July 15 - Day 24 Alaska Trip

It had rained overnite and the wet bikes were an ominous sign, as were the clouds. Were we about to get wet? We considered putting on all of our rain gear to insure that we wouldn't, but in the end Leroy and I gambled on no rain. Our plan was to go down the Alcan, then turn south onto Hwy 37, known simply as "The Cassiar". This pretty stretch of road is like a full bounty of delicious scenery -- tossed green salad of trees, tall mountains topped with Cool Whip, with bubbly streams and rivers to wash it all down! The only thing missing was the dessert - We stopped at a convenient gas pump/cafe/outpost along the way and consumed the local Bumbleberry Pie..., Yum! Only about 15 miles of gravel today in over 406 miles. Since most of the day was spent riding, not much to tell. Oh yeah, we did get the see who the Town Drunk is in Dease Lake, where we are staying. Did I mention these towns are small? Two dinky hotels, a convenience store with the All-Important Gas Pump, one cafe - That's it! Anyway, the drunk got into a rowr with our Hotel Manager because he wasn't allowed to come into the Hotel - Go Figure! Then he staggered into the cafe while we were there. He yells at everybody something only he understood, and sat himself at a table with a total stranger. The waiter makes him move to his own table and tells him to quit bothering the other customers. Then, the drunk slams down the first beer that he ordered so fast he forgot he even got one, and accosted the waiter for not bringing him his damn beer fast enough. After the waiter explained to him that he already drank it and owed him money, the drunk cusses him out and stomps out of the cafe without paying! Just think, we got all that entertainment for free! Back to the hotel for a good night's rest. Tomorrow we go see Bear Glacier, cross back over the Alaskan border and visit the southernmost city in Alaska - Hyder.