Day 10, Tok, AK

It rained here all night again.  I stayed nice and warm and dry in the tent, but was not happy about the rain.  I did not sleep very well.

I checked again this morning and the road is still closed between Teslin and Watson Lake.  I will load up the bike and head to White horse, but am anxious about the trip due to the amount of slides and the fact that it has started raining again.

I hope to be in Whitehorse by early afternoon, if the road is still closed, I may see if I can catch the ferry.  The ferry only runs once a week.

Day 9 update from Tok, AK

I have been speaking with the locals about the road being closed.  The news is not good.  It has been confirmed that there are two bridges out and multiple mudslides between Teslin and Watson Lake.  The locals are saying that they are usually pretty quick at clearing the highway, but the last time one of those bridges washed out, it was two weeks before the road was passable.

I have been looking for alternative routes, but have not been able to find any.  I have been thinking about dropping down to Haines and catching a ferry to Seattle.  This would be a more expensive way to go, but would get me home some time around Sunday or Monday.  I also am not sure that I can get to Haines in time to catch the ferry.

I will check the road report in the morning to see what is going on, then make a decision.

This trip was about adventure, and I am getting a good dose of it.

Ed

Day 9 Fairbanks to the Dalton Highway, A Fine Line Between Courage and Stupidity

Today I woke up bright and early to get a jump on the Arctic Circle.  I headed up the Elliot Highway.  It was a beautiful ride with nice sweeping curves.  The 1100 pound monster was carving the corners nicely.  We ascended into the clouds and back down again.  The scenery was breathtaking.

The road became slightly wet which had me a bit concerned for what the Dalton would hold.  It started to rain lightly as I neared the end of the Elliott and start of the Dalton.  Eventually, I rounded a bend and saw the Dalton Highway sign.  I was so excited, only about 80 more miles to the Arctic Circle.  I rounded another bend and saw that the pavement ended.  I stopped the bike and got off to take a look, as I did the bike started to slide backwards down an incline even with the kickstand down.  I immediately hopped back on the bike to secure it.

I looked forward and the road was a wet muddy mess.  In my mind, all I could think was that there is a fine line between courage and stupidity.  I tend to skirt this line from time to time, but I had a strong feeling that this was one time I should not skirt the line.  I realized that managing the 1100 pound monster on this road under these conditions would most likely exceed my riding abilities, and in my opinion the abilities of most riders on a Wing.

Though I was disappointed that I was not able to secure the prize of making it to the Arctic Circle, I am excited to return home to claim the greatest prize of all, my wife.

I turned around and started to head back.  When I got to Tok, I stopped for gas and heard the road was washed out to the south and was closed.  Rumor has it that two bridges have washed away near Whitehorse.  I decided to spend the night in Tok and secured a campsite.  Hopefully the road will be open by morning. I enjoyed the ride to Tok as the mountains were no longer shrouded in clouds and am looking forward to a peaceful night.

I tried to mess with the cruise control some more and bypassed the micro switches at the clutch and brake by separating a fuse and using the metal pieces to complete the circuit.  This did not work, so I will have to look at it more when I get home.

I am safe and sound again at Fast Eddie's restaurant.  It is packed due to the road being closed.

Here are some pictures from today.

The Wing standing proud in a group of BMW GS 1200s.

The mountains of the Elliot Highway.

It started to rain.

The Dalton Highway sign, about 80 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

The end of the pavement, and the beginning of the pig snot.

This is the Alaska pipeline.  

I was able to capture a picture of this moose on the way back to Tok.

The road to Tok.

My camp for the night.

I attempted to bypass the micro switches with no luck.

Another great meal at Fast Eddie's.  I love the name.

Wild life count:

Moose 3
Bears 0

Day 8 part 2 Fairbanks

I met up with my new friends from GWRRA Scotty and LaNene.  They are some of the nicest folks I have ever met.  They opened their home to me and had a fantastic breakfast ready when I arrived.  We had a wonderful conversation over breakfast.  The other fellow who was going to meet up with us was not able to, but that was OK, I had a wonderful day with Scotty and LaNene.

Scotty has a very positive attitude about life, is very patient, and level headed.  He and I share a lot of the same philosophies, our worlds are round and we are here to help each other when called upon.  He shared some stories about folks who have helped him along his was that he has been very thankful for.  It made me think of all the folks who have helped me throughout my life.

We started on the bike, but were not able to figure out the problem with the cruise control.  Unfortunately, both our skills with electronic repairs are not very extensive.  We did get the oil changed in the Wing and it is ready for the Arctic Circle run tomorrow.  I am very thankful for my time with Scotty and LaNene, it was one of the high points of the trip.  They are welcome at my home any time.

I am hoping the weather stays clear and will have to make a judgement call when the pavement ends.  My understanding is that this will probably be the most challenging part of this ride.  If it is wet, it probably will not be the best idea to ride the Wing on that road, so keep your fingers crossed.  If it is wet, I will be disappointed but I have to remember that I am not riding a KLR 650 or BMW GS 1200.  Either way, I will be heading home tomorrow.  I simply miss my family too much.

Here are some additional photos from today:

Mileage from Destruction Bay to Fairbanks 437 miles

Scotty and LaNene, simply awesome people!

This is Scotty and I right outside his house.  I asked if they get bears in his neighborhood, he said not so much, but that moose can be problematic at times.

Scotty, his Wing and I.

This is the room I have been staying in for the past two nights.

No animal counts for today

Day 8 Fairbanks

Last night we were not able to look at the bike.  A large thunderstorm rolled in.  It rained buckets and the lightening was phenomenal.  This morning, I cleaned the micro switches at the clutch and hand brake with no luck.

I will be meeting with my GWRRA friend and another GWRRA member this morning to figure this out.  I have been invited to breakfast first at my new friend's house.

So the new plan is to do a maintenance day for the Wing.  I will try to get the cruise working and change the oil.  Then tonight, laundry.

Tomorrow morning, cruise or no cruise, I will head off to the Arctic Circle.  I understand there is a campground up there.  I will spend the night there, then hit it hard to head back home.

Sorry, no pictures today yet.  It is about 5:00 am here.

No wildlife count yet, but the mosquitoes are really thick here.

Day 7 Part 2 Tok to Fairbanks

I made it to Fairbanks and have set up camp at the University of Alaska.  I am staying in Wickersham Hall.  It's just like being in college all over again.

The drive here from Tok was very easy.  I drove past Eielson Air Force Base this afternoon.  The runway is right next to the highway.  It was really neat to watch the jets take off and land.  Wow, they are fast and loud!!

Here are some more pictures from today:

The mountains just west of Tok.

Just outside of Tok, I crossed a bridge and had to stop to take some pictures.   This was the  south side.

This is the north side of the bridge.  The pictures do not do the are justice.

Another angle of the north side.

This is  a picture straight down.

I was able to meet up with the GWRRA member who is helping me with the cruise control problem.  He is a really nice fellow and it was great to meet him.  When we initially met, he treated me like a family member.  It was great.  We are going to go over to his house when he gets off work to look at the bike.  


Overall, today was good day.  If we are able to get the cruise control fixed, I will head up to the Arctic Circle tomorrow.  If not, there is another GWRRA member who is a pretty good wrench that is willing to look at it tomorrow, so I will have him look then attempt the Arctic Circle on Sunday.


Cheers for now,
Ed


I also saw more animals to add to the count:


Moose count:  3

Day 7 Destruction Bay to Tok, AK

This morning I was awoken by the sound of heavy rainfall.  My spirits were very low and I wanted to stay in bed.  I got up and took a quick shower, then said a quick prayer.  This really did not help my spirits much, but I decided to head out.  Before leaving I pulled a coin out of my pocket that a friend gave me the night before I left, I looked at and read the inscriptions on it which were biblical references to Ephesians 6:11-12.  My friend's words echoed in my mind as I read the coin which were, "I'm giving this to you so you don't forget who you are."  At that moment, my spirits were lifted and I was ready to leave.

Upon leaving the motel, the road to the south was closed.  I asked the guy standing at the closed sign what was going on.  He advised there was a huge mud slide between Destruction Bay and Haines Junction and that the road is completely closed until they build an alternate route around the slide.  I guess it is a good thing that I made it through there before the slide.

Just north of Destruction Bay, the road becomes very bumpy due to frost heaves.  I was warned by many riders about these prior to this ride.  Most are marked with red flags.  I was advised to slow down for these, but they really were not that bad.  In fact I found it kind of fun.  Both myself and the bike's suspension got a workout.  It reminded me of skiing as a kid on a slope with moguls.  I was having a blast navigating these.  At one point, the red flags signified for me to speed up rather then slow down.

As I rounded a bend, the road all of the sudden changed, it was freshly paved.  I then saw the entering Alaska sign.  It felt good to be back in the USA.

The boarder crossing was a hoot.  There was a border agent there who was a crack up, he gave me all kinds of grief about being from Oklahoma and welcomed me back to the United States.  At that moment, the sun came out and the rain stopped.  It was great.

Shortly after crossing the border, the road became full of twisties (sweeping turns).  It was great, I enjoyed every minute of it.  I felt one with the Wing.  Then the song Crazy Train came on the Ipod which only added fuel to the fire.  I was grinning from ear to ear as I scraped my pegs while throwing my 1,100 pound beast from side to side.  It was awesome!!

I am currently in Tok, Alaska and decided to stop for breakfast at Fast Eddie's.  This restaurant was recommended to me by several ADV riders.  It has lived up to it's reputation.  There was a lot of food served and it was good.  I ordered the Alaskan Omelet.  It is a reindeer sausage omelet.

I am almost done and will continue on to Fairbanks to meet up with the GWRRA members who are going to help me with my cruise control problem.  I suspect muck got into one of the cancellation micro switches, we'll see.

I will be staying at the University of Alaska tonight, then hopefully off to the Arctic Circle tomorrow.

 I am already starting to plan another ride up here with Devon for 2014, she does not know it yet, shhh don't tell her.

Prudhoe Bay is out.  While eating at Fast Eddie's another ADV rider came in and sat next to me, we talked for quite awhile.  He just came from Coldfoot and did not make it to Prudhoe Bay.  He said it was snowing in Coldfoot and there have been several avalanches near Aticun Pass which were closing the road.  I think I will pass on a Goldwing.

Here are some photos from today thus far:

Another rainy morning.

The parking lot of the motel I stayed at last night.

Starting mileage (437 miles yesterday)

The mountains were clouded this morning.

Tok, Alaska

I couldn't resist stopping here, sure glad I did.

The food was awesome.

Bear count:  1