{"id":562,"date":"2019-06-16T00:39:36","date_gmt":"2019-06-16T04:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cathmandu.com\/catproject\/?p=562"},"modified":"2019-06-16T15:56:27","modified_gmt":"2019-06-16T19:56:27","slug":"the-kindness-of-strangers-the-dalton-highway-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cathmandu.com\/catproject\/the-kindness-of-strangers-the-dalton-highway-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The kindness of strangers: The Dalton Highway (part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coldfoot was a great place to spend a few days off. Not only do they have really good food, there is always people coming and going, from all over the world. Everyone there seems to have an interesting life story and I spent hours chatting with some of them, including the wonderful staff.<\/p>\n

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Cristian from Motocamp in Chile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

People gave me food, coffee, and even a small hand crafted wooden dinosaur that is now keeping my guard dog company. People went out of their way to show their support, it was amazing and very touching.<\/p>\n

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My guard dog and his new companion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was sad to hear that another experienced truck driver died on the road during the week, they say the Dalton is the second most dangerous road in the world. I have huge respect for these guys who travel up and down the road: they were very kind and considerate on the road, and a few even offered a ride if I coudn\u2019t continue.<\/p>\n

After 2 days of relaxing and watching movies at the Visitor Centre, I decided to continue, but it was hard to leave the nice folks at Coldfoot. I knew there were serious hills between Coldfoot and Fairbanks, but I didn\u2019t want to quit unless I really had to!<\/p>\n

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Roller Coaster, one of many hills<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The thin line in the distance is Beaver Slide, the hill that I found the hardest of all<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I worked very hard up some of those hills, \u00a0and I sometimes found shelter in the few outhouses along the road, as thunderstorms were rolling in. Laf enjoys staying dry. But the weather was really good, almost all the time.<\/p>\n

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Nice shelter!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Flat road, enjoy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Top of Gobbler\u2019s Knob, another big hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More people stopped to talk to me, and offered me food, advice and encouragement. An Alyeska Pipeline employee even promised to find me the next morning and asked what I wanted for breakfast.<\/p>\n

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Peaceful camp in the bush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To my surprise and delight, he did find me, even if I was not camped in a very obvious spot and gave me scrambled eggs, hot coffee and a bag full of fruits, energy bars and GORP. I couldn\u2019t believe it! I laughed, and almost cried: that was such a treat! At times, I feel overwhelmed by all the generosity and kindness of people.<\/p>\n

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Amazing treats!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But it was not going to be the last kind person I would meet… The next day, after many very big hills, I arrived at an official campground where I met Shelia, a woman who had stopped to talked to me the day before. She was getting water from a natural well.<\/p>\n

As I filled up my water bottles, we started chatting, and shortly after she invited me to stay at her cabin. I wasn\u2019t keen on going back a couple miles up the road, but I coud tell that she was not an ordinary person and decided to accept the offer. And she is, indeed, a super interesting and inspiring person who lived an incredible life, has a real sense of adventure and I had a fantastic time with her. She even fed me, heated up some water so I could wash up a bit and I slept in a real bed, with a real pillow. I was almost overwhelmed by the smell of soap.<\/p>\n

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Remarkable Sheila and her doggy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next day I only rode 10 km to reach Yukon River Camp, another super friendly oasis. My knees needed another day off. There, I was once again welcomed like a special guest, and was offered a staff room for the night, including a hot shower, my first real one in 2 weeks, and I even did laundry. It felt like Christmas. What a treat, again!<\/p>\n

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Yukon River Camp, another place hard to leave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also had the privilege to meet Matias, a Brazilian guy who is walking around the world. He was the one who had made the \u201cbed\u201d in the abandoned building near the Atigun Pass. \u00a0We laughed as we shared stories, as only people who went through the same stuff can. It was an amazing day. Once again, I had a hard time to leave. But I wanted to complete my \u201cmission\u201d.<\/p>\n

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The long bridge over the Yukon River, at a 6% gradient (uphill, of course!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With 200 km to go and over 3500 m of climbing, I rode in a very conservative way, but slowly the realization that I was going to make it was sinking in and when I finally reached the Dalton Highway sign, I was overwhelmed with joy, so incredibly relieved and happy. I could have stayed there forever. I couldn\u2019t have been happier.<\/p>\n

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The happiest moment: Laf and Cat at the Dalton Highway sign. We made it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Squatted this nice public access cabin for a night…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the start (or end) of the Dalton, I still had about 130 km to Fairbanks, but I was done with the gravel (except for the construction zones) and the numerous climbs were long, but not as steep. The next day I got closer to Fairbanks, with mixted feelings: happy to be almost done but already missing the peaceful, magical wilderness.<\/p>\n

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The Elliott Highway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Done with the gravel but not with bad roads…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting closer to Fairbanks: there was even a bike path!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And on June 14, 16 days after I left Prudhoe Bay, I navigated my way into town, with the biggest smile on my face, and reached Sven\u2019s place, my base camp…<\/p>\n

I completed the first part of my journey!<\/p>\n

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Home sweet home. Sweet feeling, indeed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coldfoot was a great place to spend a few days off. Not only do they have really good food, there is always people coming and going, from all over the world. Everyone there seems to have an interesting life story and I spent hours chatting with some of them, including the wonderful staff. People gave me food, coffee, and even a small hand crafted wooden dinosaur that is now keeping my guard dog company. People went out of their way…<\/p>\n

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