Day Seven | Riding North

Aug. 1, 2013

This one had a bit more adventure than the days before. Since we got into Skagway a day earlier than planned we decided to ride to Beaver Creek instead of taking the ferry to Haines and riding out from there. After we had packed the bike, I started cleaning the bike with a rag I’ve been using each morning. As I was wiping down the swingarm I notice that the clip was missing on the master link. Crap, had a spare rivet link or so I thought but no chain tool, I forgot my small one.

So we try to figure out who might have a chain tool we can use ask about motorcycle shops or mechanics. We start heading over to a mechanic we were told about when I spot a Ural sidecar sitting in front of a coffee shop. I figure anyone that lives in Skagway with a Ural will have a chain tool, so I walk in and ask who owns the Ural. The gal at the counter says “Hey Jim, this guy wants to know who own the bike out front.” He waves me over , I introduce myself, explain the issue and ask if he might have a tool I can use? He says “yes, let me finish my coffee and you can follow me to my house.”

So off we go, not only does he have the tool, but he also has some cool bikes, the Ural, a Norton, Gas Gas trials, and others. I get the chain tool and start pressing off the master, I open the spare and realize after a bit there is a clip sitting on the floor in front of me. We get the original master link back where we started and add the new clip, clean it with brake cleaner and add some rtv. Hopefully that will be the extent of any more repairs needed on this trip.

We thank Jim for his help and head out of town but not before putting some credit on his account at the coffee shop since he would take anything.

Heading out of Skagway we stop to get a shot of the White Pass Railroad passing over one of the waterfalls in the area. It’s a beautiful ride out as we head towards Whitehorse. It was funny, the night before Skagway was really quiet, mostly locals at the bars and restaurants, in the morning as we were leaving the streets were filled with tourists from two cruise ships that arrived overnight. They would walk right out in front of you as you rode down the street.

We stopped in Whitehorse for gas and the best weather vane ever. They have a DC-3 that was used in the U.S. Army Air Forces in India and China and was later converted to civilian use with the Canadian Pacific Airlines. It is now a weather vane that spins in the wind, can you imagine having that on your roof?

After Whitehorse we headed north towards Beaver Creek. Stopped for lunch at a great bakery/deli in Haines Junction, glad I spotted the sign on the way into town. I had an elk/bison hotdog wrapped in cheesy bread that was delicious. I think we’ll be stopping there on the ride back to Haines next week. The roads between Haines Junction and Beaver Creek aren’t nearly as nice as what we’ve seen so far. Lots of sealed gravel roadways and quite a bit of dips, potholes and cracks. Though David and I had a fun time riding it like motocross standing up and absorbing the contours at 70mph. 😉 Marcus didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as we did.

Don’t remember what time we arrived in Beaver Creek, a little after 8 I believe. We got a room at Ida’s, Ida Dhaliwal I’d guess. I got a quick shower and we headed over to Buckshot Betty’s for dinner, we got done with dinner a bitlittle after 10 PM and the sun was still up. After dinner David and I went down the street to the gas station/laundromat to do some laundry. Finished up washing clothes just before midnight and the sun was just setting. Don’t know how anyone gets used to it.

We’ll be headed to Tok and then Paxson tomorrow, then crossing the Denali Hwy to Cantwell.

On day seven of our motorcycle trip to Alaska. we rode from Skagway to Beaver Creek in the Yukon Territory.

On day seven of our motorcycle trip to Alaska. we rode from Skagway to Beaver Creek in the Yukon Territory. Dave’s photo of me on the Alaskan Highway near Kluane Lake.

Me working on the chain, look dummy, there’s a clip right in front of you. On day seven of our motorcycle trip to Alaska. we rode from Skagway to Beaver Creek in the Yukon Territory.