As I was planning our route for this trip, two destinations along the way caught my eye. One was Chicken, Alaska. What a fanciful name! Who wouldn’t want to go to Chicken 🐓?

Chicken is on the Taylor Highway, the northern route to the Yukon from Alaska. It was settled in the days of the gold rush. The miners who lived there wanted to name their settlement Ptarmigan in honor of the local wild fowl. Sadly, no one knew how to spell Ptarmigan and so they settled on the closest bird they knew how to spell…Chicken!

Needless to say Chicken is not a teaming metropolis. But who needs glamor when you have such an endearing name?

The other destination that I didn’t want to miss is just down the road: The Top of the World Highway. How could you fail to want to see it!? Reading more I found that it is considered one of the most scenic drives in North America. It starts at the border crossing into Canada and winds its way somewhat precariously to Dawson City in the Yukon. The road is generally gravel and in places is quite narrow with steep drop-offs and no guardrails. Amazingly large rv coaches take this route and there is scarcely enough room for two to pass each other. They made me nervous! Just a week or so ago the area was blanketed in smoke from wildfires. Fortunately for us, there has been rain and we had crisp clean air.

As we drove today there were scattered rainstorms with hail and rainbows!

The road was dry further along and we were greeted by copious gravel dust. Eventually Jim’s bike on the back of the Truck took on a ghostly hue. We each cycled a short section today but got a real workout with the gravel on the hilly terrain.

We’re camping off the road tonight with lovely views off the Top of the World. Tomorrow it’s on the Dawson City. See you down the road. 👋

BTW, a big call out to Bill the bike mechanic at Oro Valley cycles who talked me through fixing my bike from the road. Success! Thanks Bill!!