Finally! BEARS!! Well, one bear and he was quite far away. I was starting to think that I was some sort of supernatural bear repeller! I was whizzing (yes, whizzing!) down a hill when I saw the small brown or black bear below the embankment. I had just enough time to honk my horn at him as I sped past. He looked somewhat bemused. That or possibly indigestion. Either way he knew he’d been honked!, Oh yes, when I honk a bear, it knows it’s been honked! (They call him, The Bear Honker) Sadly, there was no time for a photo of a honked bear. Next time…
I’m now in Watson Lake bracing myself for the Cassiar Highway. There aren’t that many places to get food along it, so I’ve got to take enough with me to last a few days. I think several rounds of jam sandwiches and a fruit cake ought to do the trick. Possibly some Kendal Mint Cake in case of emergencies.
Generally, it’s all going pretty well. Too many hills, but hey, that’s Alaska/Yukon for you. Yesterday I did about 120km/75 miles with a good tailkwind and certainly felt it in my legs, but by this morning the aching has pretty much gone. That’s been the story of the trip so far; a bit achey by the end of the day, rest at night, then feel fine the following day. That’s all down to the special training I undertook before this trip. Cycling the ten miles through London to work and back is tough conditioning, especially with regular, beer training, and don’t let any of these fay, ultra athletes tell you otherwise!
I met a Spanish guy yesterday called Juan who had cycled from Ushuaia and so was near the end of his trip. It was interesting to compare our respective appearances. His beard was considerably bushier than mine, but well kept. He generally seemed to be in pretty good shape, apart from blisters on the backs of his hand. I don’t know how he got them, but it seemed a little rude to ask. His bike seemed to be pretty sound, but as you will read later there was a reason for that.
He’d started about 16 months ago and was on his third bike! Not that he’d broken them all. His first one was lost in a tsunami caused by the Chilean earthquake last year. He’d been camping on the beach and everything was lost. Poor bloke. The locals had given him a bike which apparently made it to San Diego where he bought a new one. He was very chipper and still loving his adventure. In fact, all the cyclists I’ve met have been upbeat and happy. I’m not sure if that’s a defining characteristic of adventure cyclists or if they’re all a bit simple! I’ll let you comment on that!
There isn’t any wifi in Watson Lake. They say there is, but apparently the wifi internet pipe has got a kink in it, or a varmint has nibbled it a bit, or some other half-arsed excuse. Either way, I’m in the local library on a steam driven PC and hence no photos this time. Next time there will be a photo of a moose crossing the street, a porcupine climbing a bank and maybe some amusing road signs. Contain yourselves, people.
Love
Pete
Patagonia Pete 
‘The Bear Honker’, they could make a spin off series about that, not sure what the main character would do yet, but I’m pretty sure the ending would be like the ‘Incredible Hulk’ with the sad piano music as you ride away into the sunset (honking horn). However, not, I repeat, not to be confused with ‘Highway to heaven’, that would be rediculous.
Glad you finally saw a Bear (safely may I add), I’m sure he went to his mates after to have a moan about ‘bloody cyclists’, everyone else does so why not Bears too?
Juan seems to have had an adventure and a half, I would imagine his blog would be terrifying rather than the ammusing read that is yours
75 miles a day is good going mate, your body must be well on the way now to getting used to what you’re putting it through. Any idea of total mileage yet completed?
I suspect you’ll be off radar for a bit now venturing along Cassiar Highway, so take it easy and go careful!
Paul
Hiya
Just about to head off down the highway. Got my motor running. Looking for adventure and whatever comes my way. This blog writing stuff is easy when you nick lyrics. Maybe I’ll try and write the whole thing ONLY using song lyrics. ‘Highway to the bear zone.’ Not quite as catchy, but it’s a start.
How’s the cheap living in the old granny annex? You must be saving a fortune. Just don’t blow it all on hookers and gin like last time. Very envious of you buying a new bike. You know alex jones bought a £4000 mountain bike off eBay for under £1000. It was a couple of years old, but in great condition and (I’m sure he won’t mind me saying) probably better than his abilities. So maybe worth a look if you fancy a two year old super duper carbon job with all the cool components.
Love to nick and talk soon
Pete
I expect you’ll be seeing a lot more bears on Highway 37 and very little beers. The bears bemusement on hearing the comedy honk may just give you the vital seconds required to peddle to safety so use the deterent wisely. Remember highway code #112 ‘Never sound you horn “aggressively”‘
The next leg appears to be what you signed up for so hope for the best and prep for snags. Energy powders would probably be better than Jam sarnies but used with a balanced diet such a roasted varmint and tree bark…hey Bear Grylls does it!
Hope you got some useful tips from Juan but 16 months! sounds a very spanish time frame or is that good going? Thankgoodness you packed the spare inflatable bike, good planning again I see.
When are you off and whats the plan? Are you heading for Prince Rupert? The route looks amazing its even got its own website. Very jealous but thanks to your blogs we are all living it with you.
Bro
Hey bro
Just about to head off along the Cassiar. Just using the last bit of Internet in Watson Lake to fire off a few messages to the outside world.
It’s Canada Day here today – 1 July – and that means… Well I don’t know what it means actually, but if it’s anything like the rest of the world then I imagine most things will be even more shut than before and there will be a few ‘events’ with a ‘headline’ from someone not only you’ve never heard of, but whose mother only has a vague memory.
Will drop more a line when I reach civilization. I think that’s going to be Vancouver Island about 13 days from now. You never know though, there have been some strange places where you can get wifi, so I might be in touch sooner. With more Bear Honking tales!
Later
Bear honkers……hmmm, that sounds like something out of Dr Seuss.
The Cassiar highway looks completely empty on Google everything. Rather good if true – there are some wildernesses left. If you hear banjo music, cycle faster!