The Bike Arrives and I Head NorthAt last my bike arrives in Anchorage. Have had a good time hanging around Girdwood. Lots to do, I have even been initiated into the way of guns. My friend Chuck took me out with an arsenal of weaponry that we fired at targets. Very enlightening and real good fun. My shoulder still pangs me 5 days after it! After a day on preparation I hit the highway bound for the most norhterly accessable point by road, Deadhorse in Prudhoe Bay. One hell of a ride to one hell hole of a place is the best way to sum it up. (am trying to work out how to post pictures onto the site, coming soon bear with me. Technology never was my strong point!!!)I finally left Girdwood my home for the last two weeks to rain that even the English wouldn't have gone out in. Good test of rider and gear. Headed up to Talkeetna which is where all the would be Mt McKinley climbers hang out, or so they say, cos I saw none of these dudes whilst in town. Carried on north past Denali Nat Park and to be honest saw nothing but rain, will see it I am sure when I am headed south again. The distances here are long and the butt suffers substantially. Made the Dalton Highway at midnight but up here that is cool as it doesn,t get dark. The Dalton seems to have a bit of a reputation as a boneshaker full of huge trucks screaming down and up it. The road is 414 miles to the top, mostly dirt of varying degrees of quality. The longest section is the top one from Coldfoot to Deadhorse, 240 miles of dirt with no services and only the Trans Alaska oil pipeline to keep you company. The ride was superb, no hassles with trucks just loads of top quality scenery and fantastic riding. The idea of riding 250 miles above the Arctic Circle has a certain appeal. The scenery goes from rolling hills to the mountains of the Brooks Range to the North Slope which is a huge expanse of tundra. Plenty of wildlife to see, Bald Eagles, Arctic Caribou, Arctic Fox and more mosquitoes than ever. 50 around you head at any given time is not uncommon! Still no bears I am disapointed to say. (seen from a healthy distance of course) When I fianlly made it the to Deadhorse I was a little surprised at what a hole it is. Nobody lives there, they all just work the oil fields. Nowhere is there anything but plant and oil drilling machinery. I did however get to swim in the Arctic Sea and get a view of the polar ice cap.

I have come as far north as I can get, now just have to cruise on through south to Tierra del Feugo! Now Back down in Fairbanks for R & R then back up north for some more dirt roads.