Well I’m exhausted. Tired of Beaver Creek tired of LIFE!!! It took me literally minutes to explore the highlights of BC. And I can tell you now, folks, it’s got it all. Roads, pavements (actually, no pavements), motels, a mini-mart, and a laundromatte. But the highlight is the dinner theatre in the hotel I stayed at. I didn’t see it, but I could tell by the excited coachloads of bussed-in American pensioners that it was a big hit. A show all about the building of the Alaskan Highway. With songs. Spread over three hours, including breaks for starter, main and dessert. They’ve been putting the same show on for at least three years… It was a shame I missed it. I missed it by deciding the bar maybe more entertaining. A close run thing in the end, I think. Still, Steve and Perry (a couple of middle aged bikers from Millwaukee) were good company.
They told me about the almost undrivable gravel road out of Beaver Creek for about 40 miles south. That and the photos of the enormous bears they had spotted on that stretch of road has forced me to use my first “get out of jail” card. I’m going to pop the bike on a bus tomorrow and get them to drop me off after the 40 miles of gravel road. I can hear your cries of “cheat” from here! Well, you come out here and push a bike 40 miles through bear infested country, then call me cheat. Hah! Thought so. I’m not that happy about it myself, but having negotiated some fairly awful ‘decent’ roads to get to here, the ‘bad’ roads must be truly awful. If it turns out that Steve and Perry were just rubbish riders then I’ll shout, “STOP” to the bus driver and demand to be let out. As long as the bears aren’t out there. But then, they’re always out there. Behind every tree. Watching and waiting.
More later after I’ve spent another exhilerating day in BC waiting for the 6pm bus.
Love
Pete
Patagonia Pete 
Promise me you won’t try and get up close and personal with a bear. I don’t care if you don’t see one at all! Remember, QI says that in a fight between a lion and a bear, the bear always wins – just think on.
And don’t count on walking in all of the squares to keep you safe, either. What does A.A. Milne know? A right little townee, he was!
I’ve painted Valdez – please can I have another view?
Lots of love and prayers
Mum
Pete
I have given up reading the Metro on the train into Waterloo in the morning, something I have been meaning to do for years and now log onto your blog. It’s considerably better written, marginally less right wing and more amusing. All in all makes for a more pleasant journey through the rat race – not that that is an issue for you now.
Watch out for bears and guys with strange names in bars and Keep up the good work ! Al
Charlie says hi as well.
Pete
I have given up reading the Metro on the train into Waterloo in the morning, something I have been meaning to do for years and now log onto your blog. It’s considerably better written, marginally less right wing and more amusing. All in all makes for a more pleasant journey through the rat Dave how are you doing ? We are having a BBQ at our new house this Saturday – are you around ? – not that that is an issue for you now.
Watch out for bears and guys with strange names in bars and Keep up the good work ! Al
Charlie says hi as well.
CHEAT! Deep down all bears want to do is dance, look at their little faces in the circus with their Shellsuits on, they love it. If one approaches any number from Level 42 or Aha should do the trick to distract enough for your escape. Seriously, I don’t blame you one little bit, have you got a shooter, what did you do with that sorn off shotgun you used to parade around Finsbury park with in the Lotus?
I’m sure it was a real tug of the heart strings to leave Beaver Creek, it sounds an absolute delight!
Hope the chafing has got better, hoping you’re well
Take care
You big girls blouse.
You stayed at the Westmark Inn, Beaver Creek, Yukon, (and I claim my 5 quid). So you didn`t fancy the show? It had some rave reviews on Trip Advisor
“The show was delightful – the most memorable on our whole tour of the Yukon.”. On the other hand the most recent said “Camping would be a huge step up from this place”. Obviously had no chafing (chaffing?) issues though.
Google Earth is amazing. I´ve just been zooming down the road, no sign of bears but lots of bikers.
So not a big fan of BC eh pete. Just hope the Mayor, who I suspect is from the First Nation indian tribe hasn’t read your blog. Hair cut anyone?
Oh by the way how did the US/Canada border crossing go. Was it a bullet riddled sign saying welcome to Yukon…. Home of Large Ferocious Bears. I bet getting back into the US wont be so easy no sireee.
TTFN
Pete, great blog, really excellent! Pleased that you arrived safe and well and are making good progress via public transport and hotels. 4500 calories a day? Now that’s amazing – I make that about 20 pints of lager. Cheaper than those overpriced shakes, and far more entertaining.
Remember the experts’ advice on bears – wearing little bells can help scare them away. And become familiar with their droppings so that you can tell in advance what species are in the area. The less dangerous Brown bear’s (think of Yogi and Boo-boo) droppings are really quite small with a fibrous, vegetative texture. The much more dangerous Grizzly bear’s droppings are far larger and more ‘meaty’. And full of little bells.
Seriously, if you encounter one, use the horn to amuse them and make good your escape whilst they are slapping their thighs. Dump your panniers too, bears are discerning connoisseurs of quality touring bike equipment and will be distracted for vital seconds.
Keep safe, looking forward to the next week’s posts,
Steve
hi pete
following some extensive research i found the following:
“Avoid wearing or carrying deodorant, scented soap or perfumed products that may attract a bear.”
as adviced by http://www.canadatrails.ca/outdoors/bears.html
are you smelly yet pete?
janax