Well i'm back from Alaska, a bit early. This is what happened.After arriving in Anchorage ( Via Seattle) and meeting up with Simon we started our ride north.
The bike was not behaving and i
was struggling to keep it running. I broke down about 50 miles outside
Anchorage in Wasilla but got started again after it cooled down. That night we
camped in Trappers Creek and in the morning it struggled to start. After
getting it going I rode on into the Alaskan wilderness to a place called Cantwell
where we stopped for fuel. The bike stalled and that was that. After spending
all day trying to fix it we gave in and had to contact recovery. Luckily the
insurance covered recovery as a private tow was $1000.
It was about now we met Adam
delivering batteries at the garage.
What a star he was.... He offered to transport the bike but
unfortunately it wouldn't fit in his truck but he did offer to transport me to
Fairbanks. So I left Simon with the bike waiting and I went off with Adam. He
made some deliveries, one into Denali National Park. After the delivery we went
into the park to see the views and spot wildlife. Saw my first moose.
At Fairbanks he dropped me at Svens Hostel the agreed meeting place. A bit of a mecca for adventure motorcyclists. The next day the bike was dropped by recovery at a local bike dealer, an investigation found that it had lost compression following a valve guide failure in the head. It would require a new head. Basically after 175 miles my trip was now over. A new head was sourced in Bristol England and FedEx to Alaska but by the time it would arrive and be fitted it would be too late to ride.
To thank Adam for his help we asked him out to dinner. He brought along
his brother Oscar who lives in Fairbanks.
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| Oscar-Simon-Me-Adam |
During the dinner we chatted and
Oscar was at a loose end for the week and offered to help us. He wanted to show
me around Fairbanks. The next day we went out and I met some of his work
colleagues then we went to the North pole.
The following day was the 4th
July, American Independence Day. Its a holiday so nothing was open, Simon and I
walked to the celebrations and met Oscar and a French rider (David, on a Royal
Enfield Bullet). Following this Oscar took us to a roadhouse style bar for some
lunch and drinks. Awesome place. After dropping of David's bike we headed out
of Fairbanks to a shooting range. Oscar had kindly offered to let us shoot his
handgun as we do not have them in the UK. Oh what fun, and so easy to use
One of goals of the trip was to
reach the Arctic Circle and if possible Prudhoe Bay using the famous haul road,
The Dalton Highway. Oscar commented that he had never been to the Arctic Circle
and it thought it would a good idea to drive up... Road trip. Oscar and I drove
to the Arctic Circle in his 4x4 Dodge Ram pickup truck. 400 mile round trip. We
followed the pipeline dodging trucks and their dust. We crossed the mighty
Yukon River. Thanks to (Adam) and Oscar one of the things I have always wanted
to do I achieved.
It was now Saturday and Oscar was going to Anchorage to see his brother so I tagged along for the ride back. I had found a flight or flights home that was cheaper that staying in a hostel in Anchorage and wasting a week. £320 for flights Anchorage to Seattle, Seattle to Vancouver and Vancouver to London. I was also being eaten alive by mosquitoes, they love me for some reason.
Back in Anchorage at the hostel I went out for dinner with Oscar and Adam. Moosetooth bar and Pizzeria. Highly recommended for both beer and pizza. Check it out if in Anchorage.
Sunday morning off to the
airport, Oscar got up at 4am to drive me. At check-in the Alaskan Airlines lady
wanted to know the serial number of my Canadian Visa... What bloody visa. Shit
I needed an entry visa like the USA. I quickly jumped onto the free airport
wifi and applied for one. Within 10 minutes the reply came back - entry
granted. Quick check-in and through security with minutes to spare.
Then plane 2 was delayed for an
hour out of Seattle...
Ran through the airport at
Vancouver and checked in at the gate with about 20 minute to go. Ended up
sitting next to a woman from a town close to me.
Afterthought:
The bike was a disaster and I
will never use a modern Royal Enfield again. But without breaking down I would
not have met Adam and Oscar who showed me friendship and compassion. I have
heard how friendly the Americans are and now I have experienced it. Thank you
guys, you turned a shit situation into a trip of a lifetime. I will be forever
grateful. With the power of social media we will keep in touch.
The new head was fitted and the
bike runs again, another rider now has it and both him and Simon are in Canada
somewhere heading for Calgary. I hope it holds together for him. Simon made it
to the Arctic Circle on his own riding with 250cc Yamaha. I went home and
immediately packed and disappeared off to Brands Hatch race circuit for the
weekend before returning to work a day early. What a story to tell.
