5th June

Late start with M feeling a little worn out after yesterday's 78 miles, but after breakfast I drove on to the thoroughly commercial area ‘round the Denali Park entrance – the names of the rivers and streams the road crosses are superb – Iceworm Gulch, Penguingue Creek (sic), Bison Gulch, Dragonfly Creek.

The bridge over the 100 foot deep gorge that the Nenana River cuts is unnerving due to the high winds – this is evidently quite frequent as half way along it there is a wind sock to show drivers what to expect. Murray arrived absolutely bushed. Said that he had tried walking but cycling did give him about 1kmh increase in speed. The wind had blown him to a halt while free wheeling down hill.

Sat in subway and ate a roll and then drove 22 miles on to a windy layby right on the bank of the Tanana river. It is shallow and fast flowing here, but very grey and silty with all the rock dust shattered and ground out of the mountains that surround it. Murray decided that the 44 miles was not enough for the day so decided to go on another 19 as far as Broad pass, which is the highest point and leaves only 100 miles to do to the Talkeetna Junction, and the linking of the two cycling journeys.

M made good time to the last stop. I’d driven to the agreed layby at milepost 201 a dull layby but with superb views of Mt McKinley; so photo and quick clip of video after the Princess tour bus departed, then drove ½ mile back down the road to the automated weather station and nosed behind that – lo & behold an airstrip, with a hedge to keep the noise of the road away and level ground.

The book says it was created for P51 lightnings during the war, as it was out of range of carrier-born jap bombers. Parked up here and had a good meal of beef, garlic sausage & rice; washed down with a 6 pack of Bud that I’d bought from a seedy bar in Cantwell 7 miles earlier. Seems to be few mosquitoes here (not that I’m obsessed) and I think the wind is keeping them away. If that is the case then it has been the only good thing about it – it’s been blowing in his face all day and the calorie counter says he’s burned over 4000 calories today – the hardest day’s cycling yet. McKinley looks stunning; summit above the clouds. I will try to take a photo of it as the sun moves further round to the North. It is 9.30pm now and we may lose it tonight as I think it will drop below the line of hills to the West of us – also I don’t want to be up too late in case the wind drops and the mossies come out to play (yep! Definitely obsessed). The squeaking of the weather station’s wind generator will let us know what it’s doing. At the moment it sounds like a flock of argumentative ducks.

Airing Murray's Sock

Trusty Transport