We have added this page to include shorter updates that Brek and I have  posted on Facebook. (Due to the limitations of his route, sometimes these are quick SPOT GPS updates or quick Facebook entries when he has some access to the internet or phone.) As new entries are posted we’ll add them here so that you can stay on top of things even if you don’t have a Facebook account.

Jan 15

I am in Whitehorse now. Unfortunately, I had to get a ride from Jake’s Corner to here (approx 80 km) as a result of knee pain. Will have to go back and cycle from there. Today it was -40. Yikes..

Jan 12 (Marsh Lake)

Made it to Marsh Lake. The first half of the day can only be described as sublime (huge tailwind and warm weather). The last half of the day the knee started ot hurt again, but somehow differently now. The last 20 km were sheer agony.

Currently he is on the road trying to reach Marsh Lake tonight. (Pretty ambitious). Wishing him luck and generous gifts from the tailwind gods. <Michelle>

Jan 10

GPS update from Brek for today. He had to start with a climb of about 20km to get over the continental divide, but managed to make about 85km for the day. Should be in Teslin tomorrow. <Michelle>
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=59.92075,-131.91405&ll=59.92075,-131.91405&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Jan 9 (Rancheria)

Had my worst headwinds of the trip so far today, followed by a winter storm: 37 km in 5 hours of cycling. The fine folks at the Rancheria motel felt sorry for me and offered a free room and would not take any money for the meal I had.

Jan 8

Brek posted his trip from Fort Nelson to Liard Hot Springs last night. He will update with the section from Liard to Watson as soon as he gets another stop with internet connectivity. In the meantime he is back on the road and biking the long stretch from Watson Lake to Whitehorse. No planned hosts along this stretch. Plan is camping for the next week. Hopefully the moose jerky and chocolate are fully satisfactory for the trip. <Michelle>

Brek’s GPS update for today. About 82km west of Watson Lake.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=60.19898,-130.05559&ll=60.19898,-130.05559&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Jan 5-7 (Watson Lake)

Made it north of 60. Set up my tent beside a gas station last night so I have place to warm up and internet this morning. Yay.

Made it to Watson Lake, Yukon, and to my Couch Surfing hosts. Had a fantastic moose meat dinner with salad. Beats the dry pasta I have been snacking on for days now. They don’t use any salt or sand on the roads. Idyllic. Reminds me of Finish towns in the winter. Unfortunately, it looks like I have frostbite on 3 toes. It hurts now that my feet are no longer numb. Got to figure out the footwear.

Staying an extra day to keep an eye on his toes. They do seem to be at the early stage of frostbite…so that is good news. Going to have to use the Baffin boots to ensure feet stay properly warm from now on and do not rub the affected areas. Does mean modifying the pedals with ‘extenders’ to fit the larger boots. <M>

Jan 4 (into the Yukon)

GPS update from Brek. Cossed into the Yukon. Will cross back in and out of BC a few times before getting to Watson Lake…about 65 km down the road.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=60.00632,-127.77534&ll=60.00632,-127.77534&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Jan 3 (Coal River)

Breks GPS update for today. Coal River. Another 150km or so to Watson Lake in the Yukon. Weather online says the temps range between -1 to -9. I wonder what the roads are like… <Michelle>
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode&q=59.65866%2C-126.95453&ll=59.65866%2C-126.95453&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Dec 31 (Muncho Lake)

My New Year’s plan to be soaking in the waters of Liard hot springs at Midnight were derailed by a relentless headwind and icy/snowy roads. I am going to have to lower my kilometer expectations if the roads stay like this. Not a fun ride today.

Dec 30 (Summit Pass)

Interesting ride over Summit Pass today. Highest point on the trip so far and the highest point on the Alaska highway. After the pass the riding was sublime, gradual slope down. Then it turned icy and snowy on the way into Toad River.

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=75523

Ben from the Tetsa River lodge opened up a cabin and turned on the heat for me last night. They are closed for the season. Thanks Ben!

Dec 29

GPS update from Brek today. Looks like there was some elevation to contend with as he made his way over Steamboat Mountain and approaches Stone Mountain. Forecast says low of -19 tonight, windy at times, clear tomorrow with chance of flurries in the afternoon. <Michelle>

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=75492

Dec 28

GPS update from Brek today. Temps between Ft. Nelson and Stone Mountain Park range between -6 to -18 with calls for some flurries in the morning. <Michelle>

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode&q=58.804%2C-123.55443&ll=58.804%2C-123.55443&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Dec 26

Was showing my bike and set up to some people when someone noticed that one side of a link in the chain was broken. Fixed that in a warm shop (so much better than on the side of the road) , but from experience, if it breaks once it will break again. Managed to find a new chain and a chain breaker (I bent mine) in town. So now I will be carrying an extra chain and hoping not to have to put it on, till Whitehorse.

Dec 25

Epic ride yesterday. The roads were dry and smooth with not too much traffic; absolutely no wind and had lots of energy. Decided to push through all the way to Fort Nelson and a warm bed (183 km). Unfortunately, I was a few hours too late for the annual Christmas eve dinner that the town puts on and everyone attends. Darn.

Dec 24

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=6irub%2F58.8093N%2F122.7019W

SPOT update. Yup….he’s in Fort Nelson. Just a 183km ride. Looks to be one for his list of superlatives…’most kms in a day’ for sure. <Michelle>  Merry Christmas Brek!

Dec 23

Seems it’s pretty windy today on the Alaska Highway. Currently Brek’s got a headwind of 60km/hr…report says it’s going up to 90km/hr. Progress is a bit slow and tedious with the hills added in. I’ll update with location when he stops later this evening. <Michelle>

After an extremely demoralizing day with head winds that gusted up to 90 km/h (I was blown into the ditch twice), I pulled into a work camp in Buckinghorse River and asked how much it was for the night. The woman said $165. I asked if there was a special rate for people cycling to the arctic. She went to get her mom and she came back and said they indeed had a special rate and that rate was $0 and all the food you can eat. The canned drinks were limited to 6 per day, though. This place is massive and super clean. Amazing what one can do putting a bunch of trailers together.

Dec 22

GPS update from Brek. He looks to be close to Pink Mountain (about 135km from Fort St. John). Weather channel shows partly cloudy and about – 6. <Michelle>

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=6iBE5/56.98861N/122.30302W

Dec 21

So much for leaving civilization behind. Pulled into a restaurant at the side of the road and there is wifi and a fire place. There is nothing more debilitating to my progress on this trip than a warm fire.

Dec 20

Had an interview with CBC daybreak North. Will air on Friday morning at 6:40 on CBC radio in northern B.C. Hopefully on podcast after that.

Dec 19 (Fort St. John)

A hurricane Headwind, knee pain and an uncontrollable cough were my travelling companions early in the day. But by the end they had all abandoned me. Got to see the mighty Peace River for the first time ever today. I can’t even imagine the Mackenzie with all these big northern rivers feeding it. I will pass over it on an ice road, but seeing it will have to wait till a summer trip.

Dec 18 (Dawson Creek )

A great day cycling under the big sky of the only pairie I will see this trip: 2/3 of a day. The morning was a little iffy with headwinds and a cough that would not stop. Looks like I have developed a chest cold. But by afternoon the headwinds had dissapated and so had the cough. (135km day)

Stopped at a truck weigh scale today. No one was around so I spent some time measuring different parts. The bike has put on some weight since the last time. It has a lot more water and food. It weighs 100 kilos (225 pounds); the front axel 45 kilos (100 pounds) and the back axel 55 kilos (125 pounds).

Dec 14 (Grande Prairie)

In Grande Prairie: The insatiable hunger has begun. I had 8 tacos for supper and felt no less hungry than before the first. It usually takes a couple of weeks into the tour. During my cross Canada trip I never once felt full from Regina to Halifax. You just have to stop eating at some point cause you know it is the right thing to do.

Dec 13 (mid way to Grande Prairie)

http://fms.ws/6emBq/54.58583N/118.70309W

Finally…SPOT update from Brek. Seems he is still putting the km’s on…I estimate about 115kms today. Grande Prairie is about 75km away. Weather report says -10 tonight and some light snow. <Michelle>

Dec 12 (Grande Cache)

Made it to Grande Cache today, again with little knee pain, but fighting a strong headwind. Last night I discovered that dry grass does not burn easily at -20. Fortunately gasoline still does. The gas may not be used for my all-fuel stove until I run out of trees as I head north. Fantastic night winter camping. Yesterday reminded me why I love cycle touring so much.

Dec 11 (mid way to Grande Cache)

Just got Brek’s SPOT update on his ride to Grande Cache. He’s camping midway. He passed on this update via Rocky, his awesome host in Hinton: “the cycling word today is: euphoria: very little knee pain, -5ºC, and sunny. Perfect day for cycling”. <Michelle >

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=6dxcu%2F53.74399N%2F118.30902W

www.findmespot.co

Dec 10 (Hinton)

Rode from Jasper to Hinton yesterday with a hurricane tail wind and a lot of knee pain. The acupuncture in Hinton helped greatly (thanks Jolene). My latest solution is to remove the pins on one side of the right pedal hopefully allowing my foot to slide freely maybe reducing any lateral motion in the knee????

Dec 7 (Jasper)

Went to the physiotherapist this morning and the news is mostly good. Looks like the damage is just from overuse. I have been cleared to leave on Friday, albeit with fewer kms a day. Had some acupuncture, ultrasound, and the knee taped, all thanks to the pro bono work of Sean FitzGerald at Jasper Physiotherapy. Feeling much better.