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