Biking in Anchorage, Alaska

Our journey so far!

Two days and three nights in Alaska's largest city gave us just enough time to have a rest day and a day of exploration. We also enjoyed getting to know Zoli and Mary from Louisiana, our neighbours! Can't wait to get to New Orleans to check out all the great things they suggested we try! 

One of the activities that we really

enjoyed in Anchorage was biking along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Leaving directly from our campsite downtown, we rode about a mile to the start of the 11 mile trail on Second Avenue. From there, we enjoyed a 5 mile ride on the paved coastal trail and then turned around and came on back. The following pics are taken along this very picturesque area!

The Alaska Railroad Station is just at the start of this trail. Historically, a very important part of the Alaska economy and still in operation today!

The mud flats and coastal areas of Cook Inlet. A lot of ships still travel 
through this area. It made for an
interesting ride!

Well used by runners and bikers. Downtown Anchorage can be seen in the background.

The trail weaves its way through wetlands and along ponds, over bridges and through tunnels.

Earthquake Park commemorates the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. Here Slump Totem is visited by tourists and locals alike.

Not sure what this is used for, but it was quite interesting to say the least!

Approaching the 5 mile mark this lovely scene greeted us! Even though we felt we could go on, we decided to turn around and bike the 6 miles back to our campsite!

It was nice to be able to track how far we were 
riding using these mileposts!

On our return, we spied this board and were happy to know that for today we were two of the cyclists that used the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage, Alaska!






Tomorrow we hit the road again! Where will our travels take us?

The Grizzlies of Denali

Since beginning this trip, we have had some bucket list items we wanted to experience! For the northern part of our adventure, two things we have wanted to do are; 1. See the Northern Lights, which we are still working on, and 2. See some grizzly bears in their natural habitat! Up to this point, we have driven THROUGH wood bison and caribou herds, witnessed Mama moose and calf grazing in the Yukon and seen oodles of black bears and migrating trumpeter swans but the grizzly continued to remain elusive until.........Denali National Park! There are approximately 350 grizzlies within the six million acres of Denali National Park. On the day we did our tour, we saw 6!!! This post is for you guys!!! So happy to have finally seen you! 

As we head towards Mount Denali, a sow and her cubs can be seen grazing on the alpine tundra

Also, on the road in Park Rangers sit in their trucks with Bear sniffer dogs. Apparently, a hiker camping in the back country was unaware of the bear protocol and fed the bears in an attempt to get away from them!! The bears are now back looking for more food from people :(  The rangers are using the dogs to drive the bears back, away from any humans. All hiking trails are closed and people are reminded to observe bears from afar and to follow grizzly protocol!

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As we drive back out at the end of the day, our driver spots another female grizzly with two more cubs. They are digging for roots and searching for food in preparation for the upcoming winter. We stop for a long time and enjoy watching them in their natural environment!

                              Check!! Another thing off the bucket list!

A Day in the Mountains of Alaska!

Biking in Creamer's Field, Fairbanks, Ak

 Travelling North to Fairbanks, the second largest city in Alaska, we decided to stay a few days to check things out in this area. It was quite a happening place and coincidentally we ended up camping next door to another pair of Newfies originally from Clarenville, NL. They say Newfoundlanders are everywhere, and NOW we believe it!! After enjoying a campfire night

together and a few sociables, we said goodbye to Paula and Wallace and began our trek South on the Park Highway to Denali National Park.

As their website will tell you, Denali National Park is more than just a mountain. It is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Home to grizzlies, moose, caribou, dall sheep and wolves, the terrain consists of alpine tundra, spruce forests and glaciers. But, in the centre of all this natural beauty, stands Mount Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley. With the tallest peak in North America normally covered in clouds, we were two of the lucky few who witnessed this majestic mountain in all her glory. There are no words to describe the sense of awe and wonder we experienced as we travelled by bus to visit Denali. 

Parked in the Visitor Centre at Denali

One of the tour buses meandering its way through the mountainous terrain

That white speck is another tour bus off in the distance

The mountain ranges are spectacular!

Off in the distance Mount Denali stands tall

 Some of the wildlife, just wanted to get in on the action! Yep, that's Mount   Denali in the background. 

Up close and personal!

Heading back! What a wonderful day!

The Top of The World Highway

We really enjoyed the show Gertie and her can can girls
put off in Dawson City on our final night!

We really enjoyed our time in Dawson City but it was soon time to move on. Heading north again, we decided to take the Top of The World Highway! This remote highway connects Klondike Loop from Dawson City to the Taylor and Alaska Highways. It is an extremely scenic route that narrowly winds its way for about 126 kilometers. You literally feel that you are on top of the world, however, more than 100km of the route is gravel and unpaved with few guardrails or shoulders which meant slow going and the risk that we could lose a windshield from flying rocks. This highway, and Border Services, also closes around mid September when the

weather worsens so we could not waste anymore time thinking about it. We decided that this was something that could not be missed and onward we went, first crossing the Yukon River on the George Black Ferry after leaving Dawson City.

Dash Cam Video from our travels on the Top of The World Highway

Yep! We really were on top of the world!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

After crossing the border, we came to a little town called Chicken.....yes,

Chicken! Population 7, a town founded on gold mining, it is one of the few surviving gold rush towns.... and what a neat, cool little place to visit!

After leaving Chicken, we motored on to Tok, Alaska, having officially completed the Top of The World/Taylor Highway! Time to stop and spend the night! We were tired and dusty inside out...nothing a good cleaning couldn't fix!

Boondocking in Tok, Alaska!

Next stop......Fairbanks!

Dawson City, Yukon

So for the last three days we have stepped back in time!! It has been absolutely amazing to have experienced the place where thousands were drawn to in search of wealth during the Klondike Gold Rush; a place where many men and women still come in hopes of striking it rich! 

With the discovery of gold on a Klondike River tributary in 1896, Dawson City

became the destination for the thousands of stampeders who came to stake their claim during the great gold rush the following year. Many young inexperienced men, the cheechakos as they were known locally, sacrificed everything in hopes of striking it rich only to discover that the sourdoughs (or oldtimers) were already in the North before the

Birthplace of the Klondike Gold Rush

big strike with all the claims staked. Some men moved on, however, many stayed and worked for the companies that eventually industrialized the gold mining process using equipment. 

Today this small town of about 1200 people is a

Looking for gold in Bonanza Creek

working town where only families in the community have claims. It is a town that has retained its historical charm with gravel roads, restored buildings and boardwalks. For the many tourists that come here in the summer months, there is wonderful entertainment and places to eat. We thoroughly enjoyed our time, browsing the hundred year old streets, reading the placards and taking in all of the entertainment we could. 

A 4.5 oz gold nugget found last year at Claim 33
We HAD to give it back!

We had lots of fun at Dawson! Steve made his acting debut at the Grand Palace Theatre and on our last night we visited Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall and took in a couple of great shows!

Dawson City is a must stop for anyone travelling to the North!! especially when you get to take in the beauty of the Yukon River from atop "the Dome"!

Thanks for the memories, Dawson City!!