So..whats it like to ride the Dalton?
Well first things first! I'll let you in on a few things!!
The Dalton Highway is in the top five most dangerous roads in the world to ride a motorcycle!
Its most northernly point is the highest road in the western world.
The conditions of the road change from minute to minute
Tarmac,or packed dirt, gravel,rocks, potholes by the millions, deep slimy mud! and Animals!
Mountain Passes with twisting steep climbs which correspond with descents on road surfaces that scare you to death.
The Dalton Highway is the access and exit road to the various oil companies which operate at Prudoe bay and the surrounding area.
The Oil companies have road crews who continually work on the road as it is always in need of repair
Bulldozers, road Graders, Diggers, Pilot Cars, for miles and miles..all getting on with their business while the Huge Mack Trucks ferrying their goods north and south day after day..
These trucks sit at 140km belting up behind you as you try to conquer the mud rocks and potholes..
They won't stop unless you drop the bike...
I'm sitting here trying to put into words what it was like, buzzing and tired is possibly the best way to describe how I'm feeling, as with the rest of the Lads!
We set for a 9.30am start from Fairbanks after a steady breakfast with no rush, everyone that little quieter over their food..You see the bikes we are riding are a mixture of BMW1200gs
1200gs adventures and a couple a 1150 gs adventures they have one thing in common..
They're heavy! especially the 1150's around 250 kgs mine the 1200 gsa 230ish the smaller gs's 220kgs
Fuel range 220 for the 1200 gs 300 1150's 1200 gas 390-440miles
the 1200gs boys take fuel cans as the gas stations are 250-270 apart.
I was wrong in the last post the mileage to Prudoe from Fairbanks is 495miles.
First Gas station is 145 miles away close to the Hot spot Cafe!
I plan to fill at Coldfoot Truck stop 265 miles!
We ride for an hour or so..past several goldmines and souvenir outlets, and soon enough we get to the start of the James W Dalton Highway.
The Road sign was covered stickers from various other road users over the years
Gary decided he would like to achieve a higher spot for his sticker and asked Jono for a bit of assistance..to use his bike as a step ladder!
"Well you've never met a nicer South African"
Here give me a leg up mate..This While Bonkers Bob zips up!!
New bike on the floor and we haven't even started the real stuff yet!!
We start the road hitting dusty roads for the first 145 miles Traffic not too bad and we pull in to the Hot spot Cafe..The best Burgers and milkshakes on the tour..
Where are we?
While the food is on order I pop off for a whizz!! Outside the Loo theres a disclaimer
The view around us..the people who live here are tough! All walks of life eat here but the food is Fantastic but they live on a level that is amusing but quite unbelievable!
The gents
The one thing I love about the USA and Canada is their love for the odd sign or two!
We leave the Hot Spot Cafe and ride for another 80 miles and come to another personal goal for me! It self explanatory
A fantastic feeling I couldn't quite believe it!! But what a pose!!
With Chris in the background I sought out a new road sign for him!
My best rain suit pose on top of the Atigun Pass 4000 ft high it was raining and sleeting on the return it was trying to snow so it just showed us the difference only a few miles would make! when we set off it was 24 degrees now 2...
The scenery
Straight Ahead
The pipeline runs the length of the road it meanders throughout the forests we pass and under bridges and across rivers we cross! It seems like I need to take photos at every turn! I'm thinking about the fantastic scenery here what I just missed by not taking a picture at every opportunity, But you just cannot do it! I wouldn't get anywhere so like everyone else I push on.
Apologies for the bike picture Theres something about dirty Bikes
The oil in the pipeline is heated so to aid its delivery south!
You can actually feel the warmth coming from it!.
I just had to do it!
A view from the pipeline photos again don't do it justice!
Top of the Atigun Pass Photo stop very cold and feeling quite unwell..
I open my visor to get some air as my throat is swollen..
I get stung by a mossie!!
While I'm suffering Bonkers Bob asks his photo to be taken by this truck. followed by a couple more Gser's revving their bikes getting the best position by it.. only to find the trucker was trying to get some sleep inside!! That made me laugh I bet the Trucker thought he'd found a quiet spot!!
We come down from the Atigun and hit the flat lands again! the weather picks up nicely and Im still feeling rubbish! we stop for five and I find the antihistamine tablets and get inundated by mossies!
And then after 495 miles of the best the Dalton can throw at me..I get to DeadHorse which is located at Prudoe Bay!!
A very good feeling I couldn't quite believe what we had done, just over 4000 miles just to stand by this sign!! andI got the stickers to prove it! I look at this now and I'm thinking to myself "well done mate"
Like Tracy Island
An added tribute to my bike!! Thank you Gary!
The Dalton all over my Bike!!
The mud on the bike.... is even muddy!
I love this Picture
It was that cold you don't know where your fingers are!
The plan tomorrow Fairbanks in a day 495 in one hit..
The plan is to nail it not stopping for pictures so here a little taster of the action...
A long and Dirty Road
The we had the next day off in fairbanks to recover and get the bikes jet washed and some routine maintenance done! When we arrived at the accommodation in Fairbanks I realised I had ridden on a flat front tyre..so its off to get that sorted at Adventure Cycle Works..
Next stop Back into Canada and the Yukon to Dawson City
Via the town of Chicken!!
See y'all soon
cant believe u had a nut silly! looks like ur still having an amazing time missing u xxx
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