Alaska trip 2022

Sgt Bilco · Aug 1, 2022

I think everyone slept well last night after yesterdays adventures and the day dawned a bit overcast but thankfully not raining.

Quick check of the bikes who were suitably rested in the grass and the mighty Yamaha has succumbed to a blown fork seal which is unsurprising. The bike was never designed for the hammering of the Dalton and to be fair, it's done a cracking job. Will have to see if we can find a seal in Fairbanks later.

We saw this big cruiser at the lodge which the rider had crashed on the Dalton causing him multiple injuries. The rider didn't want it back as it costs a fortune to get recovery from the Dalton so someone had bought it for $250 and will recover it at some point.

Seeing this is a salutory lesson about riding up here on the wrong kit. I've all sorts of people say it's not difficult and I rode it on my Harley but believe me, they have been very, very lucky.

As we climbed away from the Yukon River, we hit some low cloud which made life interesting for an hour but a good ride back to civilisation.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 1, 2022

When we got back to Fairbanks, we called into my old my Dan who is as redneck as they come. He's got a great little business prepping and fixing bikes for the Dalton and is a character for sure.

Any clues who he voted for at the last election??

The current POTUS is deeply unpopular up here as he's currently in the process of cutting one of the states main incomes which is oil. Quite how Biden is expecting this part of the world to go all electric in within the next 50 years is beyond anyone who lives here and that includes democratic voters!

We had the bikes washed there and Bill and Gordon headed off into Fairbanks to find a seal and chain for one of the 850's. The OEM chains on BMW's are made of cheese and after only 2000 miles on Gordon's bike it was f****d.

We were heading to Chena Hot Springs now for a well rest and on the way, came across this Moose enjoying some duckweed in a pond.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 1, 2022

And so the end of the day in Chena and it's lovely hot springs which were more than welcome.

Chena is very touristy but we had decent rooms at a decent price which was good. Oh, the worlds most expensive pasta in here with a good bowl of Salmon and Pasta being $38......

F*ck it, we deserved it

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

Day 7 Chena Hot Springs to Tok Alaska

After a refreshing sleep we were up and away early.

We had decided the Yamaha's trip had ended as we couldn't get a fork seal for love or money and in any case, the local Yamaha dealer did not have a guy who could so forks and fork seals. It's a pretty staggering thing in a state where bike travellers make up a large proportion of the visitors.

Up here, you have to be fairly self sufficient and carry the bits you think you will need as you are unlikely to source them locally and that includes BMW bits.

Bill was going to take the Yamaha back to Anchorage and meet us later in the trip when were over in the west again. To be fair to that little bike, it performed way above our expectations and the engine is a real peach. It's revvy, smooth and very torquey and if Yamaha ever put that in an ADV type chassis they would have a winner on their hands as I think it's a much nicer engine that either the Tiger 900 or BMW 850.

Kit transferred and I swung my leg over Bill's 990 KTM which is a bit of a beast. It's set up for the roads up here and is VERY tall meaning i was on tip toe at a stand still. Over the next few days it caused much amusement when I was stationary but I kept it upright for the rest of the trip and got used to it. It's got all sorts of improvements such as Akra's, different air box, renthals and a Rekluse clutch and sounds like nothing on earth. When you start it, it sounds like a raging, snorting bull which just wants to go and you feel it could conquer anything.

Nice little 70 mile ride back to Fairbanks and one of the best breakfasts of the whole trip. The biscuits and gravy were out of this world. The waitress was fantastic, as they often are, and amused us whilst we tucked into yet another light breakfast ready for the day ahead. No matter how many times you come over here, you never really get used to the sheer amount and choice of food available.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

Bill went west and we headed south out of Fairbanks to the little town of North Pole where Santa obviously lives. There is a massive 4ft Santa and a store devoted to all the usual tacky crap these places will try to sell you but it is quite an amusing place.

Saw a couple of GSA's parked there and they had the touratech pannier extensions which look really strange. The guys on the bikes said they were really useful though for light kit but they did look odd that's for sure.

A quick stop and onwards south in just the most glorious weather with blue sky and temps about 20c which is perfect.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

Carrying on south you pass USAF Eilson which is the biggest airbase up here. They are currently working up the maximum capacity due to Russia's fun and games so lots of F22's, F35's and tankers to be seen as we pass. You might just be able to make them out in the distance as we sat in some road construction alongside the base.

About 100 miles south we ride into Delta which is the official start of the Alcan highway. Some of you may remember we used to ride this from start to finish on some long trips from San Francisco and it's certainly a long road but a real cracker.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

They have an interesting display of the worst Alaskan beast which is the mosquito. They really do feel this big sometimes

As we fuelled up, this guy on a Rocket 3 rolled up and he was unbelievably proud to be riding a Triumph is a world of HD's. He was loaded to the gunnels as well as pulling a huge trailer and he stays on the road for months at a time. He reckons you barely feel the trailer and they certainly know how to do things differently up here.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

I like to call these days music days as we are covering some mileage and you can sit back and relax with some music as the stunning scenery rolls by. The road to Tok is arrow straight for 100 miles but you are travelling through some of the best scenery anywhere on the planet.

Camera's, especially and iphone, just don't do this place justice!!

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

We arrive in a town called Tok which is at a major crossroads. You have ti come through here no matter which way you go to Alaska and we stay ay the famous Fast Eddies motel and restaurant which is no doubt the best place in town and everything from bicycles to RV's to trucks stop here for refreshment.

A couple of very nice Super Ten's were sitting there obviously on a big trip. As here, they are pretty uncommon over there but as we all know, they are teh weapon of choice for discerning long haul riders :green gri

Mileage: 290
Start song: 20th Century Boy - T Rex
Finish song: Sultans of Swing Leo Morracchioili and Mary Spender

tuftywhite · Aug 3, 2022

Enjoying the write up. Thank you.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

Day 8 - Tok AK to Dawson City Yukon Canada

We had a nice evening in the bar with the worlds most miserable barmaid but made better by a couple of games of pool. Turns out that Mel is a fecking shark who after an outrageous black of 3 cushions to win the match admitted he has a table at home...........

After a good breakfast we headed off towards Dawson and what it a fantastic days ride.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

The first part of the ride to Chicken is a wonderful roller coaster of a ride across a mountain range with staggering views all around and we were just guessing how far we could actually see.

Just wonderful to see mountain ranges behind mountain ranges way off in the distance.

We pull into Chicken for some coffee and fuel.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

The road then turns to hard packed dirt and the scenery is just staggering. I know I keep saying it but it really is like nowhere else.

The weather is lovely, dry and sunny and road conditions perfect.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

Lovely, just lovely and everyone is loving it.

Udders · Aug 3, 2022

Stunning!

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

A short run up the the furthest north US/Canada border and the guards couldn't have been more helpful. They volunteer to work up here and if you love a bit of remoteness and the outdoor life it's perfect.

Canadians being Canadians i.e awkward, you need an app called ArriveCan to get in which shows all your Covid jabs. No jabs, no entry.

Bob hadn't added Margaret to his for some reason but the guards sorted it and the formalities took about 10 mins for the lot of us.

In fact, they were so nice they took a group picture of us at the border.

Jockser · Aug 3, 2022

I really need to do one of your tours sometime Chris

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

After the border crossing, it's straight onto the Top of the World Highway which is one of the worlds most stunning rides as long as it's not raining.

It's didn't disappoint today that's for sure

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

As you drop off the TOTW, it's a nice free ferry ride across the mighty Yukon and the rather excellent Dawson City.

Sgt Bilco · Aug 3, 2022

After a quick shower, it's down to my favourite bar in the US which is called the Westminster.

It's a wonderful old boozer with terrific atmosphere, good beer and wall art

Mileage: 195

Start song: Midland Drinking Problem
Finish song: Rolling Stones: Satisfaction

Alaska trip 2022

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