ALASKA AT EIGHTY - Fairbanks, UCC NORTH TO SOUTH 2025

Crisis in Fairbanks. 

When I arrived at the Fairbanks hotel that night, I went to pay, my credit card was not in my wallet.... Oh cr*p. 

You know how your mind races when something like that happens... finally traced it back to when last used, in COLDFOOT. 
250 mies back up the Haul Road. One has to give your credit card to the cashier before they turn on the gas pump. I also told her I needed a room for the night. When I returned after filling all my fuel containers, she handed me a gas receipt and a key for the room. Then proceeded to tell me how to find the room and where to park. She failed to give me back my card and I did not notice.

Now what to do. Tried calling Coldfoot. No service at this time. OK, to be safe, will cancel the card. Called the 800 number. I get a machine answering the call, IN SPANISH. It kept asking for my Social Security Number... no way am I giving that number to a machine, much less one that only talks in Spanish and will not connect me to a live operator. Hung up. 

Maybe I can go to a local bank branch and cancel it. Checked, no branch office for Bank of America in Fairbanks.

Tried calling Coldfoot again. Still no service.

Called the wife in Houston, explained the situation. Maybe she can cancel it. Nope, she is not on that account. We have her card, my card, and our card. Each with a different bank to keep things straight.

Okay, I have some cash and a back up credit card, so could keep traveling. But the idea that a credit card is out there, in who's hands, is worrisome.

Nope, no Bank of America office in Anchorage either.

It's been several hours now. Do I ride back up to Coldfoot? That's taking two days from the UCC ride.

At 8:45 pm I call Coldfoot one more time, and get an answer. "Yes, we have your credit card here."

Me: "Can you send it to me here in Fairbanks?"

"Not sure how fast the Post Office can do that." Remember the photo of three days a week service?

Me: "How do you send your stuff to your home office in Fairbanks?"
"Oh," then she turns and talks with someone there. 
"Ok. a pilot here is flying to Fairbanks tonight and can take it. What is your phone number?"

After agreeing to that, I hang up relieved. Then I think, I just agreed to them giving my credit card to a stranger who says he will fly it to Fairbanks and drop it off somewhere.

What can go wrong?

Am awaken at 12:46 am with a called from someone who says they have my credit card, but they are closing in ten minutes. They give me an address where to go when they open at 7 am.

At 7:10 am I have my credit card safely back in my wallet. All at no cost. Who do I thank? Never met the pilot.
Been riding the Haul Road in dry weather for four day, and now this, thank you Lord.

Next day...

July 21, Maintenance Day, laundry and rest.

Have been riding six days straight, time for maintenance. Had scheduled an old change at DELTA Powersports, the Honda dealer. Arrived early and they got right on it. Had me out by noon.

While there, a sorry looking BMW GSA rolls ( sort of) in. More like limps in with a thud-a-thump, thud-a-thump.



What's that on his front wheel?



Seems he wrapped duct tape around it to hold the tire to the wheel. Why??? It's not holding air.

What's with the rim?

His story is he hit a deep pothole on the Haul Road and flared both sides of the rim out! That must have been quite a hit. Says he was able to keep the bike up.

The dealership has no new wheels or used ones for the GSA.

Have no idea how he is going to get this rental bike back to Anchorage agency.