The Call of the Wild

I’m excited to finally dust off this old blog, as well as my bike, in anticipation of a new adventure. I’ll be leaving Bremerton, Washington on my bike June 26th and making my way North towards the Arctic Ocean.

Heading North

I saw the route in a youtube video a couple years ago and said to myself, “I’d never do that.” But then I read a couple blogs of other people who had done it and said, “Heck, why not?” As it turns out, my work site is closing for the summer, so I figured this ride was meant to be.

I invite you to join me as I bike to the northern tip of Vancover Island, take the ferry to Prince Rupert, cross over to Haida Gwaii (formally Queen Charlotte Island), then up through British Colombia, the Yukon and NW Territories to the Beaufort Sea (part of the Arctic Ocean).

Hazards Ahead

Yes, I know. There are will animals out there. Did you know that Vancover Island has the biggest population of cougars in North America and maybe even the world. Plus, a huge black bear population. Who know? I was freaking out about the Yukon. I didn’t know I had to freak out about Vancover Island.

Not to worry…I have bear spray (well, not yet) and I will hang my food (after I buy some rope). Seriously, I got this…kind of. That said, if anyone out there has a bear canister they can lend me for the summer that would be cool. My friend, Matt Clark, who is also a biker, sent me a link just yesterday of a biker who was chased by a grizzly on the Yukon Highway, the exact same highway that I will be on. Thankfully, that bear will be gone by the time I get there.

Timeline

How long will this take me you ask? I have until mid-September until work starts, but, it could start snowing up north by mid-August. So, my plan is to finish by the first of Sept. fly back to Vancover and then spend a couple weeks of “vacation” just coasting back to Seattle and enjoying a leisure return. Years ago I biked from Banff to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies. It was my first self-supported solo ride. I wasn’t prepared at all (but had a blast just the same). I ran into bears at every turn and snow over the pass. Of course now those are my best stories.

Along the Way

I hope to interview First Nations people along my route. If there is anything you would like to know – let me know. If you have any questions about this ride or anything else let me know. I know what’s in my head, and I assumed everyone else has the same information. I’ve been alerted to the fact that that’s not true, so what you ask everyone else may also want to know.

Last but not least…my Crownhill grade school buddy, Mark King, (and his brother-in-law, Craig) are joining me for the first two days of the ride out of Bremerton. First day Port Townsend, second day Port Angeles. So happy to have such a loving community send-off. We Crownhill/Bremerton High folks stick together. From there I take the ferry to Victoria. If anyone else is heading north this summer and would like to meet up that would be AWESOME. Let me know. My WhatsApp number is 206-402-2599 (which is different from my regular cell number which I won’t be using). See you on the road.

Love,

Denise