Today’s adventure – running out of gas.  Now as the ride leader I have certain responsibilities.  Ride fast enough that we aren’t stuck behind the motor homes and tractor trailers, but not so fast as to lose the other riders or get a ticket (Rich you have to stay BEHIND the leader for that to work) etc.  One of the etc’s is to plan the gas stops so we don’t have to push or beg for fuel.  I had that planned out pretty well, in fact at our previous gas stop we were all close to empty but we made it just fine.  We were about 70 miles from our destination and have about 50 miles gas left in the tanks.  There are two places in this “town” that have gas so it should be no problem.  The RV park is closed – boarded up – and the other place must be closed on Sundays because it looks like they are still in business – just not today.  We knock on a couple doors and find out that the closest place for gas is 60 miles back where we came from – or our destination, Fort Nelson.  We aren’t going back – if we run out we want to be closer to Fort Nelson not farther away.

So we are back on the road and nursing the gas we have which means between 55 and 60 mph.  THAT means that all the people we passed over the last few hours are going by us now.  Not only that, but we are going so slow that when they come up, we pull over onto the shoulder – how embarrassing.  We came up to a construction stop that was on a downhill slope and for the first time we had to wait for the pilot car.  Rich ran out of gas as soon as he pulled the clutch in.  Even though I have the biggest motor of the group, I have overdrive so I’ve been sipping the gas & with only 7 miles to go I think I can make it.  The guy in line in front of us offers the little bit of gas he has in the bottom of his gas can – about a quart I’m guessing – so I take that and head off.  I make it to town, get a gas can and some fuel for my bike and set out to rescue my comrades.  John made it to a closer gas station that I didn’t see – some hand made sign on a white piece of cardboard, and he came rolling up just as I was getting ready to go.  John put the gas can (2.5 gallons) on the tank in front of him and fastened it with a bungie cord around his waist.  Hang on Rich, we’re coming to get you.  30 seconds later Rich passes John going the other direction.  Seems that one of the construction workers gave him enough gas to get to town.

Okay – so much for the adventure.  Today – in order to avoid over riding – we booked a room in a hotel at the destination & saved it with a credit card.  Only about 425 miles today which was as big a break as we could afford to take and still make to Fairbanks by Tuesday.  We opted to take a little longer route to start our ride on the Alaskan Highway at mile zero in Dawson Creek.  There are pictures of that and I hope to have them up very soon, but I’m making my log entry first tonight.

We were in no hurry to get out of there this morning – I figured that with all the extra miles we made yesterday, we could pull out of Chetwynd at noon and still be ahead of the game.  We ended up getting out of town around 1000 but with a short day should be no problem.  And it wasn’t really – pretty much just a good ride with the exception of the gas thing.  I did take a couple pictures from the bike as we were going down the road & the Alaskan Highway (ALCAN) is a bit rougher of a road than what you would consider a regular highway.  But considering that it’s pretty much the only way you can get to Alaska by road and all the commercial trucks that are hauling huge loads – it’s in pretty good shape.

So, it’s the end of the day now and not even 2100.  Showered, fed, and ready for bed before we were even in the hotel last night.  That’s good too because tomorrow is going to be a long day.  Our goal tomorrow is Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory.  That’s about 600 miles and the following day from Whitehorse to Fairbanks – that’s even longer.  The way I look at it – it’s good to have goals.