Adventures By Guy

Last night it was storming and raining something fierce. Breakfast didn’t open up until 7 so I slept in until 0610 and Jeff cleared out of the room. Then my turn and load my bike met them over in the motel restaurant and they were sitting talking with two gentlemen from Washington state who were riding Super Teneres like us. Had a nice time having breakfast with them as the day warmed a bit and by the time we left the mist had lifted. The guys left 5 minutes before me but they say they’re never worried about losing me or me not catching up. While I was catching up I found out that guy on the Harley was using a bit of hyperbole on how rough it was… well for an adventure bike it wasn’t to bad as I was doing 65 to 70. The frost heaves were so bad the road dips down and the bike drops down as you stand up and then the road rises up and brings the bike back up to you. On a low slung Harley with poor suspension I think it would be bad. Just have to go slow. Then the road turned to gravel and the mist returned and I was down to 55 to 60. Had to stop after coming out of the mist as I learned they were low clouds as I approached the mountains. I stopped to.look around and take a video. (On my FB page. ) then onward and I soon caught up. The last 135 miles of Canada was nothing but up and down frost heaves. Really rough. We were going 55 to 60 and at that speed we were using the full range of our suspension! In fact I felt some large rock hit my toes where there shouldn’t be any rocks… turned out that it was my TPMS display as it had been jarred off my dash. That thing was was stuck on with some Ipass/EZPASS sticky mounts and it still jarred loose! Back to my backup tire gage… sigh.
We made it to the border and took appropriate we are here pictures at the state sign. Headed to the entry. We waited in line then they waved us Motorcycles over to the empty bus lane. You guys all together? Yes, passport please. Took down our plates then went in and soon came out. Ok, welcome back to the US.
I was happy to get back to less expensive gas… even though gas is expensive compared to the lower 48 it is still half price compared to Canada. I bought something for $10 Canadian and they range it up. $18 please. Uh, wait it was only $10! Right sir but add tax, environmental fee and some other fee and it is $18. So I paid… but sheesh!
As I have progressed on this trip the warning signs have changed. First it was Deer Crossing. Next Elk crossing. Next Wild Horse crossing. Next Moose crossing. Now Caribou crossing. Tomorrow the guys tell me it could be musk ox or polar bear as they have seen both.
When we left Destruction Bay there were mountains towering on our left and as we approached Alaska those disappeared and the land was rolling. After crossing the border we got caught in some construction where we had to wait 10 or so minutes. Then follow the pilot truck for 6 miles of dusty conditions. Got through that and Jeff and I were in front of all the traffic so we took off. The frost heaves came back with a vengeance and I slowed down to 60 so I didn’t strain the bike so much as I am loaded heavy. I didn’t have to watch the road as close so I started looking around. Hazy mountains in the distance and smaller green clad ones up close. Sunny and 78°F all was good. I found out that I lo e the exhaust tone on this bike with the aftermarket Yoshimura muffler especially at 60 mph and the tone would change as I went up a hill and it had to work then down the other side as the cruise control backed off the gas and it just burbled down the hill. Better than a night at the opera for me! While blissfully burbling along I came around a corner and this valley with pines and a still lake opened up before me. Took my breath away… I have to get a picture of that…knowing a picture just doesn’t cut it… turned around and found a small dirt “road” going up hill so I took it and it came out on a leveled off spot where people had camped. Perfect! Took my picture and came down that dirt road and ½ a mile down stopped and took a short video of the lake through the trees.
With that done I went down the road and kicked it up to 70 as the had improved. 45 miles later I came into Tokyo, Alaska. We ate at Fast Eddie’s. If you’re going through be sure to stop as the food is good. Those two Tenere riders we had breakfast with stopped and we said hi to them again.
I had the lunch special which was a Prime Rib sandwich for $22. It came and I couldn’t believe it. It was a thick cut with a delicious hoagie bun that was soft. Good fries and au just. Delicious and perfect between medium rare and medium.
Back on the road I took off a few minutes ahead and 80 miles down the road they caught up when I was stopped for construction. After that it was interesting as some big mountains came up on our left. I mean big. No foothills just somewhat flat then up and up to snow packed peaks. Looked at those for a while then they disappeared and it was just riding the miles down at 70 mph. Started seeing ranches again. Nothing but pine trees and Aspen for the last 400 miles. Got some rooms in Fairbanks and I unloaded all unnecessary things from the bike. Just spare tires, tools, oil and repair stuff and a spare set of clothes for the run to Prudhoe Bay. More of it had been paved but it is still a 12 hr ride and over 200 miles of gravel in varying condition. Supposed to be in the 60 to 70’s tomorrow and chance of thunderstorms I the passes over the Brook mountain range. Two riders going south said they had rain there coming and going and it got slippery. If it was easy then everyone would be doing it. Seems everyone is as there so many bikes traveling around up here. We contribute greatly to the economy! Only Adventure Bikes are going all the way to Prudhoe Bay and fewer of those.
We will see what tomorrow brings.
It’s better to have dreamed and tried than to just dream and then eventually let that dream wither away along with your soul.
Why do I do it? Because it is there to be conquered even if it is a struggle. Men must have challenges whether great or small so we can do and have that feeling of doing. It makes us happier people.