August 3, 2006 – Day 24 – 19 (Bike) Miles Haines, AK – Juneau, AK
Haines, AK – Juneau, AK
Caught the ferry this morning out of Haines bound for Juneau. (“I didn’t know they had their own navy.”—from an old, bad joke.) The ship was one of the system’s “fast” carriers. And fast it was. We made 34 knots from Haines to Juneau, the trip lasting about 2 ½ hours. Loading and unloading was easy, though I was at first a little apprehensive about the loading ramp when I saw metal grates, similar to the roadbed on the “Republican” bridge at Teslin. My apprehension was unfounded and the bike stayed on the straight and narrow into the hold. A couple of tie-downs later I’m up in the warm lounge reading and snapping pics. It was a nice ride. It remains to be seen how well I like it after being cooped up on one for three or four days.
View aft as we leave Haines Harbor
I’ve discovered what’s wrong with the Alaskan Marine Highway system: I can’t go when I please. I actually have to plan per their schedules. One of my main goals on this trip was not to have my stops, starts, and activities dictated by schedules or reservations. I arrived in Juneau at 1:30 this afternoon and am scheduled out about 10:00 pm Friday night (the 5th). My destination is Prince Rupert, BC. I’m going to check in with the BC ferry system tomorrow about costs and schedules from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. Barring significant delay I’m now leaning toward making that ride. Weather forecasts may change that as well. I’m looking at the Alaska forecast and they are getting dumped on back in the Fairbanks-Denali-Anchorage area…surprise, surprise, surprise. And I thought it was just me. The good news is it looks as if the weather may be getting warmer and dryer as I move to the south around Vancouver. I can stand that. I’m tired of being cold.
Wow, the bike has really been a trouper through all this; hasn’t missed a lick and cranks first time-every time. I’m going to use the downtime tomorrow to change the oil and try to find an air filter. The jury is out whether or not the capital city of a state in the union has a Kawasaki motorcycle dealer. I haven’t seen one in the phone book. The lack of population, like the lack of amenities, is pretty glaring in this part of the world. I’m sure the one leads to the other.
Some observations:
=>The “Canadian” side of the trip has been the most rewarding in terms of hospitality and friendliness. This isn’t to say the Alaskans haven’t been friendly, for the most part they have. The Canadians have just seemed so much more sincere about it.
- Met a lady and her two children (girl, about fourteen, and boy about twelve) at Beaver Creek YT after we’d all ran the construction “gauntlet” near Tok. We had a very pleasant time discussing various trips we’d all taken and those the kids wanted to take. They were just an absolute treat.
- A young woman, early thirties perhaps, was in the laundry room in Haines Junction while I was doing my laundry. We talked, rather briefly, about my trip and what I was doing. Before leaving she gave me a little Canadian lapel pin saying I should have something like that to denote my trip. Just nice.
- Even “Crazy” Joel P. at Burwash Junction was not only non-threatening, he was downright nice, describing his mental (and legal) problems in a calm, this-happens-everyday-doesn’t-it tone of voice.
- Evidence the bikers and proprietors back at Rancherio, YT. They immediately made me feel at home and got me involved in their spoofs with the stuffed bear. Just fun-loving people taking advantage of the warm(er) weather.
=> There is marked differences in Alaska between the country where the people aren’t, and that where they are. The former is beautiful, the latter looks like east Louisiana, with yards full of useless, rusted, autos, snowmobiles, pots and pans, you name it. I saw very few residential areas I would call nice until I got to Juneau.
=>The difference between those who have and the rest of the population of Alaska is significant, more so than in the continental U.S.
=>Most girls get minks the same way minks get minks.
Caught the ferry this morning out of Haines bound for Juneau. (“I didn’t know they had their own navy.”—from an old, bad joke.) The ship was one of the system’s “fast” carriers. And fast it was. We made 34 knots from Haines to Juneau, the trip lasting about 2 ½ hours. Loading and unloading was easy, though I was at first a little apprehensive about the loading ramp when I saw metal grates, similar to the roadbed on the “Republican” bridge at Teslin. My apprehension was unfounded and the bike stayed on the straight and narrow into the hold. A couple of tie-downs later I’m up in the warm lounge reading and snapping pics. It was a nice ride. It remains to be seen how well I like it after being cooped up on one for three or four days.
View aft as we leave Haines Harbor
I’ve discovered what’s wrong with the Alaskan Marine Highway system: I can’t go when I please. I actually have to plan per their schedules. One of my main goals on this trip was not to have my stops, starts, and activities dictated by schedules or reservations. I arrived in Juneau at 1:30 this afternoon and am scheduled out about 10:00 pm Friday night (the 5th). My destination is Prince Rupert, BC. I’m going to check in with the BC ferry system tomorrow about costs and schedules from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. Barring significant delay I’m now leaning toward making that ride. Weather forecasts may change that as well. I’m looking at the Alaska forecast and they are getting dumped on back in the Fairbanks-Denali-Anchorage area…surprise, surprise, surprise. And I thought it was just me. The good news is it looks as if the weather may be getting warmer and dryer as I move to the south around Vancouver. I can stand that. I’m tired of being cold.
Wow, the bike has really been a trouper through all this; hasn’t missed a lick and cranks first time-every time. I’m going to use the downtime tomorrow to change the oil and try to find an air filter. The jury is out whether or not the capital city of a state in the union has a Kawasaki motorcycle dealer. I haven’t seen one in the phone book. The lack of population, like the lack of amenities, is pretty glaring in this part of the world. I’m sure the one leads to the other.
Some observations:
=>The “Canadian” side of the trip has been the most rewarding in terms of hospitality and friendliness. This isn’t to say the Alaskans haven’t been friendly, for the most part they have. The Canadians have just seemed so much more sincere about it.
- Met a lady and her two children (girl, about fourteen, and boy about twelve) at Beaver Creek YT after we’d all ran the construction “gauntlet” near Tok. We had a very pleasant time discussing various trips we’d all taken and those the kids wanted to take. They were just an absolute treat.
- A young woman, early thirties perhaps, was in the laundry room in Haines Junction while I was doing my laundry. We talked, rather briefly, about my trip and what I was doing. Before leaving she gave me a little Canadian lapel pin saying I should have something like that to denote my trip. Just nice.
- Even “Crazy” Joel P. at Burwash Junction was not only non-threatening, he was downright nice, describing his mental (and legal) problems in a calm, this-happens-everyday-doesn’t-it tone of voice.
- Evidence the bikers and proprietors back at Rancherio, YT. They immediately made me feel at home and got me involved in their spoofs with the stuffed bear. Just fun-loving people taking advantage of the warm(er) weather.
=> There is marked differences in Alaska between the country where the people aren’t, and that where they are. The former is beautiful, the latter looks like east Louisiana, with yards full of useless, rusted, autos, snowmobiles, pots and pans, you name it. I saw very few residential areas I would call nice until I got to Juneau.
=>The difference between those who have and the rest of the population of Alaska is significant, more so than in the continental U.S.
=>Most girls get minks the same way minks get minks.
posted by Minuend | 1:37 PM
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