Sunday, May 6, 2012

Everyday for 7 Weeks–Day 9–Broken Rack in Dawson Creek

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Those of you who have been playing the home game and watching my progress on the spot tracker (to the right) have already noticed, I didn’t leave Dawson Creek as expected. I started the morning by tightening the chains and checking my tires. I noticed my luggage rack was moving around more than it should, so I started checking each one of the four mounts.

There are two on the bottom and two on the top. The two on the bottom connect to the footpeg mounts, and the two on the top connect into the end of the subframe via small tabs. The left side tab cracked off. Not good.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

I went back inside and started making calls to try and find someone to weld it back together for me. No such luck. It is Sunday, and almost everything is closed up here on Sunday. After about ten calls, I got a cell number from the voicemail, so I called it. A guy answered!

I got excited. I may get to ride today after all!

I explained the problem

He said “it’s Sunday. The day of rest.  Call tomorrow.” “it’s my day off, I work the other six.”

Me: “Anything I can do to change your mind? I would really like to get this fixed today.”

He laughs and says “No, call tomorrow.”

I was sunk. I sat there feeling quite sorry for myself for almost an hour trying to decide what to do. Staying the night and getting it fixed tomorrow would be the safest thing to do. Maybe I’ll chance the Alcan highway. How bumpy could it be? Maybe I could find someone further down the road. A quick check of the internet & phonebook, and I realized it would be far easier to get help right where I was. Besides, if the tab on the other side broke the whole rack would rotate down onto the rear tire and exhaust. That would be bad.

I decided to try to make the best of things and see what there was to do around town. I fixed up the rack with some zipties and a strap, and I was off to explore.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

When the bike works, and you’re travelling it is the best. When something isn’t right it’s a mess. What’s that sound? Does the handling feel off? Mind the potholes. Is that a rattle? Is that feel normal? ugh. I parked the bike at the visitor and explored the town on foot.

I went to the information centre (yes, they spell it funny, I know.) which was also the town museum. The helpful girls inside gave me a little brochure which had all the gas stops and lodging along the way along with phone numbers and specific services. nice. I took a stroll around the museum trying to find something interesting to help me get out of the broken bike funk. It wasn’t working very well.

very old cameras. (see the full album link to get a closer look of each)

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Lots of period rooms:

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Upstairs they had an encyclopedia Britannica volume 11 from 1911-ish.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

I proceeded to try and find motorcycles. I found motor vehicles which had a neat trike and a familiar story about how it was “killed off” by the horse interests with a collection of goofy statutes and fees. Nice to see they had lobbyists 100 years ago messing things up too.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

I also found bicycle motorized which had what I was looking for. It was fun to read the descriptions of cars and bike back then. I took a few photos of the pages if you want to see them too (see the full album).

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

A nice exhibit on the building of the Alaska Highway

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Next I took the walking tour around the old part of Dawson Creek. I found the original ‘Mile 0’ marker, curiously NOT on the current road. lol.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

I enjoyed looking at the murals, but found it strange that most of them were in alleys behind junk. oh well.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Colorful hotel

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

A mural.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

another:

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

I made some calls (thanks skype) and read more of my book. Not the way I wanted to have  day off riding. Especially since today was the nicest day of the whole trip. 65F and sunny. Not a cloud in the sky until dinner time. I finished off the day with a trip to the grocery store to splurge on tasty. It helped a little. The fresh pineapple and chocolate bar were both great.

This looks like it might be fun to ride:

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 9 - Dawson City

Tomorrow I will hopefully get repairs to the rack and be on my way. I’m glad I wrote a good guide on installing the rack (tabs in step #8). It was helpful to me to review before I disassemble my bike in a parking lot tomorrow. *fingers crossed* it will be quick, and I will be sleeping in Fort Nelson tomorrow night; I am ready to leave Dawson Creek.

 

Full Day 9 Flickr Album 55pics

Other Posts in the series:

16 comments:

  1. Bummer about the rack. Hope you can get it repaired quickly.

    When you get a chance post a pic of where you're sleeping so I can show the kids.

    You've got some amazing photos.

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    1. Thanks Adam. So far been sleeping in boring, cheap motel rooms. you don't want to scare the kids with those pics. lol.

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  2. Well, you gotta take the good with the bad. Minor set back that will become a nice memory 30 years from now. I like those mural photos. Good luck with the rack tomorrow.

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    1. we'll see about the good memory 30 years later. It did allow me to meet a great guy named Paul and see some murals, so I guess. :)

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  3. Chris:

    I agree with you, better to fix your rack NOW or it may stress and break the other side faster. At least you had good weather, if it were raining and cloudy your photos would have been less vibrant. Those are very nice mural pictures

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For sure. See the day 10 post on what I found when I inspected the other side.

      the murals were fun. I just wish they were a bit more prominent. all in ally-ways seemingly forgotten by the citizens.

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  4. Good for the repair man standing his ground and not working on the day of rest. I'm sure you will be both blessed for that. Have a safe journey!

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  5. Well, if you were going to have an 'off the bike' day at least you had some beautiful murals to view and some sunny weather.

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    1. yes, it could have been worse :) I think I did ok making the best of it.

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  6. Chris

    Broken Bike Funk, had a lot of that lately. : )

    Did the guy weld your rack back up?

    dom


    Redleg's Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yes, you have too much experience in that department. I hope this is it for this trip.

      Not the guy I mentioned above. I found someone else. See the day 10 post.

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  7. I really did like reading the entry on motor bicycle... glad you got the mount fixed.. cant wait to see the story of that :)

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    1. they were fun to read for me as well. a window to what life was like a 100 years ago.

      day 10 is posted (and a video).

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  8. There is nothing wrong with the way they spelt the word ‘centre’. That is how it is meant to be spelt. LOL.

    An interesting day for you, but sorry to hear about the rack and the subsequent delay.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. lol. I put that line in there just for you :)

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