Day 28: Haines - Skagway - Atlin

This morning, I actually set an alarm so I can have some breakfast before the ferry leaves. Packing alone with a tent takes about 45 minutes, but with taking breakfast and cleaning the stove it takes 30 minutes more.

On the way back to the village I see another bald eagle, but until I mounted the telephoto lens, it is gone. I am a little disappointed, but then I realize that it has landed on top of a tree behind me and I'm able to take a shot of it on it's departure.

At a bakery I get a bacon egg wrap and a huge cup of coffee. Haines is nice.

The ferry ticket costs a US$ 86 for a 45 minutes jetboat trip. But better than a whole day riding around the fjord.

At the ferry terminal I meet Dave, an American motorcyclist on a newer GS, he is probably a few years older than me. Finally an American, who's not a Trump supporter. Two other acquaintances come to the terminal: Jonas and his friend, whom I have met in Anchorage. Also Ben with his VW bully comes over to us and so we are building a funny group.

The boat trip is not very exciting and also Skagway doesn't invite for a longer stay. There are only a handful of jewelry stores here, probably for those on the cruise ships that stop here. And so Dave and I decide to make a detour to Atlin. I read in the guidebook that it should be a nice stretch. Out of Skagway the road is leading up into the mountains and today unfortunately in the fog. So minimal visibility. We are now crossing the border into Canada again and this border crossing is again completely easy.

When riding further towards the valley, the visibility is getting better. However, it is getting smokey, meaning that a lot of smoke in the air caused by a wildfire and actually we see a smaller one. I've heard that some of the fires here are burning until they burnt down by themselves, at least as long as there is no threat to humans.

In the direction of Atlin, there are wonderful views to the lakes. After a shopping stop in Atlin, we continue on the road to a recreation site near some warm springs. We are lucky that we are invited to set up our tents on an already occupied site, because there was no free site left. This site is about 20 m from the lake.

The springs are not far and Dave and me go for a walk. Pleasantly warm water and certainly good to sit in, but we do not feel like it.

There we meet a strange person who is telling us more and more curious things during the conversation. Conspiracy theorists? In addition, he came with a strange young couple. Dave considers the woman really scary. It is really difficult to get away. On the way back to the campsite we laugh tears about this encounter.

Brian, our friendly landlord entertains us in the evening with all sorts of bear stories. The night before, a young Grizzly has plundered the garbage cans here, and the warm springs have been visited by a black bear last night. Therefore I hang my food bag into a tree and Brian puts some things in his car. But Brian is well equipped with a rifle and me with my bear spray. So we'll be fine for the night.