08/04 As I mentioned earlier the machines known as my legs went into overdrive and got me a new one day record. Even better was the fact that my average speed for the day was also the highest so far at 14.7 mph. The relatively flat terrain and a stiff tailwind up until the last 20 miles helped a lot. No aches or pains like the last long day.
This also marks the end of my trek up the Alaska Highway. From its starting point in Dawson Creek to the official end of the highway in Delta Junction it was 1390 miles. I started back on July 6th so it took me 29 days (wow–first time I’m seeing that number). If anyone writes me whose driven it and says something like, “Wow that’s a long time! I drove it 3 days.” I’m going scream. 
There were a couple rest days in there but ignoring those my average distance per day was 48 miles. I can also tear out 42 pages of the Milepost which shaves off 1/4 lb of weight. Looking back, the Alcan Highway threw some unpleasant situations my way but the amazing wildlife, spectacular scenery and literally dozens of great people I met on the way more than made up for the few days of bad weather or issues I ran into with the bike tire.
The plan this morning certainly wasn’t to push so hard but at mile 55 I hit the place I was planning to stop and just didn’t feel like it so I kept going. I’d loaded up with water which turned out to be a good move but there were some streams so I would have been OK. I did have to stop for 15 minutes at mile 70 and get some shade by the side of the road. I could tell I was inching toward heat exhaustion so a break was needed. This was the only shade I had all day. At mile 90 I ran into a lodge that sold Gatoraide and frozen Snickers. That, along with some Slim Jims (needed salt bad), gave me a good boost. Got back on the bike, grabbed my iPod, went to Music – Artists – Metallica and that was all it took.
The salt thing is kind of funny. I’d been pretty active with mountain biking before I left Florida but I don’t ever remember having salt deposits build up on my clothes. My head cover ends up getting caked with it and my shirt had salt patches all over it. If a goat ever got a hold of me I’d be in serious trouble.
Didn’t see much today. I did see a giant moose early into the ride but it ambled back into the bushes before I could get the big lens out. The smoke is still pretty bad and visibility was restricted to a couple miles. At one point I looked over and much to my surprise there was a huge mountain to my left that I hadn’t even noticed. Just to be completely selfish if it’s like this in Denali National Park I’m going to be soooo disappointed.
My cell is working again on AT&T so I make a few calls this morning before I left Tok. I miss my family. 
I’ll have to plan a side trip back down to Florida when I get to Long Island, California. I think Jet Blue still flies out of there and it was pretty cheap if I remember. I’ll have to find a place to store my bike. Plenty of time to figure that out though.
Staying at Smith’s Green Acres Campground. $15.50 for a shower and wifi. I have to pay in the morning because I got here a bit too late and the office was closed. It’s OK here but it’s kind of rundown. The tent-only sites are in bad shape: overgrown, not marked well, only 2 lopsided picnic tables for 4 sites and there’s garage in the bushes. Decent showers and I finally had a chance to shave off many days worth of facial hair so I’m sure to get ID’d again.
Yikes, long post.
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Um!!! Where do you plan on staying when you come back to FL. for a few days….no room at the inn here….BTW I love what you’ve done to your bike. The wicker basket is a nice touch.
I’ll sleep in the computer room. My back can adapt to any surface now–even ones that Uncle Alan has created by running copious amounts of cabling underneath. The basket is sweet huh? You should see the bunny sandals I picked up.
His mission while Zach and I are in Sedona is cleaning up the copious amounts of cables underneath the desk
Once again Scott….This whole trip was awesome and I’m so proud of you..I can’t wait for the next adventure….
Thanks Aunt Leslie. Up next is not being eaten by what were described as “the hunting type” bears on the Denali Highway.
Glad I still have a full can of bear spray.
“the machines i call my legs” omg you are such a dork:) gross too, salty head.you should put a beard pic on here, i’d love to see it! i don’t get that picture of the pipe things.. is that how big they are around? anyway, wicked awesome:) i am obsessed with your site.
That was good huh? Your brother… so clever
No more beard for a while. I like getting ID’d all the time. The largest pipe was about 5 feet tall I think. I’m going back that way so I take a picture that puts it in perspective.
This FL rider has Camelbak straps that are regularly salt-crusted. It’s not unusual to come back from a long ride with them totally white.
Glad you stopped at the shade. My feeling is that God gets really pissed if He went to all the trouble to put a tree on the side of the road to make shade and you pass it up.
Hey Ken. Thought I lost you.
My days of x-country mountain biking in Florida gave me some great experience dealing with hot weather. I knew immediately that it was time to take a break. Even the fires in the Everglades gave me a little prep for the smoke up here.
No, Scott, I’ve been hanging in there behind you. You dropped me on some of those climbs, but I kept plugging along.
Sorry to hear you’re considering bailing, but riding in smoke is no fun. And, you’re right, why suffer through it if you’re not going to be able see what brought you there?
We took the Great Family Vacation Out West in 1990, when the kids were old enough to appreciate seeing big rocks piled on each other (after growing up in FL). That was the summer of big fires out there and it seemed that all we saw was haze for three weeks.
Soldier on. You’ve done a lot more miles than I ever thought you’d do when I first saw how much stuff you carry. I’m known as a guy who carries the kitchen sink, but you strapped on the whole west wing.