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CHAPTER 14

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DAY 21. DAWSON CITY TO FARO. 530km

It was with a little reluctance we left Dawson City. Just as we were due to leave the heavens opened so we spent an extra hour and a half for the rain to stop. Eventually it did and we were on our way only to cop heavy rain for about an hour on the way.

Leaving Dawson city the road follows the Klondike river. For about 30 km both sides of the road for several kilometers are lined with tailings piles from the gold dredges. It is like a ginormous worm has passed thru the landscape leaving its droppings trail. It must look surreal from the air

Then it was down the road to Carmack where we turned off the main road and headed to the town of Faro. Faro is a lead mining town in the middle of nowhere. One sixth of the world batteries have lead in them from the Faro mine. Apparently there are 25,000 hectares of land that has been poisoned for the next 200 years as a result of mining practice in the sixties However it had a nice campground and a nice pub meal finished off the day

Puncture on Kens bike. Photo courtesy of an advisory committee member!




DAY. 22. FARO TO WATSON LAKE. 430km

An easy day of only 439 km? No,no,no! It was 430 km of gravel road with absolutely nothing en route. We were right out on the vastness of the Yukon. We only saw one other car all day. If we had of broken down in the middle we would have been in big trouble as it would have been A 200 km hard ride for help You really appreciate the size of the Yukon on a road such as this




Then Watson Lake there we had what I think would be the worst meal of my life. The restaurant come takeaway bar was crowded and hot. The waitress was tired and at the end of her tether. The service was slooooooow! The meal was terrible. We were tired,hot and thirsty. Not a good combination! For the first time in North America I refused to tip


DAY 23. WATSON LAKE TO FORT NELSON. 535 km

What an absolutely superb day. The scenery down thru Muncho Lake state park was absolutely stunning. High mountains,gorgeous lakes, forested hills and a sweeping and swooning road that wound its way thro stunning vista after vista. I am almost moved to poetry or even more dangerously song!








Yes,a bison walking to work




A bison working out-




Bison,bison everywhere




And now we are in Fort Nelson. A fort town sounds sort of comforting and has a nice ring to it. Tomorrow we go to Fort Saint John although I must admit I did not think the Crusaders got this far!

Comments

StarJam said…
Sounds very fascinating. What a ride! The bison look like they are minding their own business - are they at all interested in the passing bikes??
23 July 2012 at 04:46
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