Sunday July 21        Cycling Day 15

        Whitehorse (Y) to Squanga Lakes (Y)

Distance:  (Km). 109

Time:  5:06

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 21.33

Ascent:  (m). 781

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 112

Cumulative Distance:   (km). 1576

Cumulative Ascent :  (m). 12,391

Punctures so far : 0

Into a 4 day stint now to net Rest Day in Watson Lake as we move downwards along the Alaska Highway (Highway 1). Forecast was for overnight rain (which we had) and a 40% chance of rain today...not as bad as forecast for Portrush. It held dry all day although clouds around those mountains threatened. And no wind whatsoever. A beautiful day for a bike-ride.Breakfast this morning was in the car park in front of Days Inn hotel provided by TDA. Substantial as usual and as expected. Two of our staff, Christiano (Ass Leader) and Nurse Emily leave us today but we have a new rider, Rinda (SA) who rode with me on the Orient Express from Vienna to Bucharest in 2015. Also a new member of staff, Coby with responsibility for photos/video and general duties.

Before leaving the hotel at 8am I had one last check on how Shane Lowry was doing...he was leading by 6 shots after 8 holes. No service since till God knows when, so I don’t know how it finished up. Hope someone sends me a text and it’ll come in if we pass a bit of a town.

The early kms was through Whitehorse along by the river and those white ridges that enclose the city. At 5 km we had to scale up that ridge to rejoin the Alaska Highway(S) as it bypasses downtown Whitehorse. That was a tough little task so early in the day.

Back now on the Highway it was much busier than we have been accustomed to, but the wide shoulder helped. The surface all day was excellent and a section between 50 and 80 km was absolutely beautiful. Couldn’t have asked for better, with few hills and no wind one could whizz along.

The Alaska Highway today is a 2228 km major tourist attraction. But after its completion in early 1943 (after just 8 months work) it wasn’t the Highway as we know it today. 

The muddy single lane track could only be travelled by heavy duty vehicles and some of the hills had grades of 25%. Today it is all paved and nothing exceeds 10% gradient. Also parts have been straightened and re-routed in its 77 year existence.

In time I came to the bridge over the McClintock River which marks the start of Marsh Lake. I cycled along by this lake for ages, though not immediately beside the water. There were a number of subdivisions (small housing developments) in the trees by the lakeshore.

Lunch was at 73 km as promised and Lucinda as usual had wholesome and tasty fare. But there we learned that one of our cyclists (Australian) had fallen at 30 km/ - touched the wheel in front in a paceline at 30km/hr, down the embankment, cracked the helmet, dislocated(at least) a finger and painful ribs. Could do without that.

The 36 km after lunch was beautiful-we moved into mountains(rugged rocky ones) without having to climb. It’s nice that the scenery is becoming more varied - it helps to pass the time. 

But still just off the roadside we’re plenty of low shrubs, scattered trees and plentiful ponds. I was on bear-watch hoping to spot a black bear or two (at a safe distance) but no luck.

The 109 km passed quickly today, felt like a recovery day. Probably would have been doing the same thing if I was at home anyhow! But still it was nice to pull into Squanga Lake Campground at 1:30. Plenty of time to rest and relax. House was all set up in half an hour and then off down to the lake for a wash. It looked beautiful but a muddy uneven bottom. Such peace and not a sound in the world to be heard.

In this Campground (and just 50m from my tent is a bat nursery-a series of parallel timber sheets facing south and painted black (all for heat) . Bats breed there rather than in buildings. From the info supplied at the base, a bat can consume up to 1,200 mosquitoes per hour. Although we haven’t been bothered by mossies for the last week or so, I do hope the bats are hungry tonight.Just during Riders Meeting thunder rolled and skies darkened. Serving of dinner was rushed and we all gathered under cover to delight on the cooked chicken, potatoes and French beans. Afterwards I was on washing up duty with Nancy and Peter Mc. Turning cold a timber fire with logs supplied by the campsite was a popular spot to enjoy the cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

The lake took on a different aspect as the thunder. Loads moved away northwards

So an excellent day’s riding on the open road. Oh, for news of the other Open.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.