The Start

Sunday 26th July
Anchorage to Fairbanks


Up very early I had to finally pack all my stuff into my panniers, no mean feat as it was all over the floor! as usual I was rushing to get it all sorted as we had an 8.00 am start. I had most of it done but had to fit the tank bag loosely as everyone was waiting. We started 8.00am prompt, in the rain, this was it! we were on our way and after all the problems with the organisation and preperation it was a relief to be finally riding the bike. We soon rode out of Anchorage to a back drop of impressive mountains, we rode some 70 miles to the first coffee break as a group. At the stop I got to sorting the mount for the tank bag and then got out my video recording system and set it up. We rode through the mountainous region north of anchorage on highway 3 with light rain still falling. After a while it stopped raining and as we moved into a flat area the weather improved. This day we were to ride 375 miles to Fairbanks. As we moved north the group split up and I found myself alone moving toward a distant mountain range, as it came close it got more impressive looming green and verdant similar to Wales or Scotland, though the scenery was different in small and subtle ways that make a big difference to the overall impression you get. After 250 mile I came to the Denali national park centre and stopped for lunch, meeting with others here, I took the detour to go along the road to the park. We were only allowed to go 15 miles in while the tourist buses could go almost 30. Turning round and re-joining the highway we pressed on to Fairbanks. I was one of the tail-enders though not slow, I stop a lot to take in the vista and take photos. After getting to the motel, Supper 8, we took a ride in the van to the restaurant/pub and met John Binkley, an ex Alaskan State Governor who ran against Sarah Palin in 2006 came in second with 30% of the vote,he also was purportedly the first person to ride a motorbike from Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia in 1973, when some of the roads were not fully built and in some countries people would shoot Americans on sight. He also started in Alaska in December! using studded tyres to combat ice and snow, often stopping to get warmed up by running around the bike.


Miles
Today : 370
Total : 370

Arrival

Friday 25th July;
Anchorage
I arrived in Anchorage at about 2:45pm local time (9 hours behind the UK). Having cleared customs in Vancouver before boarding the plane there are no finals checks to go through. I was collected by Jeff our support driver along with Andy, one a Kiwi and the other Australian. Andy was there to see if his missing luggage had arrived, it had not, and was due to arrive later that night.

By the time we got to the hotel and I had said all the hello's to everyone (most had been there a week or more) it was past 4.00pm. After just dumping all my gear on the floor, we went out in the van to find the Ammo Can and the Alaska leather company. The "Ammo Can" was for additional ammo for our go on the firing range later, it was quite an experience just walking into a shop and buying live rounds over the counter without a "by your leave" !. The Alaska leather company was for a sheep skin cover for my seat this to add comfort for the long rides, I had found out some of the best were being sold here in Anchorage. After this we got on the bikes and rode to the Anchorage Gun Club's firing range. Here we got shoot all sorts of weapons from AK47 to .45 hand guns automatic machine guns and the most impressive and scary was the 50 calibre (one shot each) when shooting this you can feel the wave of power from the shot it was like being hit by a brick wall. The whole thing was great fun, but as we rode back I began to feel the effects of jet lag, after all I had just flown in from Vancouver and had a "trans-atlantic" flight the day before.

Miles
about 6000 air miles !
Today 80
Total 80
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Saturday 25th July;
Anchorage
Up early, yes me! Had to start organising my kit for packing into the panniers, and additional final work on the bike was needed. At 12:30 pm we rode to the house of the organisers of the previous evenings gun shoot, there they had laid out an amazing barbecue with steaks the size you would not believe, after gorging ourselves and then some group photos we rode back to Anchorage to finish off preparing. Tomorrow is the official start of the ride and the first day of riding, 300 plus miles north to Fairbanks.

Miles
Today 80
Total 160