The First 500

Elapsed time 3 d 04 h 47 m; Distance travelled 578 km (355 mi)

It’s day four of riding and Ashleigh’s already crossing the Yukon River at kilometer 575 (mile 355) at the time of writing. Her ride started Saturday, August 23rd after a few days of delay from the Air Canada flight attendant strike and she’s rolling fast through the first stretch!

These first few days, Ashleigh’s been rolling down the gravel of Alaska’s Dalton Highway. We don’t know exactly what she’s seen because there’s been no cell service for her to send updates, but we suspect she’s seeing a whole lot of wilderness and enjoying some bivy sleeps under her only companion - the pipeline. What can we expect when she gets back in service and updates us on what the first few days have held - wildlife encounters? Mechanicals?? Or maybe, hopefully, it’s been smooth sailing and soaking up the excitement of the first days of this massive adventure.

Speaking of soaking - from what we can tell from here at homebase in Halifax, the Alaskan weather has been treating Ashleigh to rain and single digit temperatures (Celsius!). Her first mountain pass is behind her - the Atigun pass, the highest point on the Dalton highway. Next up is Fairbanks at 800 km (500 miles) where we hope to get our first check-in from the rider herself!

If you’re wondering who’s behind the blog, we’re Jessie & Aryn, two of Ashleigh’s many friends on bikes back home. Once Ashleigh’s out of the woods (so to speak) and back in cell service, we’ll be sharing more of her story through photos, voice notes, and messages. Keep an eye on her Instagram too (@ashleigh.myles) for updates along the way!

This ride is supported by: 

Augustine House

;

Arkel Bike Bags

;

Fluent Frameworks;

Long Alley Bicycles;

Anytime Fitness Halifax

;

Acadia Sport Therapy

;

Showerspass

;

Night of Adventure; 

Every person who's donated through the Go Fund Me page

;

A strong support system: friends, family, and the outdoor community in Halifax.