Fairbanks to Valdez

[akfxdl]

Two years ago the wife and I set out on a 4,000 mile 2 week adventure on our 1978 BMW R100/7. I figured that since that was one of the primo touring bikes of its time back in 1978, it should remain true in 2004, after all it is a BMW. If I had only remained the same size as I was in 1978 it would have been a reasonable assumption, (of course the wife hasn’t changed one bit). The bike seemed a wee bit smaller then I would have thought back in 1978. It was however a great trip, the old Beemer ran like a top, in spite of the wife and I feeling a bit cramped on the bike. After much deliberation we decided to part with the vintage touring machine and have “upgraded” to a 2003 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, a little bigger then the Beemer, with a few more geegaws and whimeydiddles , and a lot more comfortable for the long hall.
My last work shift off I got to fly up to Fairbanks and pickup our new to us 2003 Harley Ultra Classic. It has got everything on it, phasers, lasers, and photon torpedoes. We have rented Electra Glides in the past for some Fly and ride trips we have taken, but I never figured I would own a dresser. An opportunity came around and now I own one.
My friend from work, Steve, decided he would drive up from Anchorage 450 miles on the Parks Highway and accompany me part of the way on the ride back to Valdez.
I had the dealer replace the rear tire for our up coming trip to the lower 48, and the bike was not ready until 1330 hrs. We left North Pole McDonalds around 1430 for our 370 mile trip back to Valdez.
This trip occurred earlier in June, and even though we would be having 22+ hours of daylight, I wanted to get home so I didn’t stop for too many photos. Enough excuses here are the photos

Steve was worried that the Harley crew would kick his @%#$ for riding a KLR, I told him not to worry he was with me.




The Trans Alaska Pipeline River crossing in Delta Junction 90 miles south of Fairbanks


The Pipeline South of Pump Station 9

As you can see the pipe is buried at this point, to go under the highway. The towers act as a radiator, drawing the heat from the pipe, keeping the ground cool so the permafrost doesn’t melt



The Alaska Range in the distance




Isabel Pass south of Pump Station 10



Steve and I parted company in Glenallen that is about 250 miles south of Fairbanks. It was around 1830 he had another 200 miles to go to get to Anchorage and I had another 120 miles to get to Valdez. Steve would get slowed down by a group of Motor Homes and 5th wheels heading to Anchorage and probably Kenai. I was luckier and had very little traffic south.

This next photo is before Edgerton cutoff and the road to Chitna. Chitna is a very small town where you could ask the Jerry Springer question “If you Divorce your wife, is she still your cousin?” Actually Chitna is where Alaskans go to Dip Net on the Copper River.


It had been a warm, around 60 F most of the ride. Just before Billy Mitchell rest area it started to dip into the 40’s and I still had to go by Worthington Glacier so I pulled over to put a sweater on under the jacket. Here are a couple of photos of Mt. Billy Mitchell.



Well that is about it for my Fairbanks trip. I had more then enough photo ops but not enough time to take all the photos I wanted to. Next trip will be to Skagway to catch the ferry to Prince Rupert and then south to California. I should have some photos from that trip. The ride from Valdez to Skagway is around 700 miles, wife says we need to break that into two days. The Ferry ride to Prince Rupert is 34 hours @ 15 knots with 1 hour stops in Haines, Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangle, and Ketchikan. The wife is telling me even though we have an outside berth it doesn’t count as a Cruise Vacation

[RoadRat]

Jeff,

Nice, I really liked the photography. In particular I liked the shot of Mt. Billy Mitchell, and also the shot of Isabel Pass, (almost calendar art).

However, without a doubt my favorite is the second shot after the caption,
"The Alaska range in the distance" the one where the road is on the right heading off into infinity, with the Alaska range as the background.

My thinking on photography, right or wrong, is that the best photographs are not necessarily the ones that are the "most technically correct" or "most attractive" or "prettiest".
The best photographs are the ones that "tell a story" or, stir some kind of emotion in the viewer, the ones that make you "feel something" such as happy, sad, anger, or desire.

In this case your photograph makes me feel "desire", a desire to get on my motorcycle and ride that road toward the Alaska range.

Thanks
I enjoyed it!

[EQPlayer]

I thought the exact same thing about that picture. Roadrat, come out to California and let's go riding.

[Eifelrider]

Beautiful pics!! I don´t know if I´ll ever make it up there, so thanks for showing me a little bit of that part of the world!

[akfxdl]

Thanks for all the kind responses...I will be heading to the lower 48 in a week, so I am sure there will be some photo ops on the ride

[RoadRat]

Questions:
Did you get "pre-igniters" and "twin-turbo-afterburners" on your new bike?
How did the bike perform on the 370 mile trip back home?

Comments:
An outside berth does indeed count as a cruise.

I checked the "Pashnit Rules of Order" and found.........

pa. 265
article 3
para. 1

When the party of the first part (that would be the motorcycle operator)
provides outside berths to
party of the second part (that would be wife)
it shall be deemed as counting as one cruise.

Its the Rule!
Stand your ground Jeff.

[akfxdl]

Originally Posted by RoadRat

Questions:
Did you get "pre-igniters" and "twin-turbo-afterburners" on your new bike?
How did the bike perform on the 370 mile trip back home?

Comments:
An outside berth does indeed count as a cruise.

I checked the "Pashnit Rules of Order" and found.........

pa. 265
article 3
para. 1

When the party of the first part (that would be the motorcycle operator)
provides outside berths to
party of the second part (that would be wife)
it shall be deemed as counting as one cruise.

Its the Rule!
Stand your ground Jeff.

No Leo... it is bone stock even has the silent pipes....kind of a "Cloaking Device" for a Harley......may have to do some tweaking and see if I can make just a bit more rumble...don't want it to be so loud that I can't hear the radio while running down the highway Gosh I must be getting old.....
As to performance the bike ran great, 65 to 70 most of the way to Valdez and got 48 mpg. My buddie on his KLR was kind of jealous because he was only getting about 49 to 50 mpg no radio or big wind screen to hide behind. Will see what happens when we load up for our 5 week trip.
Thanks for lookng up the rules for me, I will let her read them. I will post some photos of the accomadations in case of a dispute...we can let the Pashnit forum arbitrate.

[motowriter]

Originally Posted by akfxdl

Thanks for all the kind responses...I will be heading to the lower 48 in a week, so I am sure there will be some photo ops on the ride

Very enjoyable trip report, Jeff! Alaska always seems so exotic to me and it's great to see some pix of the pipeline and the beautiful scenery!

Coming to Cali? Where're you heading? If you're inclined to meet some of your Pashnit brethren (and sistern) in these parts, let us know your schedule!!

Thanks much for an enjoyable road report!

[Toyuzu]

Jeff, I wish I could ride along. Maybe on the next trip. Have fun, ride safe and save some miles for the fellow Alaskan you have yet to meet.

Oh, nice pics by the way. I recognized the pipeline shot. I went through there many times while running missions between Ft. Wainwright and Ft. Greely on my last FTX.

[akfxdl]

Originally Posted by Toyuzu

Jeff, I wish I could ride along. Maybe on the next trip. Have fun, ride safe and save some miles for the fellow Alaskan you have yet to meet.

Oh, nice pics by the way. I recognized the pipeline shot. I went through there many times while running missions between Ft. Wainwright and Ft. Greely on my last FTX.

Hi Matt..
Not a problem...since I am sort of "cheating" and catching the ferry uh.... make that the Alaska State Cruise Ship, I will save you the miles between Whitehorse and Prince George. That section between Pump 9 and Black Rapids has some pretty spectacular views. Have you been through there in the winter at about -50 F with the blowing snow? I remember getting fuel in Delta Jct. and it was -70 F without a wind chill.
Will let you know when I get back from vacation, may get over Anchorage way late August or September.