Day 11

We leave Eagle Plains at 8:00. Back to our old schedule. The road, it turns out is very easy to navigate at 45 gmph. The dragon powder pots don't phase the darkside tires. Higher speeds are, of course, still exciting. I take a few pictures. We see rabbits something we have heard have not been seen much this year. The Lynx eat them. Maybe they have been hiding but there were plenty out today.

We hit rain and hail. The hail hurts. The rain makes the road a bit slick though Bruce, now quite a bit ahead of me because I have stopped to take some pictures of more mountains, is not bothered. He is bothered that he cannot get phone service of any kind, either by card or cell, up here and he is undesirably incommunicado. Tomorrow, back in the states (Alaska), he should be able to touch base.

I have too many mountain pictures. But, they are quite impressive and each turn brings into view another range. These mountains are the dieing end of the Rockies. They are the McKenzie Range, I believe. As you move north, you can actually see them age into balding mounds and eventually peter out at the plain. It says a lot that I won't bore you with.

The 494 Goldwing miles we have ridden the Dempster have left our bikes a mess. My camera was around my neck for most of yesterday and took a real dust bath. I'll ask Stony id some professional cleaning is needed. I wiped it down with a damp cloth and double wrapped it from the return. It is working beautifully with no gritty feeling to the “action” so maybe it's a tough bird. I have my doubts that the T2i that I was also interested in would have survived the California crash and the two days around my neck, one through Alberta for the wild life shoots and one up The Dempster. But, I have no way of knowing. Inside, I feel I made the right choice.

We have sprayed the heavy dirt from the bikes but they still look like they have been uncared for too long. That's how bad they were. My key often won't turn to firer up the ignition and that is a worry. I may have to start leaving the key in there not that I am sure that would help. The high pressure wash helped this time. It just needs some “dry” lube which I have at home. I'll try to fiddle with it and keep it functioning or buy (god forbid) another can of dry lube on the road. I am out of windshield polish also. But, Bruce need to have his front break checked (I think his just being dramatic since we could drop the pads in 2 seconds and check them ourselves) so I'll be in a bike shop soon and will get some polish there.

We saw more of the shooting of Steve Martins new movie, out next year, today. They were doing scenes with the plane. I have pictures of it. It was flown in from a charter company in Fairbanks and has been sitting on the tundra for several weeks. Big bucks. The main “sound stage” is a converted sand pit that I though was real and commented on the expertise of the location scout for finding it only to be told that it is all fabricated in this old sand pit. It looks so real! It's supposed to be a replica of an Alaskan camp or town or something and people wonder why they didn't find one in Alaska. Money I bet. The Yukon probably did change them much and there isn't a Mounty in site. They take care of their own security and everything. Money comes to the hotels and merchants and the movie gets made without a lot of BS. Even socialist Canada knows how to do things smarter than we do. But they are closer to a Republic than we are. The Provinces have immense power. Don't forget, if you are mad you can leave like Quebec has threatened so often. When the South tried they were crushed by an illegal government in Washington. Not that I like socialism but, I do like Republics. Enough with the lessons from the road for now.

Tomorrow Alaska!!