Day 18 - Best day yet

STATS	DAY	MILES	CLIMBING	CALORIES
DAY	18	51.60	2621	3414
TOTALS		967.33	42,365	55,141

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Last night was the best night yet in the tent.  After the almost a century the day before and a great dinner of a variety of tortellini, the setting for a night out in the fresh air was ideal.

The Great Pumpkin has the best spot in the forest

Today we only had a short ride of 50 miles.  After so many longer days, you get to thinking that a 50 mile ride will be over too quick, so we opted to take it a little slower today.  11:00 was target kick off time.  Mike, was ready by 9

Brad, so help me if you don't get ready to ride right now I am going to go postal on your ass, Alaska style!

Not sure what that means but Mike his rocking his new Alaska jersey.  I didn't know they spelled Alaska with two "S's"

So  we roll out and the first stop is at 0.62 miles at the village bakery and deli for a second cup of coffee and a home baked delight.    When we walked in, we discovered some of the local delights.

Apparently they use everything from the bison.

Before you say it, I know what your thinking:  Who knew that they made bison cheese and what type of wine goes with it?  Though, I imagine that there are few you wondering:  How do they collect the bison milk and do the cows cooperate?

After we finished our mid morning treat, we started out to hit the road when another cyclist rode in.  This guy left Arlington Texas in April and was headed to Fairbanks.  From there, he was going to fly up to Prudhoe Bay so he could claim he was north of the Arctic circle, then he was going to make his way down to San Francisco.  His first question to us was:  “Are you guys just doing a day trip?”  I am thinking that the next time I do something like this, I will outfit my bike with full front and rear panniers (saddle bags) and will just fill them with packing peanuts so I look serious.

Finally, we are on the road and were greeted with a 1300 foot climb up to Bear summit.  I had my third mechanical today, the lock-ring on the rear cassette came loose.  Tom said that the vibration from the chip sealed roads shakes just about anything loose.

The weather today was another sunny warm delight.  The views were spectacular.

 Looks good enough to go swimming.

When we met Joe at the beginning of the ride, the first morning he said “You guys look fast, don’t worry about me”.  We told him that we would all stick together.  The first week, Joe struggled a little to keep up and cried “uncle” a couple of times.  Mike said “Joe, by the last week you will be kicking our asses”.  Well, per the wisdom of Mike, he was right.  Today Joe was kicking ass and taking names.  Joe screamed up the climb and neither of us could keep up.  After the summit, Mike, still reeling from the time I beat him up the killer climb on the road to nowhere, was not going to let Joe be in the lead.  They took off like bats out of hell.  I, being the wise old guy I am, decided that I would take a leisurely spin and soak in the sun and scenery.

I caught up with them at the lunch stop.  They were sitting in the camp chairs eating a sandwich.  What was funny was they were surrounded by 360 degree magnificent views, and they were sitting in chairs and facing the side of the support trailer.  I took my chair and moved it a better spot and it took about 3 minutes for Joe to get up and move over, then Mike came along too.

Mike sez: These Bike Fridays are real neat.  They convert from a high end bike to camp chair at the flick of a knob.

After lunch, the terrain turned hilly again.

 A little something something to get the heart going.

After a few climbs, we descend to towards the southern end of Kluane Lake.

 This picture speaks for itself

Kluane Lake is the largest lake in the Yukon.  The lake drained from the south end into the Gulf of Alaska.  In the last glacial period, about 14,000 years ago, the lake was covered by a glacier that was over a mile thick.  The glacier melted on both the north and southern ends.  When the glacier retreated, only 400 years ago, the channel that drained from the north was lower than the normal drain from the south, so the lake now drains  into the Bering Sea.

The ride along the lake shore was a sight to experience:

 Optical properties in action

Joe and I stopped and hiked about ¾ of a mile up along to old highway to Solders summit where they held the official opening of the highway in November 1942.  There were several info plaques on the way up and a monument at the spot.  Very well done and a must do if you find yourself here.

Tom reserved the perfect campsite and we pitched our tents.

 A room with a view

Then, Mike and I took the traditional dip in the lake.

If it looks like we are numb from the waist down and our teeth are chattering, it’s true.

This was coldest water I have ever experienced, it was painful, but totally worth it.

Finally, Tom topped his game again with a dinner of bison burgers and smokey links. 

 If you must know, Mike got the extra link

For a short day mileage wise, it was a full, and great day.

Tail of tape.