What a day! This cycling is hard!! A never ending climb out of Valdez which got me to about 2700ft/823m. All made slightly worse by being overtaken by a 60 year old on a carbon road bike. His whole bike weighed about the same as one of my rear panniers! At least the ride down the other side was fun!
I had to push hard just to make 55miles/88kms. I’m now in a fairly basic cabin on the Richardson Highway. I was so knackered I just needed not to camp and get some decent food inside me. As it turned out the place isn’t fully open yet, but the new owners said I could eat with them. Bless ’em! And they’re going to make me breakfast tomorrow. Hurrah!
I’m still on course to make it to Tok (pronounced Toke, around here. Bless our colonial cousins!) in five days, but I’m going to have to average about 55miles/88kms. Doesn’t sound much, but when you’re hauling 30kg of stuff and 16kg of bike up long, steep climbs, it’s a lot! Having said that I’ve only just started so I should be doing longer days soon. I’m full expecting to have to crash for a few days in about 7-10 days time to let my body recover for a bit. Looks like it’ll be in the middle of nowhere at this rate.
Psychologically I’m fine. The flat and downhill cycling is just plain exhilarating around here and totally keeps your spirits lifted. Truly spectacular scenery. The uphills are still in the same scenery, but you can only look a few feet in front of you and grind your way out of the hell! If you look up you see the next three miles of dead straight rise. Demoralizing. But, hey, I chose to do this and it beats working! And anyway when you get to the top there’s the downhill to enjoy. And the beer and the massage stations. Well maybe at the top of the next hill.
Oh, have I mentioned the continual daylight? it’s weird. You think it’s about 7:30pm and it’s actually around midnight! Bonkers! If I was a lot fitter it would mean I could cycle far further, but I’m not, so I won’t.
Love
Pete
A view from Horse Tails Falls looking back the way I’d come. This is after the huge climb to Thompson Pass
Patagonia Pete 
Yes, if you can`t take a joke you shouldn´t have joined, right?
Sounds absolutely exhausting dahling, too too weary-making.
But looks like the scenery´s worth it……and the Alaskans are treating you well. You can tell them about the colonial cousins thing over breakfast.
In sunny Madrid it´s 12.45 pm, so I guess it´s 2.45 a.m there now? not sure of the exact time difference. Must be weird it never getting dark.
Enjoying your posts a lot and sharing with the family! Helen is not so worried now that you´re going to die. So keep the news coming or she might just come out there to rescue you….
Don’t worry about the dude on the road bike,if it’s anything like my one it would have broken before he got home!
We’re on the coach coming back from Brighton, did the ride this morning, nothing in comparison to yours but a tougher than expected one. Apart from that last hill (a real swine) was goooooood fun.
The scenery is still looking amazing
Take care
Your blog has already become my favourite reading. There is nothing like watching a mid life crisis unfold in real time. But seriously, I’m hugely impressed, especially with the Lycra. It still looks chilly up there, despite the 24 hr daylight.
And please can it be Trevor the Tent?
Nicole xx