Fairbanks

An early start Monday..up at 5.00 for a 6.00 o'clock start..I don't think anyone of us is looking forward to the travelling we have to complete today..The only consolation is that the temperature is cool and the roads are empty!

We have to watch out for bears and moose.. the moose are notoriously aggressive and we have been warned that if we do encounter a moose standing in the road..do not try to go pass at the front end! Make sure we go around the backside!! 

Moose kick with their front legs and there are many stories of people being injured by making this mistake!

A story goes that a "mad" Moose in the height of the rutting season smashed up ten vehicles in the local town after it thought that they were a threat to his herd..!! True or not these animals are regulary two tons in weight! and 7 feet tall.

 The view from our room not too bad....

 

 Empty roads and great views

Anyway the weather and view make it a fine start...

 We are riding for about 30 miles when we ride around the edge of Destruction bay

With the thought of the hugh mileage I've got to cover today I made the decision not to bother with taking photos too much..
I looked at the route last night and it didn't really show any highlights but when we turned the corner to Destruction Bay the views were unbelievable..

 These photos I took riding and taking pot luck I'm quite happy I got these.. their ok! but I know that to appreciate these places..You have to go and see it yourself. you cannot explain via pictures just how stunning it is !!! Its amazing...

 We find a place for breakfast and then carry on to the Yukon-US customs boarder crossing..

About 140miles from our start at Haines Junction..We queue for a short while and each one of us is ordered to stay behind the white line.. and when instructed to do so ride forward to a precise spot in front of him where he is standing just outside his office!! He points to an imaginary spot on the ground flicking his fingers indicting..

 You cannot believe it...Forward..Forward a bit more..more...more...stop there please...its really funny.. 

Residence ?

The United Kingdom

Where?

England the UK

Where are you heading?

Alaska

How Long?

4 Days ish?

Any fruit?

I had a Banana this morning! 

Pardon?

No!

Any Guns?

NO

How much money are you carrying?

$2-3 Hundred Dollars

Pass Through..

Cheers

 A few miles up the road we run into road works! we have to what for a pilot car to escort us through the road works! This is common practice over here.. The Lolly pop holders always seem to be real good sports..

 The sun is beating down on us by now, and while we wait we start counting the bugs in our oil coolers at the front of the bike! Bees Mossies and Giant dragon flys...of which are everywhere 4-5inches long.

Its carnage! 

(pictures took graphic to show..haha)

 Scenery Again 

 A picture of my boots! I was going to delete this as it was a rogue press of the camera button.. but as Im far too tired to delete it.. I thought I'd leave it in the blog..!!!

 After about 480 odd miles we enter the city/town of wait for it.......

"North Pole" seriously who in their right mind would name a town the "North Pole"?

All the lamp posts that line the roads are in the shape and colour of white and red ribboned candy umbrella sticks 

Theres St Nicholas Drive!

Santa Claus Lane!

Snowman Lane!  

And of course every town should have a Santa claus's house...

 The Fat Man Himself!

 This is the actual postal address where all those letters to Santa go to.. 

To: Santa Claus The North Pole

On reflection..I reckon that Boarder Guard must have let some right muppets in!!

We get to Fairbanks Monday night and have luckily dodged the wet weather to continue to our stop for the next two nights, We need to prep the bikes for the highlight of the trip The Dalton Highway to Prudoe Bay on Wednesday.

The Most Northerly Road in North America

We have booked our bikes into Adventure Cycleworks workshop in Fairbanks.

The two guys there Dan and Shawn who operate from Dans house,

 Here is where some of the lads tyres are changed, oils replaced and little niggles are sorted prior to the Dalton..

I have a complete Oil Change as the sight glass on the engines sump has gone opaque! thus not enabling me to read the oil level! we agree its best to put 4 new litres of oil in and fit a new filter just to ensure I know what I have in there.. 

Yes I know its a bad photo!

Anyway Im off  on the first leg to Prudoe Bay tomorrow, 550miles over two days..on gravel and following the Alaskan Oil Pipe line.. A few of the lads are a bit apprehensive but funnily enough I'm not! Im really looking forward to it.. 

So Im just letting you all know, theres no internet at the motel/hotel/shiteholes I'll be lodging at !

Thats  allowing 2 days to travel up there & /1 to 2 days riding down back to here in Fairbanks..

Our Midway 250mile stop is in Wiseman Ak Thursday night, Then Prudoe Friday.

On the way back down we may do Prudoe to Fairbanks in one day!  But depending on how we are feeling and Chancing our arm that we can get rooms in Wiseman again! We may take the easier option and stay over there and travel the 550 miles back over two days!! we'll see eh?

Anyway take it easy and I'll report back on how it went as soon as I can...

Ahem..Its been Emotional..!!