Day 29: Soldotna to Seward to Palmer AK; Hwy 1 , 500kms

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Seward is another cruise ship port in southern Alaska.  Passing through Seward we followed the slippery road to Miner's Landing to have lunch on the beach.  The weather was identical to yesterday, so we take the opportunity to warm ourselves at a campfire on the beach.  Peter had made sandwiches with our left over chicken.  Man they tasted  good.

We stopped at Exit Glacier to take some photos.

Day 28:Girdwood to Anchor Point AK: Hwy 1, 500 kms

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Today our goal is to go the most Westerly point of Alaska that is accessible by road. Then onto Homer a cruise ship port.  Homer is a touristy town with a long slip covered in tourist attractions. It reminded me of Bangor Maine. We had a healthy lunch for a change; smoked salmon salad.  Man, it was good.  Imagine a Greek salad with smoked salmon.  Mmmm.

Peter looking for Russia

The catch of the day (me)

Leaving Homer the weather is overcast with rain off & on.  The temperature is still in the teens.  On our way out of town a Bald Eagle passed overhead.  It was huge, like 747 taking off.  We had seen its nest earlier.  I'm sure I could have sat inside it (except for the young eagles.)

We head back up the peninsula & stop @ Soldotna for the night.  It has been exactly 4 weeks & 13K kms since we started our trip.

Day 27: Denali Park to Girdwood; Hwy 1, 500kms

We were lucky we went to the Park yesterday. Today was overcast with showers off & on until Anchorage. Then it cleared up, so we decided to continue on to a small ski resort town, Girdwood.  The road followed the Cook's Inlet with mountains on the opposite side.  Absolutely stunning,  but there wasn't anywhere you could stop to take a picture and weekend traffic was too heavy to even consider stopping.

Captain Cook had sailed up this inlet thinking it was the way to the North West passage.  When he discovered his error he had to turn around & headed back out.  The place where he turned around was called...Turn Around Again.  Huh!

We stopped at the info centre to check on accommodates.  The lady was quite helpful and called a B&B for us. The house was a nice change from the usual motels.  We both felt more at home. There was a living room, kitchen, bedroom, laundry facilities and 1 a half bathrooms. A very comfortable place.

The town reminded me of Stowe Vermont.  All the beautiful outdoorsy types were there. Yuppie heaven. 

Peter & I walked to this highly recommended really nice restaurant.  Reviewing the menu we decided to treat ourselves to a really good steak dinner with a bottle of red wine.  The wine lead to a lot of car talk & reminiscing.   As we enjoyed supper, I commented that there was a good chance that the other people in the room were going to get some sugar tonight.  While Peter agreed, he emphatically stated that wasn't going to happen at this table.  I said, "You got that right!"   I slept well.

Day 26 June 26th: Fairbanks to Denali Park; Hwy 3, 200 kms

We packed up by 9 AM & arrived at Denali National Park around noon, just in time to book an 8 hour tour leaving at 1 o' clock.  The weather looked really promising to see all of Mt. McKinley.  Did you know that Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain in North America? Only 20% of the people that visit the park ever see the peak because the mountain has its own weather system. Huh!  It looked like we might be in luck.

Peter likes to challenge his fear of heights; my fear of falling kept me from the edge

On the way to the park we crossed this bridge & had to stop to take some pictures.

After purchasing lunch & supper we boarded the bus to head out on the 120 mile round trip!  (8 hours; 120 miles, not the pace that we are used to doing) On the way up we saw a caribou, wolf, a mother grizzly bear & her two cubs.  The bears were blonde coloured!  Well, more like a sand colour really, but I couldn't get over it.  Apparently, grizzly bears come in black, brown, red & blonde.  Great, just how the heck are you supposed to recognize one?  I guess when they start to chase you it doesn't really matter what colour they are.

On the way back we saw a moose, another blonde mother grizzly bear & her cub, a family of Dall Sheep, a porcupine, two snowshoe rabbits, umpteen Arctic ground squirrels & some sort of varmet.

Peter & I took turns sleeping on bus.  We couldn't get excited about one caribou after seeing herds of them.

Denali Park 

Mt McKinley was just stunning.  Absolutely unbelievable. Now I can understand why mountain climbers are intoxicated by mountains.  Wow, definitely worth the 8 hour bus ride.

   

Day 25: Fairbanks AK; R&R Day 0 kms

Today was cleanup day.  The bikes were washed & laundry done.  I also dropped my bike off @ the local Suzuki dealer.  Suzie had a well deserved spa day; a new chain, sprockets, rear tire, various odds & ends.   Then I took her to the spray car wash for a tubby.  Peter had one of his cases repaired. Then he spent $20 getting his bike clean  We could actually see the original colours.  Clean clothes; clean bikes. Wow!

Day 24: Coldfoot to Fairbanks; Dalton Hwy 400 kms

The Yukon River

The last section of the Dalton seemed easier than we remembered it.  They must have paved more of the road in the last 3 days.  The gravel sections were easier knowing that it was the last gravel we would see for quite a while.  

Remembering the salmon soup, we stopped @ the Yukon River for lunch.  The soup was a disappointment.  The bus people ( tour bus) must have beat us to the good stuff.  I talked with Bob Seaton again.  He was with the tour group that beat us to the soup.  We chatted with another rider on a BMW GS (the other popular bike on this trip).  He too was doing the Iron Butt Sea to Sea Challenge, only he has just started at Prudhoe Bay and was headed to Key West.   He overtook us on the way to Fairbanks & he hadn't even order his lunch when we left.  The BMW GS bikers always seemed to be flying when they passed us.

We have completed 12000 kms to date.  Tomorrow will be a rest & bike clean up day.

The reason we could travel to the Arctic

Peter the Strongman

The bikes get a break

We did it!

Day 23: Deadhorse AK to Coldfoot AK; Dalton Hwy; 400 kms

We were up early to go on the tour of Prudhoe Bay oil complex.  As usual we gassed up for the day.  Once we found the gas station.  The gas pump is located inside this building.














We headed on over to the Caribou Inn for the tour where I recognized another Hydro guy, Bob Seaton.  We talked for a few minutes then headed inside for the video & tour.

These vehicles transport fuel to equipment during winter exploration.  The tires are huge but only carry 4 psi so they don't hurt the permafrost.  During the winter months all equipment runs 24/7 to prevent oil freeze up.  Meanwhile in Toronto they have a one minute idle law!

Celebrating at Arctic Ocean

A natural ice sculpture

  With calm winds & 7 degrees we headed south to Coldfoot.  Only caribou came out to see us this time.  Even the trip over the mountain wasn't so bad.  Soon we were back @ the Coldfoot Hilton for another night.