room and after channel surfing I find a episode of Northern Exposure on the Aborigine Network.
My first Boston Pizza, ON the Alaskan Highway, watching Northern Exposure on my way TO Alaska.
This is the shit!!
Until tomorrow
Peace Grease and Beats.
