D2D Day 8 Watson Lake, YK to White Horse, YK, 275 miles

Howdy Faithful blog followers.  As always, we appreciate your interest in following our little motorcycle adventures.

This morning, before departing Watson Lake we revisited the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake again where more than 7,100 people have posted signs. It has become quite an attraction in Watson Lake, so much that the city has located their visitor center there. We also give thanks to Rena at the visitor center for finding us accommodations in Watson Lake. It turned out to be the same hotel we stayed at on our 2008 ride to Alaska, but under new ownership.

This morning’s weather was perfect, clear, no wind and temperatures in the low 50’s, ideal for riding. Our destination today was White Horse, some easy 275 miles to the west. The forecast for White Horse was for what else? Showers.  And, the forecast was dead on; it started raining long before White Horse.

At about the half-way point we approached Teslin, YK, and the dreaded five span metal bridge.  I say dreaded because the roadway is a wet steel grate allowing one to see the river flowing beneath it. It is a very uncomfortable feeling crossing the span on a motorcycle. Everyone talks about it. The bridge surface seems to just take control of your motorcycle and causes it to wanders all over the bridge in spite your best attempts to control it. It’s very unsettling.

Successfully crossing the bridge, we stopped for gas and lunch on the other side just in time to get our order in before a bus load of tourists arrived. The home-made chicken noodle soup was most excellent.

In the parking lot we met a few KLR riders. We discussed the vibration noise I had been concerned about. They began pushing and prodding and listening to the noise while I tweeked the throttle. The conclusion was that it was not coming from the motor. It turns out that my center stand was vibrating against the motorcycle frame. What a relief, life is good again. Time to ride!

Motoring on toward White Horse, we had occasions to cross several gravel breaks in the highway where the winter frost heaves have damaged the roadway keeping provincial road crews busy repairing them all summer. Fortunately, the rain showers kept the dust down to a minimum. In the past we have been covered in dust from approaching semi-trucks.

Yukon Territory is a scenic paradise. I never get tired at looking at it with its grand snow-capped mountains, green forests and lakes.   

We rolled into White Horse early in the afternoon. After checking into our hotel, we did a load of laundry and walked to supper at the Klondike Rib & Salmon restaurant where we enjoyed an outstanding supper of Elk Stroganoff, BBQ ribs and Salmon, topped off with a nice bottle of British Columbia Shiraz wine. No fine dinner would be complete without a nice dessert. Lane and I split a generous slice of berry pie consisting of blue berries, apple, rhubarb and raspberries, ala mode, of course. A special thanks to Ms. Dona Novecosky, the proprietor.  Thank you Dona and your “kickass Krew” for your hospitality and a fine dining experience.

Here are a few photos from our day. Reminder, you can double click on the pictures to enlarge them.