Today was a day of rest. I didn't do any serious riding at all.
The BIG day starts tomorrow. Miles and miles of DIRT and that means a lot slower traveling and, depending on the weather, a lot of bad words said.
The hotel has agreed to hang on to most of my gear until I get back from the far North. That way I can travel light and fast!
I'll be near the Arctic Circle tomorrow and at the very top of Alaska the next day. Assuming the road doesn't turn to mud on the way. Rain is in the forecast but not seriously steady rain, just showers. I've talked to a lot of guys that have gone up there at one time or another and most have stories to tell. While on the way up there I'm going to see if I can find Sgt. Preston and his faithful companion Yukon King. I'll let you know how I make out.
The mechanic at the Harley dealer (he talks to most all of the Harley riders going up there) said that he knew of 32 Harley riders that started up last year and he said 28 of them fell at least once. He says he tells EVERY Harley rider that they shouldn't take a Harley up there because it isn't the bike built for that kind of roads. I'd say the majority of the Harley riders totally ignore him.
One guy I talked to today at the Harley dealer said when he went up it was raining and he was in 6-8 inches of mud. He said they finally had to get off the bikes and just walk beside them as they used the clutch in first gear to move the bike along. He said when they finally reached the end, they were just covered in mud. Then, he said when they came back, it was sunny and everything was dry, You just never know. I don't think it will be TOO bad but we'll see. If it gets too bad, I'll just turn around and come back to Fairbanks.
I ran into Norman and his wife from Illinois again. This makes the fourth time I've seen them on the way up here. They are just traveling around Alaska (pulling a trailer) and don't plan on going up North any further than Fairbanks. I think he is interested in coming to our rally at Theodosia in September. I told him I'd email him the information. Their trailer is fairly large and Norman's wife told him that if a bear came around she was going to jump in the trailer and close the lid and since it wasn't big enough for two, he was on his own. She said she had seen a total of 15 bears in their travels so far. I've only seen the three. I'm way behind.
Norman's brother Fred is traveling along with them, also on a Harley. Norman said that when he told his brother that he and his wife were going to Alaska on the motorcycle, his brother said "can I come along?". Fred also said he didn't care much at all for the 47 miles of construction between here and Tok with the "dangerous curves" and lots and lots of mud.
I got to feeling pretty bad today but couldn't figure out why until it hit me. I immediately cranked up the GS, ran over to Walmart and took a nap in the parking lot. I feel MUCH better now. Almost like I'm home doing my normal stuff.
I have organized my pack mule such that when I get tired, I pull off at a rest stop or "turn around" as they have up here, pull my tarp from under the bungee cords throw it down on the ground right beside the motorcycle and within five minutes, I'm sound asleep with all my gear on, including gloves, helmet, etc. That way I don't have to worry about mosquitos at all. They can't get to me for all the kevlar and plastic.
Alaskan law is such that, unless it is posted otherwise, a person can camp just about anywhere here. I could also camp just about anywhere if I wasn't concerned about getting wet and drowning. If I were a frog, I'd be right at home.
Oh-Oh, Battery going dead. Must send email and go to room
More tomorrow
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