Bicycling Alaska
August - 2011
Monday - August 22, 2011
Gakona Lodge to Tiekel River Lodge
Distance 74 Miles
Today was our longest day. We rode 74 miles and climbed 2425 feet. We started the day by climbing back up the steep grade we came down yesterday to reach our accommodations. It was a hard way to start the day on tired legs. We again came to the Junction of Hwy 1 and 4 and this time we turned south. We traveled a short distance and plunged down to a bridge across the Gakona River. We climbed back up to a high plateau and at the top I could not see anything out of my glasses because my body temperature was so high from climbing out of the river valley and the temperature was so cold that my glasses completely fogged up. We continued south and we ran into a light fog. May Kay, the captain, could not keep the fog from covering her glasses and every mile or so she had to wipe the fog off of her glasses. Just before we reached Gennallen, the fog disappeared. We stopped at Gennallen at a service station and bought some needed food for the back of the bike. The route continued south and every time we crossed a river we would drop down from the high plateau, cross a bridge and then climb back up to the plateau. After crossing two rivers we came to a steep hill and for the next period of time we went up hill until we reached the highest point of the day, 3027 foot elevation. At the top of this climb we stopped at a sandwich wagon where we had hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, hamburgers, etc. After leaving the lunch stop we rode a short distance and dropped down an eight percent grade. On the way down we were going 43 miles per hour. Them, as usual we again began climbing to reclaim all the altitude we lost on the downhill. After completing 60 miles we began going downhill again and for the last 15 miles it was easy riding. We are staying at the Tiekel River Lodge with again shared toilets and showers. Only this time you must travel outside to get to the facility.
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