So I cheated, but this trip was always about the adventure and not just about the cycling. And there’s not much more adventure to be had than clinging onto the seat in front inside The Last Mini Bus from BEAVER CREEK!!! With driver Dave (ageing roadie for Jethro Tull), soft rock (I recognised Fleetwood Mac at one point), his co-driver Luna the Labrador (don’t mention squirrels when she’s at the wheel), and my fellow passengers, or ride-goers as we shall be referred to at the inquest.
After the first ‘air’ we all laughed nervously, after the second we buckled up, and by the time we lost count of the exciting opportunities to test our seat springs we all had our arms in the air whooping and hollering like a fair ground ride. I say ‘like a fair ground ride’. This being the Alaskan Highway and not a fairground ride meant that all this ‘Scream if you want to go faster’ stuff was happening along loose gravel roads, our steering largely a
matter of faith, and our visibility down to zero from the clouds of dust thrown up by the passing juggernauts and RV’s. Bears may have been flinging themselves at the fenders but we couldn’t see them and even if one had somehow managed to grab hold of the bus it couldn’t have held on even using all it’s claws and most of it’s teeth. And you lot think I took the soft option! I’m going for a beer!
I’m now in Whitehorse, which the observant of you will realize is quite a way from Beaver Creek. I’ve let you down, I’ve let the bike down, but most of all I’ve let myself down. Yeah, whatever! I do actually feel guilty. I promise to beat myself later with a whittled down moose antler. I’m in a lovely little campsite by the Yukon River, called Robert Service Campsite for those who wish to google. Tomorrow I’ll be having a look around Whitehorse and maybe trying to organize some sort of iphone communication. Ooh, the excitement!
Love
Pete
PS a photo of our co-driver…
Patagonia Pete 
Not to worry bro, you still have 2,836 km of cycling just to get to Seattle.
Are you itching to get back in th saddle??
Ah ha, there you are. So sorry that I we didn’t get a chance to have a catch up before you left Blighty as I hoped to pass on the tips on how to escape a bear. I’m glad that there have been no sightings, but I can see that there have been lots of comments on Beavers and Bears!
Now let’s take a moment to discuss these big old bears. This site http://www.wikihow.com/Escape-from-a-Bear has some most interesting points, many of the section headers are enlightening and I thought that you may be able to while away the hours considering a bears motivation or how you can respond appropriately. There is also a most interesting video, which I think was put together by Tony Hart and one of Morph’s friends. WARNING: there are scenes which may offend, e.g. bears having a back rub. Unfortunately no advice for Brits on bikes.
1. Avoid close encounters
2. Keep your distance.
3. Stand tall, even if the bear charges you
4. Know your bear
5. Understand the bear’s motivations
6. Respond appropriately based on the situation
7. If any bear makes a predatory attack or you receive any attack from a black bear: Fight back
8. Consider last minute escape
I’ve seen some of these points. I’m especially interested in points 4. & 5. No your bear and understand your bear! But you know what bears are like, especially the grizzly ones. They just won’t open up. Even in the group sessions. I think I’m just going to have to hurt some of them and just tell them how I really feel about being growled at. Hopefully it’ll make them stop and consider other people’s feelings in the future. Bears, they’re so emotionally stunted!
Hi Pete, we met outside Whitehorse library this morning (and again outside the supermarket, small town Whitehorse and the biggest you’re going to see for a long time!). I’ve just read your entire blog and it made me chuckle so thanks for that. I actually read it after applying a coat of paint to our hosts deck and waiting before I could do the next, so your blog is officially more exciting than watching paint dry, high praise indeed! Good luck and all the best, David.
Hi David
Glad you liked it. Maybe I can tempt you away from watching grass grow! Good luck with your travels and I hope to hear from you and Elspeth(?) again.
All the best
Pete
Thank goodness there was a bus to take! I don’t care if you never even see a bear – big grumpy things with attitude and teeth. And don’t start relying on keeoing to the squares, either. What does A.A.Milne know anyway? Right little townee he was!
I’ve painted Valdez, please can I have another view?
Lots of love
Mum
Hi Pete,
I just had a look at your blog (I was happily watching the grass grow, until David took the monstrous weedkiller machine out of our host’s shed and started mowing) and I would like to act as a witness for the Beard-Cam thingy (day 6).
Dear readers: I observed Pete’s beard vis a vis on day 9, meeting him at the White Horse Library, and my, this guy must be loaded with testosterone as his beard has already developed Santa-like proportions. Admittedly, it’s not yet up to ZZ-top standards, but I’ve got high hopes for him to look like Cousin It by the time he reaches Patagonia!
Pete, one word of advice though; don’t let it become tangled in your chain. And another advantage I just thought of, in a week or so it will come in quite handy cushioning your chaffing zones, especially as you braid it loosely first and backcomb severely.
Good luck on the Cassiar with all them Bears! Remember: we saw 26 and still counting… Elsbeth (PS: you’re right: it’s all about the adventure, and you’re doing great, even though you got a -snigger- yellow bike. Na, I’m just very envious of that hub of yours, am going to save up for one of those…)
Hi Elsbeth
Thanks for the hair advice. “Tangled in the chain”, you say. I think an automatic, chain-cleaning beard is exactly what the male cycling community is waiting for. I’m not sure if we can make any money from it. Maybe special beard cable-ties and of course coloured pieces of cloth to braid into the beard. Special pieces of cloth, obviously. Ones that not only disperse 99.9% of all known chain grease, but that make your beard look mighty fine!
Now we just have to work on a similar product for the ladies!
And by the way, for the record, yellow is the new red. And we all know red bikes are fast!
Please keep reading and offering advice. If I attain any measure of experience I’ll do the same.
Pete
Right! whats going on? No blog for a day and wondered if Whitehorse is such a kicking place that you forgot about your avid bloggeristos.
I think you need to think more about the Bike and if I were the Bike I’d like a nice bus ride to rest my tires and reflect on the first few days. Its no picnic having a sweaty arse on my head, razor sharp gravel on my tires and Bears lurking ready to rip my panniers to shreds. What is the warranty mileage on old yeller anyway?
I’m still stuck in Antibes, listining to myself from other much younger crews in the Blue Lady. Feeling old but experienced.
Evac tomorrow thank goodness.
back on the bike soon I hope otherwise I’ll call your agents
love
Bro