June 8-9, 2022 - Anchorage, AK

It has been nice for Sooz and me to set anchor in Anchorage for a few days to rest up and get our bearings straight. The weather has been mild and mostly overcast with just some minor rain. It has been dry here so residents are happy to see some rain to settle the fire season.

Fun Alaskan facts:

- the total population of Alaska is about 700,000

- the land area is about twice the size of Texas

- Alaska has no sales or income tax

- each permanent Alaskan resident including children will get a $3,500 oil revenue payment this year from the State

- there is no road access to the state Capitol Juneau, you can only get there by sea and air

Sooz and I had the same reaction to Anchorage. While it is the most populated city in Alaska by a long shot with 400,000 people, it has a small town feel and we got the impression that its main purpose is as a stop over and supply station for going elsewhere in the State. 

We had to stop at A Pie Store to stock up on necessary provisions before heading out tomorrow 

Good selection to choose from at A Pie Store

Checked in at the Alaska Mint to exchange our gold tailings for cash

Had lunch with our new friend Alaskan State Senator Roger Holland 

Entrance to the Alaskan Leather shop which contrary to its name has a huge supply of motorcycle gear for such a small store. They repaired the velcro connections on Susie's riding pants for free

Sooz and Bonnie, owner of the Alaskan Leather store, hit it off talking about women's riding gear 

Inside the Alaskan Leather store 

Fresh halibut at the New Sagaya Market a locally owned market in Anchorage 

Yesterday we visited the Alaskan Native Heritage Center and saw some beautiful hand made gear based on original native designs

You can click the link below to watch a short video of Native Alaskan dance that we saw at the Alaskan Native Heritage Center 

https://youtu.be/QoFiqJQB1U8

June 7, 2022 - Anchorage, AK

Quick update.  I arrived in Anchorage yesterday after about a 200 mile ride. I stopped by to see Phil Freeman the owner of MotoQuest a motorcycle tour and rental company headquartered in Anchorage. Phil was the guide on the first big motorcycle adventure I took about 10 years ago. We rode through the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Phil is one of those free spirits you don't easily forget. He was in the office and we are going to try to get together after Sooz arrives. 

I ended up changing hotels here in Anchorage. The original hotel was not good and expensive, not a good combo. I now have a room which is much better. Sooz will be flying out of Orlando soon and hopefully arriving tonight. Her flight keeps getting delayed so there is a chance she may not make her connection in Chicago to Anchorage. Fingers crossed. 

My main goal for today is to get the bike serviced. It's already time for an oil change and checkover. This is the shortest period of time between oil changes ever!

Late update.  I was able to get the bike serviced and while waiting in the log cabin waiting area I met 2 interesting characters I will describe later.

The big news is that Soo@ made it to Anchorage!

The GS at MotoQuest in Anchorage 

Phil Freeman of MotoQuest and some stranger I don't recognize 

I like this picture of the big husky where I stayed 2 nights ago 

The motorcycle shop waiting area 

Breakfast of scrambled eggs and reindeer sausage 

June 5, 2022- Gakona, AK - 200 miles

I'm starting to feel a little road weary so I'm taking my time and enjoying the scenery. My place in Tok last night was nothing to speak of except for the price, which was very reasonable.  And there was a very good restaurant next door named Fast Eddie's. I had halibut fingers last night at Fast Eddie's and it was excellent.  It was my first time eating halibut and I can highly recommend it. I forgot to mention that the night before last I had my first sockeye salmon and it too was excellent. 

Four Brits just pulled up on MotoQuest rental bikes and it looks like they are staying the night and looking for beer to drink which they just happen to serve here at the Gakona Lodge. 

Taken at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center

I think the National Park ranger said this is one of the first Harley Davidson motorcycles ever built

Comparison of a moose hoofprint next to my hand

Gakona Lodge before the Brits showed up

My bedroom made of solid logs, no paneling 

My new friend Tom. He and his wife Kim are owners of the Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant  and were kind enough to open up the kitchen on their day off to serve me a warm individual homemade apple pie with ice cream and coffee. Sooz and I will stop in when we are nearby.

Need I say more!

Trying to get artsy with the camera

The Brits' bikes with plastic gas cans bungee-corded on the back

Friendly blokes all originally from the UK having known each other for 30 years. It's pretty cool they have stayed in touch and try to get together every year even though they are spread out in different parts of the world. They have had a lot of motorcycle trips including other trips in the US.

Another new friend Coda. He is one huge husky.

June 4, 2022 - Tok, ALASKA - 380 miles

GNV4ALL made it to Alaska after 4,400 miles and 12 days! There is another 300 miles or so to Anchorage. Susie flies in Tuesday. 

Today was a lot of rough paved roads with potholes and sections of dirt. Mostly good weather with rain late afternoon.  

Short video of Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory 

https://youtu.be/-D8GVZuqefo 

Entering Alaska - yes, I forgot to take off my helmet

My route to Alaska 

You see a lot of places like Ida's along the Alaska Highway where they do anything and everything you need or want 

Thechal Dhal Visitor Center 

Thechal Dhal Visitor Center - I had to use a telescope to see the Dall Sheep walking on the steep slope.

My new friend Alaska State Senator Roger Holland riding a fairly new Indian motorcycle with a rough looking Czech sidecar. He bought it in Seattle and was riding it home to Anchorage. He had to stop once to have several broken supports welded after the sidecar almost fell off. He invited Sooz and me to meet he and his wife once we arrive in Anchorage. Of course I gave him several GNV4ALL Goes to Alaska information cards.

Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory 

Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory 

June 3, 2022 - Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada - 277 miles

Pierre and I road together most of today. I had to change my plans a little after speaking with the owner of the place I stayed last night. I planned on heading north on Highway 4 to Camacks. Michael, the hotel owner, said I needed to be able to travel 250 to 300 miles without getting gas.  He kept repeating that there is nothing on that route until it finally sunk into my thick skull. I don't have that kind of range on my bike so I decided to head to Whitehorse  on the Alcan Highway. And I didn't run out of gas which was good.

Temperatures ranged from 55 in the morning to 78 in the afternoon and was sunny with no rain or wind. Ideal conditions. 

We went through 2 sections of dusty unpaved road that were each several miles long. It was hardpacked and pretty stable with only a few wobbly loose gravel stretches.

A black bear was the only wild animal I saw today.

From yesterday  - a still-frozen Summit Lake at 4,200 feet above seal level

Me trying not to fall over on the gravel road

Random shot

Stream shot

New sticker for the bike's side case

Me trying to remember which is the clutch lever and which is the brake lever

Create a caption for this picture 

June 2, 2020 - Watson Lake, Yukon Territory - 410 miles

Wildlife seen today close to, or on, the road:

- 1 slowly meandering porcupine crossing the road

- 6 bison (buffalo)

- 5 pronghorn

- 1 dall sheep

- 1 caribou (reindeer)

- 8 black bear

The weather was beautiful again ranging in temperatures from 55 to 77, sunny and no wind. The roads were in good shape, even the dirt sections were solid but dusty.  I went well over 100 miles again without seeing a gas station. 

I made a couple of stops for coffee, homemade rubarb/strawberry pie and chocolate chip cookies- time well spent.

The road went through parts of the northern Rockies, next to fast moving rivers and some leftover snow in the shadows.

I met and rode for awhile with Pierre from Quebec. It's been nice riding with a fellow traveler. Nice guy.

Highway 97 in Yukon

Liard River

Bison

Black bear

Love this sign warning motorcyclists of an upcoming bridge with grating

Right after I put my phone away after taking the picture I turned around and saw a very big black bear staring at me about 20 feet away. I wasted no time getting on the bike and getting out of there

Pierre from Quebec took this of me while we waited for construction to clear

June 1, 2022 - Ft. Nelson, British Columbia - 280 miles

Today was wildlife day.

I saw my first moose on the side of the road.  Scared the crap out of me. Massive and dark. I thought it was a larger-than-life statue until it turned around and galloped into the brush. 

I also saw a total of 4 black bears casually eating grass on the side of the road. Luckily they paid me no attention and stayed put.

While I haven't seen any beaver I have seen their handiwork. Who else would build log dams on small streams out in the middle of nowhere? 

I am really feeling like I'm in the far north. The ride was through solid forests and I had my first peak of snow capped mountains. I rode over 120 miles without seeing any commercial business including a gas station. 

I'm doing good with my plan to get to Anchorage before Susie flies in Tuesday, June 6. I have traveled 3,600 miles and have about 1,300 miles to get to Anchorage in 5 days. That's doable.

if you look closely you can see snow capped mountains 

Mile 5 of the world famous Alaska Highway 

Lunch break in the northern Alberta woods

Lookout!