3rd June

Foul!

Up at 7.30, coffee at the hostel and then went and bought an adjustable spanner for the bike. Off to the tourist info office and got the info on Chena Hot Springs and sent a long email to everyone.

When I got back Murray had cycled off to get breakfast and returned with a box of Cheerios and fresh milk. Lazed about for a couple of hours and then drove to the hot springs.. Plenty hot enough! I could only manage about 30 minutes before I felt par-boiled and exhausted so I got out and bought a card for the kids – this time with 5 bears on it.

The rain and thunder had stopped by the time I was dressed, but sitting in the steaming water outside, while the thunder rumbled around was great. Loads of Japanese at the hot springs. Obviously a popular destination for them as a lot of (if not all) the signs are bi-lingual.

No fuel here, so at last we topped up with the 5 gallons we have been hauling around since we left Fairbanks on our way north. Back to the hostel and we were just washing out the stinky cool box and topping up with water when two Brit, long distance cyclists said hello. Nicky and Jason (www.alaskatoargentina.co.uk) are doing the same journey as Murray (towing trailers). Expert bike mechanics, they gave Murray’s bike the once over, adjusted the chain, and sorted problems he didn’t know he had. Said goodbye to those guys and we were off again.

Murray straight on the road, while I stocked up on food again. This time I bought a bloody great bag of ice for the coolbox, and almost all the meat is cooked and vacuum packed sausages and salami. Drove on ahead for 23 miles to the lay-by we’d selected from "the milepost" and Murray turned up – delighted with the way the bike was performing and had soup, ciabatta and camembert – oh! The joys of just having been shopping. Also drank the 6 bottles of cold Alaskan beer. Did not, however, enjoy the savoury snack I purchased, lured by the olive on the front of the box - "Triscuits". They are to all intents and purposes savoury, garlic flavour shredded wheat – foul!

BLOODY MOSQUITOS

Chena Hot Springs