2017 Motorcycle Adventure to Alaska (Day one)

It's July 1st, Canada's 150th birthday and it's a long weekend with much fanfare. Next month I turn 70 and this is my birthday present to myself. I have traveled to many places in the world but always wanted to see Alaska so this is my destination this year.
I awoke this day to a misty morning, very humid and rain was definitely in the forecast. My bike was pretty much loaded so I had some breakfast and got into my riding gear and I was off on my 2017 Alaska adventure. Here's a shot I took before leaving. It was so humid that the lens would fog up as soon as I cleaned it.

I had been riding for about an hour when the skies opened up and it was on and off rain till noon. I had taken this route many times before so it didn't matter that taking pictures wasn't really an option.
I have been taking a month each year to explore another part of the planet and this is my sixth year as a solo motorcycle adventurer. Each year Penny Burns, my dearest friend, makes me a deluxe lunch for my first day on the road. Her bundle of goodies includes a hearty sandwich, a refreshing drink, some veggies, nuts, some sweets and a selection of notes that are meant to inspire me.

This year was no exception but by noon it was still pouring out. I found a restaurant and asked if I could sit in the dining room and eat my lunch. They were busy but found me an empty table. It is always such a treat to open Penny's hand picked lunch. By the time I was finished the rain had let up for awhile and I was on my way.
I rolled into the KOA (Kampgrounds of America) in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario around 5:00pm and promptly got my campsite setup. I had expected most campgrounds to be full on this Canada Day weekend so I had booked my site in advance.

Having checked in and made myself a cocktail I noticed another biker entering the grounds. I waited an hour or so and decided to wander around and say hello. His name was John and he was 82 years old traveling solo to the Yukon. Like myself it was his first day on the road. We had a great chat and I was so impressed with his story. I had hoped that we might travel together but it turned out that he was on a tighter schedule and was going to visit family in Edmonton which would have been a huge deviation from the route I had planned. I wished him well and hit the hay.