Well that went better than expected. Breakfasted at the roadhouse with Phil and his wife (sorry Phil’s wife, but your name just went straight out of my brain). Then shot off down the highway in fine spirits and made great time and distance. Did about 60 miles/97kms (just goes to show what happens if you don’t have 2700 ft to climb) in about five hours and got to my next planned stop of Glennallen. I say stop, but it’s really just the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 4. I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of that on this trip. I got here about 1400 and would have probably gone on after lunch if there had been a diner to have had lunch in, but there wasn’t so here I am in a campsite. Not particularly nice but at $15 a night who’s complaining. Well me actually! For one thing, about an hour after putting up the tent it started chucking it down (I’m writing this inside my little rain bunker now) and another thing; blooming RV’s! Just parked there with their generators going. Nice tranquil camping? Hah!
So I spent the afternoon in my tent watching Apocalypse Now. The horror. The horror.
Hopefully this rain will stop by tomorrow otherwise it’s rain gear, lights and hi-viz all day. Sexy!
I saw my first moose today! From a distance, but definitely a moose. Or maybe an elk. What does a caribou look like? I also keep getting hassled by a chattering chipmunk outside the tent. Little blighter! Why I oughtta…! It’s turning into a Disney movie around here.
Apropos nothing, there seem to be a lot of bees either dead or dying by the side of the road. I seem to remember reading an article about someone doing some research on this. If anyone else remembers or can tell me why this is happening then it would at least stop my brain coming up with outlandish reasons for it. Could be a bee war over possession of the highway and these are the fallen. I’m sure I saw five GI bees trying to plant a flag in the middle of the road.
I’ve just re-read this and noticed I haven’t explained why I stopped at 2pm. Well I was knackered! And whilst I may have made it a bit further I figure that at the moment I shouldn’t push myself too hard. Slow and steady wins the race (anyone know how to do a ‘smug’ smiley?). As it is, my new GPS/bike computer says I’m burning about 4500 calories each day. And I know I’m not replacing it. 4500 calories of decent food is enormous, and I simply can’t eat that much in one go, even if I could get decent food, which is often tricky around here. I may try and find some sort of protein shake/mix. Even trickier around these here parts.
This is one rambling post. That’s what happens when you get stuck in your tent on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Hope everything’s good with you, but feel free to let me know either way.
Love
Pete
And here’s a picture of the Alaskan oil pipe. Enjoy.
Spooky about the bees. Can`t remember the theories why, but then it goes something like: bees die, no pollination, no food, we all starve. Who knew the little fellas were so important, and not just as a source of royal jelly for the ageing rich?
But at least the moose/elk/caribou are thriving.
4,500 calories is NOTHING!!!! That´s a few rounds of cheese sandwiches, couple of cream cakes and washed down with lashings of beer. Three times a day.
Still enjoying the posts. What happened to the beard cam?
I don’t think anyone should explain answers about bees dying or any other puzzling things nature is springing upon you. The more/less nonsensical and delirious your versions become we’ll have some idea as to whether or not you’re taking in an appropriate amount of calories (follow Bin’s advice – pies, cakes and booze ahoy!) and if you’re totally tonto we’ll arrange an air drop of goodies. Or think bad things about an elk in your vicinity so it keels over and you can stick it on the fire. Mmmmm, tasty tasty elk….
C x
Bananas and sweets!
Oh, and my cat Mouse eats bees. He’s quite good at it too, but as far as i am aware he hasnt been visiting Alaska whilst my back is turned.