Deadhorse trip pictures

[670cc]

Again, great story and great pictures! I can relate to this because I did one of those cruise ships and the White Pass ride two years ago. Wouldn't have thought about doing that on a bike ride until you posted. Like you said, it looked like a beautiful day.

 

[Skeleton]

What an adventerous journey. You are courageous!

I really enjoyed your report and photos. Much thanks.

I was expecting more mosquito juice on your wind screen. Not as bad as I expected.

It seems your radiator suffered no stone damage, despite not having a guard grill. I guess maybe grills are not essential on gravel roads.

Questions please:

1) How many miles (average and maximum) did you ride each day?

2) Was the stock seat adequate, at least, for the journey?

3) Were you satisfied with your Michelin tires for riding the gravel/mud roads?

4) Why did you cover the bike each night (surely not for fear of rain in the night)?

5) What speed can/did you ride at, on dry gravel, and on wet muddy gravel?

6) Why did you report that you should have not brought paniers (does the added weight comprise handling on gravel/mud)?

7) What did you wish you brought along (aside from a spare BMW clutch)?

... Thanks.

 

[what next]

Well really I didn't plan on any pictures today I am heading south over roads I just traveled. The Toad River Lodge I remember stopping here to wait out a terrible rain storm on a previous trip . Staying here tonight what a fantastic little place friendly good food and a basic room with a bathroom $79. Now I see they have beautiful cabins facing a nice lake for an extra $20 oh well. I stopped at Liard Hot Springs today. It is a required stop every trip $5 to get in $3 to rent towel and or trunks. I took wildlife pictures today , so the moose in the lake is quite a ways away and the bear , while I don't stop to close to them. Saw more than a dozen bear 4 moose and several buffalo.
So this morning I checked my tires out close up tire pressure ok , no cuts , pulled out all rocks. The rear tire had several sharp shards of rock but no damage. Hey I never put on the rain suit today oh wow. Did have the Gerbings going all morning. Got to figure out which way to take home, I look at my atlas and take something I haven't marked off yet.

 

[what next]

What an adventerous journey. You are courageous!

I really enjoyed your report and photos. Much thanks.

I was expecting more mosquito juice on your wind screen. Not as bad as I expected. ( Rain washes it off every day)

It seems your radiator suffered no stone damage, despite not having a guard grill. I guess maybe grills are not essential on gravel roads.( I guess the fender extender did the job I was expecting much worse.)

Questions please:

1) How many miles (average and maximum) did you ride each day? ( just ride miles have been 698-620-579-370-591-339-186-220-20-172-510-510-20-360-386-2-479 so far

2) Was the stock seat adequate, at least, for the journey? (stock as can be I jack the front up by storing a towel under it)

3) Were you satisfied with your Michelin tires for riding the gravel/mud roads? ( surprised the heck out of me and everyone else I just loved getting back from Deadhorse and proving the guys wrong)

4) Why did you cover the bike each night (surely not for fear of rain in the night)? ( just to keep eyes off of it I leave my old gps on all the time)

5) What speed can/did you ride at, on dry gravel, and on wet muddy gravel? ( rode what I figured was safe and prudent took 14 1/2 hours to cover the 510 miles to Deadhorse. Same coming back but 2 1/2 for just the first 50 miles then things got better. 1/2 stop each way at Coldfoot.)

6) Why did you report that you should have not brought paniers (does the added weight comprise handling on gravel/mud)? (Just extra weight could put everything I needed in frunk I didn't notice them really )

7) What did you wish you brought along (aside from a spare BMW clutch)? ( I wish I had a Aerostich suit)

... Thanks.

So the trip continues the wife says the dog misses me but that's ok. Answered all questions in quoted text.

 

[Old Can Ride]

I liked the way that the trucks with the yellow lights followed the buffalo. This kept vehicles from hitting the buffalo. A lot of animals in the section you are now in.

 

[what next]

 

[what next]

So what the heck did I do? I made a detour and rode into the Northwest Territories.
So within the last 10 years I have ridden from home to 49 states 10 Canadian provinces Yukon and Northwest Territories. Yes I made it to New Foundland and over to Labrador too,,, just for the fun of it.
The road to Northwest was the best and most deserted road I have been on since leaving home. All pavement and no damage to it at all. Not 1 motorcycle not 1, after the first 20 miles I bet I could only saw 5 less than 10 vehicles for the 170 miles. At one point I think it was 60 miles without seeing anyone.
I am back in Dawson Creek , end of the Alcan. Stopped early the Gerbings keeps me warm but when I stop I get the chills, it is damp and cold, not raining just damp. Staying at the Voyageur Inn $81 with all the taxes. The owner is a cool little Chinese guy that drives a black XLR. We talked about the bike and his car for an hour.
So I washed the bike again $20 so far just getting mud off. I stopped at Walmart got more chain oil.
Oh I am back in oil fracking country that means the roads are full of construction trucks and tanker carrying mud all over the place. Messy business.
Heading south , couple of days hope to be back in states. Hope I am complaining about it being hot.

 

[StratTuner]

telling the story, with the details, the way you do... is a joy to read. thanks for the pictures. It's a great adventure. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

 

[ziggie]

+1 what strat said

 

[Old Can Ride]

I envy the cool weather you are having on your trip.

 

[Skeleton]

I enjoy reading your daily posts and photos. Keep them coming.

I was suppose to ride up to Yellowknife, NWT, next week - but I now need to cancel. You trip reports give me some insight in what I would miss. (I envy you.)

 

[what next]

Nothing much today, couldn't sleep so here I am getting ready to pack it up at 5:30 in the morning. Leaving Dawson Creek made reservations in Red Deer easy 470 mile drive. I hate traveling on the weekend things get so busy.
So the only persons on highway are the construction guys and tankers hauling chemicals for the fracking wells. They fly I just get over and let them by. So yesterday saw the only speed trap of trip , they got some family in a van that had just passed me. All the trucker knew about it I thought it funny that I caught up with them.
So I got a ticket in Canada on my 2007 Alaska trip , first ticket in 38 years since I was 19. In 2009 second trip to Alaska by motorcycle got a ticket in Alaska coming back from Valdez.
Saw an Elk today huge antlers he was fresh road kill on side of road. No rain I did catch up to some wet roads but no rain on me. So 20 days on the road should be back in states tomorrow .

 

[ziggie]

Looks like it got a bath

 

[what next]

Looks like it got a bath

Why yes it did another $8 worth.

 

[what next]

Slow start today , 21 days on the road. Did laundry last night , so now I have some more Canadian money I will spend it on gas today to get rid of it. It is sunny and 57 out, best start I have had.
I am posting a link , I talked to this father son team at Toad River. He writes with great detail. I love his writing , not the drab quick story I give.
https://www.facebook.com/kickstandsonthealcan
So onward I go , oops got to dig out my passport, states here I come.

 

[goodvibes]

Great job! The experience of a lifetime, certainly. Now, for your next adventure, should you accept the challenge, Inuvik!

Yes, indeed. So many great rides!

 

[what next]

Oh it was a fantastic day. First off I didn't have to put heated Grerbings on. I took off from Red Deer on 2 and heading for St Mary Montana. This morning I noticed the cars are clean wow I haven't seen nothing but muddy vehicles for weeks. So this is no Ice Field Parkway but I can see forever today and the mountains are in the distance.and prairies all over. Ok the car in front of me swerves over oops stuff laying in road ok make note hang back little farther. Oh my, brake lights on ahead luggage all over the place . Pick my way through continue on . It is so nice to have decent weather and no wind. I got across border no problem.
I may have to adjust chain again seems like more noise then usual. Every thing is slow here just barely have phone service but I will try to post some pictures.

 

[what next]

Breakfast then I spent my last Canadian $2 on lottery tickets.

 

[what next]

 

[what next]

I'll be darned ,, what is the date today. Startled black bear takes swipe at camper
10 years today and I am back here. Not camping , staying in motel. I don't camp as often.