Wednesday  July 17        Cycling Day 12

       Bush Camp 3 StewartRiver(Y) to Minto Resorts (Y)

Distance:  (Km).  78

Time:  3:23

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 23

Ascent:  (m). 372

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 111

Cumulative Distance:   (km). 1217

Cumulative Ascent :  (m). 9931

Punctures so far : 0

Had a different sleeping routine last night. Previously I had been turning in around 8pm as the campsite quietened down, resulting in me going asleep very early but waking up before midnight and finding it very difficult to return. Last night I sat outside till 10pm reading, so, late going to sleep and slept almost through the night till about 4 when it turned cold and necessitated an extra layer. I intend to repeat that procedure henceforth.

In the morning it’s generally more than ample to start rising an hour before breakfast time. That gives plenty of time to dress, etc, take down the tent and pack all away.Breakfast this morning was at a lakeside again. All busy ladling out the porridge and making a sandwich when time was called and a nice touch this morning with personalized bananas. Or, was there an ulterior motive? Usually a pile of bananas left there to pick from.

Today was just 78  km (two much longer days to follow) and it was out on the open road with clear skies. We paced along on our merry way with the kms clicking up rapidly on the Garmin. It was pleasing to see the ‘whites’ of the leaves by the roadside indicating the presence of a touch of a tailwind.

By 46 kmwe had crossed over high ground and descended to Pelly Crossing. Had a great view of the bridge across the Pelly which also flows into the Yukon.A screamer of a hill down to the bridge and then on the left hand side ...a shop. Only the second one we have passed since we left Dawson City. Here I admired the details of the log cabin construction, but more importantly utilized the fact that there was a phone/internet signal here. Pelly Crossing is a settlement of a few hundred people. So, I uploaded the last two blog posts. Important to write them up each night - with new experiences every day, the day before yesterday tend to become a blur.

Only 30 km to go to camp at Minto Resorts and lunch to look forward to in that stretch. Walker and I arrived in camp at 12:15 and all tents erected by 1 pm, so it’s tantamount to a mini- Rest Day.

Minto Resorts is on the bank of the Yukon - so we renew acquaintances after last seeing it on Monday morning. The resort is owned by the First Nation people and was busy with coach tours when we arrived. They were just dropping in for a reserved meal on their long  bus drive from Dawson City to Whitehorse.

Again I got a great spot under the spruce trees granting me shade from the strong sunshine and heat...at 28 deg C. No shop but a service block with showers and sit-down toilets.....oh for the simple luxuries of life!

I availed of the long afternoon to do a spot of cycle gear washing down in the waters of the Yukon itself. Should be dry in no time on the line I erected outside my front door. All is quiet now with the four tour buses gone since 2pm. We have the place to ourselves apart from the odd bird dropping by for a morsel.

We still are reminded that we are in bear country...by day and by night. By day I’m armed with bear spray etc and at night food and scented items are placed in the bear box, either official or one provided by TDA.

A longer day tomorrow.

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