June 15, Tok Alaska. Farewell to the Yukon

Hello everyone! Right now, I am in Tok, Alaska. I have cycled 3018 miles since I departed on April 1st. In less than a week, I will be in Fairbanks, where this segment of the ride will come to an end.

In the last blog entry, I went on a big rant about how everything broke. Well, I forgot to mention a couple of things. My sunglasses, for example, fell off of my bike and I ran over them. I was able to replace them, but the new ones broke 3 times. Superglue fixed them twice, but the third break was not repairable. I rode almost 100 miles before I found a new pair!

The other thing that seems to have broken is something in my left wrist. In planning the ride, I worried about a lot of things related to my body. My hands were not on the list, however. But they have been the part of me that hurts the most. It feels like I have always imagined carpal-tunnel syndrome should feel. I’ve got my doctor at Alpine Woods Medical looking into the problem. Worse case is I will need surgery–most likely some less drastic measures will address the problem.

I crossed over into Alaska a couple of days ago–this was my first time ever in this state.

Leaving the Yukon

Poised between the east of my youth and the west of my future

My first full day of cycling in Alaska was tough–a lot of uphill sections, moderate head winds, cold and rain. Arriving at the RV park later that evening, however, I was greeted by a most welcome sight. I thought that this was only a myth; a legend. But it is wonderfully true!

Yep–I am taling about the fabled liquor showers. You just stand there and let the cooling Rich and Rare rain down upon you.

Later, I came to a fork in the road, or rather a half dozen of them.

Some forks in the road

On the way to Tok, I crossed what should have been the 3000 mile mark on my bike computer. When that occurred, I reset it so that from now on, I will only have to add 3000 to the reading to get the total distance, instead of a more random number.

3000 mile mark

I left the Rockies behind in BC, but this Alaskan range in the distance reminds me of them.

The Rockies

I am going to try to get to Delta Junction in the next two days, but it may take three, depending on the winds. Delta Junction is the offical end of the Alaskan Highway. I will check in if I can.

Cheers,

Scott