Alaska Done
Part 6 of 10
We didn't
know what to do
Its called
The Junction
Last Post
Bugle Call
We didn't know
what to do
We, in this
passage, is the collective term for the Bear and me. No-one else was
there at the time. There had been a lot of pot-holes; stretches of
road construction and since the road had levelled-off somewhat I
decided to stop at the side of the road to get some stuff out of my
saddlebags. It was late morning and the rain tapered-off to a light
drizzle. I was concentrating on looking for something in my
saddle-bag. When I straightened up again there he was about twenty
feet away from me. Unlike the Bison, I hadn't even sensed that he was
there. He was a black bear about eight feet tall standing on his
rear legs looking at me. I was trying desperately to remember all
that I had been taught on what to do in these situations but nothing
came to mind. He was looking at me curiously as if he didn't know
what to do. I was looking at him not knowing what to do either. Both
of us didn't know what to do next. I sensed no aggression – just
curiosity - until he decided to “sniff me” by sticking his nose
in the air in my direction. As he began to move closer to me I
started the Harley as quietly as I could; slipped her into first gear
and I moved very slowly across the road to the far side. I slipped my
hand into my pocket to take his picture as he decided to return from
whence he came. I got a shot of him anyway as he slowly moved away.
Its called The
Junction
Its where Hwy
37N meets the Alaska Hwy just inside the Yukon Territory. I was fully
aware that we hadn't been able to get gas since long before Jade City
and the way I figured it – it would be touch and go whether or not
I would make it to the Junction without dipping into my spare
containers I was carrying. The final stretch of HWY37 was in poor
condition. As a fuel conservation tactic we stayed at eighty
kilometres per hour and dodged pot-holes and stretches of road
construction all the way. As we approach the Junction my gas gauge
was reading below empty but I had not yet switched to reserve. I was
surprised to see numbers like 220, 230 and 235 kilometres appearing
on my odometer. This was a first. I had run out of gas years earlier
when the reading was 228kms. I just couldn't believe that my wheels
were still turning at 235 Kms. I was ready for it. I was waiting for
it with my fingers on the reserve tap ready to switch over when my
Harley began to cough and splutter just as I was starting to turn
into a gas station at the Junction. My odometer read 239 Kms. That
was a new record for the history books for my Harley. I suspect that
the extensive repair work done on my Harley as well as the
installation of a brand new air filter had something to do with this
fuel consumption improvement.
Last Post Bugle
Call
What a treat!
We found an Air Force Lodge at Watson Lake that was now used a “No
Frills” motel for tired motor cyclists. It was clean, neat,
dead-cheap and walking distance from a nice restaurant where we could
go and feed our faces after we had got freshened up. I had never seen
a restaurant quite like it in my life. The men's washroom offered
every convenience including, believe it or not, an aluminium bucket
full to the brim with packages of new condoms for those whose wished
to help themselves free of change. As far as refreshments go,the Air
Force Lodge had everything I really wanted. There was a serving tray
in the front lobby containing a giant-sized jar of instant coffee; a
giant-sized jar of whitener; a bowl of packets of sugar or sweetener
and it was – help yourself. It was fantastic. Everyone adhered to
the number one rule which was to remove your boots or shoes in the
main lobby. That was a testament to how clean the place was. Hardwood
floors were spotless; men's and women's washrooms and showers were
spotless and I couldn't help but admire how the military flavour of
the Air Force Lodge still prevailed after so many years. In fact, I
was comforted by the distant playing of the Last Post Bugle Call
coming from somewhere out of the heavens in the night sky as I was
peacefully falling asleep after a hard day's ride.
Word Count 806
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