July 17th, Leaving Fairbanks early AM with Coldfoot in mind. Here are scenes from the road.
North of Fairbanks, Livengood is the turn off for the Dalton Highway.
Over the years adventure riders have covered the road signs with their little stickers to the point the sign is unreadable. It used to be riders would carry a pen or marker to leave their name and date on the signs. Now, everybody has to have a preprinted sticker to leave their mark. Modern version of post-it notes
The majority of the Dalton is hard pack dirt gravel with rough patches and frost heaves every so often.
Since the Dalton, also known as the Haul Road, was built to service the north slope oil fields and the Alaska pipeline, we will parallel the pipeline all the way to Prudhoe Bay. Many times we will cross it, sometimes it will be buried, other time exposed. There are several pumping stations along the pipeline to either keep the crude oil flowing or to slow it down when desending a steep slope.
The Yukon River bridge has a wood surface that is slippery when wet. Luckily today it is dry. Notice the steep slope of the bridge?
On the other side is a pull off where you can get a good photo of the pipeline, your rig with the bridge in the background.
.
Bought gas in Coldfoot. Think your gas is overpriced where you live? How about paying $7.499 a gallon.
Serene scene from the north.
I was concerned about clogging the Wings radiators with mud and muck from the road. So I fabricated cheap bug screens using a hot glue gun, attached them with Velcro, to catch any mud or muck before it reaches the radiator grills. The Wing has two radiators that are recessed and not easy to reach and clean. These I will discard them after we leave Canada.
On another ride up here, the bike's radiator grill was clogged so bad the engine started to overheat. Has to stop, find a twig and clean it enough to continue.
What a peaceful scene, until the Alaska State Bird finds you... on other words, their giant mosquitos make stoping anywhere more than a few minutes miserable. Unless the wind is blowing, then no state bird bothers you.
Information on this lake near Coldfoot
We reach Coldfoot camp, truck stop, fueling station, restaurant and rooms for rent.
Tomorrow we ride further north to Prudhoe Bay.
Monday, July 21, 2025
ALASKA AT EIGHTY - DAY 12 Fairbanks to Coldfoot
ALASKA AT EIGHTY - DAY 11 Haines to Fairbanks
The ride from Haines to Haines Junctions is an easy 146 miles, up over Chitkat Pass at 3510 ft elevation with gentle slopes, cross wide meadows then easy descents to Haines Junction. Relaxed border crossing into B.C. Canada. Then into Yukon Territory.
Refueled in Haines Junction, then decided to go for Beaver Creek, Yukon on the Alaska border. That was a mistake.
The last 100 miles of the Alcan in Canada is poorly maintained, long stretches of gravel and dust. Oncoming trucks, RV's and trailer railers do not slow down, having no consideration of the cloud of dust they are coating the other vehicles with, or. motorcyclist breathing. Worse, their dust cloud reduces visibility to feet, totally blinding the other drivers. If you stop and wait for the wind to blow the dust away, you run the risk of being hit by the vehicle behind you as it s not slowing down.
Add in the frost heaves, splits, holes and pavement breaks makes for a very trying driving situation.
The Hotels.com said Dot's Cafe and motel in Beaver Creek had no rooms. Yet when I arrived they had plenty. I assume the new owners do not wish to pay the fee to Hotels.com. Eight to ten motorcyclist stayed there that night.
Early the next morning, on to Fairbanks. But first the border crossing.
On the US side there was plenty of road construction, but the best looking flaggers. Friendly too.
After several misleads with the GPS, finally found the Honda motorcycle dealer after the third try. Made an appointment to get an oil change and general bike inspection on Tuesday, the 22, after I return from Prudhow Bay and the Haul Road (Dalton Highway) roads.
With that set up, left early, 5:30 the next morning for Coldfoot. The mid-point of the ride to Deadhorse. I would have taken more photos but this was the worst road I have ridden on this trip. Was more concerned about being thrown off the rig on a frost heave, or breaking a wheel in one of those bottom-less pot holes. Potholes and pavement cracks where you cannot see the bottom. Scary...
Talking with one of the Haul Road truckers, they even said that section from the start of the Dalton to Coldfoot is the worst. Now In Coldfoot for the night, tomorrow on to Prudhoe Bay.
Sorry no photos today. The internet connection here in Deadhorse is very slow or everyone got off work and is now online. Will add photos when I get a stronger signal.
WIFI issue corrected finally two days later. Welcome to the North.
Refueled in Haines Junction, then decided to go for Beaver Creek, Yukon on the Alaska border. That was a mistake.
The last 100 miles of the Alcan in Canada is poorly maintained, long stretches of gravel and dust. Oncoming trucks, RV's and trailer railers do not slow down, having no consideration of the cloud of dust they are coating the other vehicles with, or. motorcyclist breathing. Worse, their dust cloud reduces visibility to feet, totally blinding the other drivers. If you stop and wait for the wind to blow the dust away, you run the risk of being hit by the vehicle behind you as it s not slowing down.
Add in the frost heaves, splits, holes and pavement breaks makes for a very trying driving situation.
The Hotels.com said Dot's Cafe and motel in Beaver Creek had no rooms. Yet when I arrived they had plenty. I assume the new owners do not wish to pay the fee to Hotels.com. Eight to ten motorcyclist stayed there that night.
Early the next morning, on to Fairbanks. But first the border crossing.
On the US side there was plenty of road construction, but the best looking flaggers. Friendly too.
After several misleads with the GPS, finally found the Honda motorcycle dealer after the third try. Made an appointment to get an oil change and general bike inspection on Tuesday, the 22, after I return from Prudhow Bay and the Haul Road (Dalton Highway) roads.
With that set up, left early, 5:30 the next morning for Coldfoot. The mid-point of the ride to Deadhorse. I would have taken more photos but this was the worst road I have ridden on this trip. Was more concerned about being thrown off the rig on a frost heave, or breaking a wheel in one of those bottom-less pot holes. Potholes and pavement cracks where you cannot see the bottom. Scary...
Talking with one of the Haul Road truckers, they even said that section from the start of the Dalton to Coldfoot is the worst. Now In Coldfoot for the night, tomorrow on to Prudhoe Bay.
Sorry no photos today. The internet connection here in Deadhorse is very slow or everyone got off work and is now online. Will add photos when I get a stronger signal.
WIFI issue corrected finally two days later. Welcome to the North.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
ALASKA AT EGHTY - DAY 10
Was wondering about how a CanAm would do on the Alaska Highway, rode over 12 miles of gravel today. Seeing all that gravel piling up in the middle of the road made me wonder...
Downtown Haines at 9 AM.
Finally off the ferry and back to riding. Left Haines around 10 AM, arrived in Bear Creek, Yukon at 6:30, 330 miles today. Felt so good to be riding once more. That is until I hit those last 100 miles of the worst of the worst of the Alcan. Frost heaves, gravel patches, road work, dips and splits in pavement.
Was a slight drizzle in Haines, other than that, no rain all day. Temp even got up to 74 in the afternoon.
Tomorrow I enter Alaska and head up to Fairbanks.
Downtown Haines at 9 AM.
Finally off the ferry and back to riding. Left Haines around 10 AM, arrived in Bear Creek, Yukon at 6:30, 330 miles today. Felt so good to be riding once more. That is until I hit those last 100 miles of the worst of the worst of the Alcan. Frost heaves, gravel patches, road work, dips and splits in pavement.
Was a slight drizzle in Haines, other than that, no rain all day. Temp even got up to 74 in the afternoon.
Tomorrow I enter Alaska and head up to Fairbanks.
ALASKA AT EIGHTY - DAY 9
Third day on ferry, am getting antsy to get off and ride.
Today we stopped at Wrangal, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau and Haines. These are the last of the photos I'll publish from the ferry ride.
Mendenhall Glacier , Juneau
Next three photos are of the procedure to secure the ships mooring (?) ropes to the dock.
First the deck hand throws a leader to the shore man to catch and then pull the heavier rope over.
Pulling the heavy rope over to hook on the ______?
Next the machinery onboard pulls the ropes taught to secure the vessel to the dock.
These ferries to not dock where the fancy cruise ships do. These terminals are at a remote distance from town, like the case in Juneau.
As dusk falls we spot several cruise ships leaving Skagway for Juneau.
Another cruise ship from Skagway, with a glacier valley on the left.
We arrived in Haines 11:30 pm. Finally off the ferry, rode the several miles into Haines to find the motel for the night. Tomorrow we ride to the Canadian border.
Today we stopped at Wrangal, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau and Haines. These are the last of the photos I'll publish from the ferry ride.
Mendenhall Glacier , Juneau
Next three photos are of the procedure to secure the ships mooring (?) ropes to the dock.
First the deck hand throws a leader to the shore man to catch and then pull the heavier rope over.
Pulling the heavy rope over to hook on the ______?
Next the machinery onboard pulls the ropes taught to secure the vessel to the dock.
These ferries to not dock where the fancy cruise ships do. These terminals are at a remote distance from town, like the case in Juneau.
As dusk falls we spot several cruise ships leaving Skagway for Juneau.
Another cruise ship from Skagway, with a glacier valley on the left.
We arrived in Haines 11:30 pm. Finally off the ferry, rode the several miles into Haines to find the motel for the night. Tomorrow we ride to the Canadian border.
Monday, July 14, 2025
ALASKA AT EIGHTY DAY 8 PART 2
Was still overcast during ourfirst stop, Ketchikan. Some offloaded, others come on board.
This is a busy stop with large cruise ships, ferries. seaplanes, airport , barges, and moving about, leaving at sunrise. Here are a few photos of the sights.
Unloading....
The couple touring on a Goldwing got off here.
A cruise ship coming in to dock.
And another... the town will be overrun with tourists today.
Thought it was funny to see a firepit on an big screen on the outdoor top level cruise ship. Hey, let's all sit around the campfire amd swap stories...
What one can see of the town.
The ferry docks are not in city center so what we can see from the ferry is limited and maybe not the most scenic.. City center where they want the tourists to land, not us low budget travelers.
ALASKA AT EIGHTY DAY - 8
The second day on the ferry was cloudy, foggy and grey. Already did the grey photos, here are a few shot from inside the ferry.
Interior hallway
To walk from one side of the ship to the other
Snack area, basically the hamburger and pizza bar. The clam chowder was good though.
Is the ferry empty? No, I got up early as most passengers slept in.
The white table cloth dining area overlooking the stern of the ferry.
The forecast is sunny weather later. Fingers crossed.
We stop in Ketchikan later this morning.
Interior hallway
To walk from one side of the ship to the other
Snack area, basically the hamburger and pizza bar. The clam chowder was good though.
Is the ferry empty? No, I got up early as most passengers slept in.
The white table cloth dining area overlooking the stern of the ferry.
The forecast is sunny weather later. Fingers crossed.
We stop in Ketchikan later this morning.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
ALASKA AT EIGHTY - DAY 7
With the ferry under way, clouds and fog are now what we see all day. Not noticing a big temperature drop yet.
Life here is not totally colorless, but pretty much so. Here are some photos of the MS Columbia ferry in B&W.
The Solarium deck is very popular, where those of us cabin-less seek a lounge chair. You have to get here fast as the chair are quickly claimed. Since motorcycles were the last to roll on, all these chairs were taken by the time we could get to the deck. Thus I was searching the ship for a couch or reclining chair. Sleeping on the deck itself is seen everywhere, but that is not so desirable at 80.
The people one meets of this ferry are very interesting. Many retirees, former AMHS employees. All with interesting life experiences, all at home with the sea and the ruggedness of life in Alaska.
Two more days till Haines.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)