7/11/07
Today it was raining as we got up. We'd planned to ride to Wiseman
(north of Coldfoot) and Ruth was still ready to go. She wanted to get
north of the Arctic Circle.
We had breakfast at LuLus Bagels which has GREAT coffee. We stopped
at a NAPA to get a tire plug kit just in case and we headed north in
the rain. The ride to the Dalton Highway was simply wet but
uneventful. As we were stopped at the beginning of the Dalton, a road
grader came from the road and turned around to go back on it. It was
an omen.
As we started, he was already refreshing gravel. The rain was
moderately falling and it was foggy enough for Ruth to have a hard to
even see me to follow. We were passed by a couple of cars but not too
many as we traveled along about 20-25. I was a little anxious as Ruth
hadn't done much gravel riding but she took to this like a duck to
water. She was keeping up and not having any trouble riding in the
gravel while I was slipping around with my road tires. Ruth had
knobbier tires and did much better on it.
The road was very rough. We entered on construction area where we
followed a pilot vehicle for over 8 miles. She made us get right
behind her and at one point she was following a massive dump truck at
about 6 mph. Its hard to ride a motorcycle that slow, and even harder
in the gravel.
We'd gotten gas prior to leaving Fairbanks but the Yukon River
crossing was about 150 miles. We arrived there about 1 PM. The road
construction had really slowed our progress. We got gas at a above
ground tank and then had a sandwich. A young man working there told
Ruth that we only had about 20 more miles to go to get to pavement
again and then it was paved to Coldfoot.
We also chatted with a tour that was traveling to Prudhoe Bay and then
some were flying to Barrow.
Ruth was eager to continue on because she was ready to get to the
Arctic Circle but the young man was off by a little. It was 35 miles
to pavement but then it was fairly easy riding to the Arctic Circle.
We'd passed a tour bus that was at a rest break and we were the first
to be able to get our photos. Ruth remarked about how this was just a
sign at a rest stop and there was really nothing else there.
Today it was raining as we got up. We'd planned to ride to Wiseman
(north of Coldfoot) and Ruth was still ready to go. She wanted to get
north of the Arctic Circle.
We had breakfast at LuLus Bagels which has GREAT coffee. We stopped
at a NAPA to get a tire plug kit just in case and we headed north in
the rain. The ride to the Dalton Highway was simply wet but
uneventful. As we were stopped at the beginning of the Dalton, a road
grader came from the road and turned around to go back on it. It was
an omen.
As we started, he was already refreshing gravel. The rain was
moderately falling and it was foggy enough for Ruth to have a hard to
even see me to follow. We were passed by a couple of cars but not too
many as we traveled along about 20-25. I was a little anxious as Ruth
hadn't done much gravel riding but she took to this like a duck to
water. She was keeping up and not having any trouble riding in the
gravel while I was slipping around with my road tires. Ruth had
knobbier tires and did much better on it.
The road was very rough. We entered on construction area where we
followed a pilot vehicle for over 8 miles. She made us get right
behind her and at one point she was following a massive dump truck at
about 6 mph. Its hard to ride a motorcycle that slow, and even harder
in the gravel.
We'd gotten gas prior to leaving Fairbanks but the Yukon River
crossing was about 150 miles. We arrived there about 1 PM. The road
construction had really slowed our progress. We got gas at a above
ground tank and then had a sandwich. A young man working there told
Ruth that we only had about 20 more miles to go to get to pavement
again and then it was paved to Coldfoot.
We also chatted with a tour that was traveling to Prudhoe Bay and then
some were flying to Barrow.
Ruth was eager to continue on because she was ready to get to the
Arctic Circle but the young man was off by a little. It was 35 miles
to pavement but then it was fairly easy riding to the Arctic Circle.
We'd passed a tour bus that was at a rest break and we were the first
to be able to get our photos. Ruth remarked about how this was just a
sign at a rest stop and there was really nothing else there.
We now had to continue north to Wiseman. It was another 75 miles
north but it was paved for 60 miles to Coldfoot. In Coldfoot, we went
to the Gates of the Arctic NP VC and met the owner of the Boreal Lodge
we're sleeping at tonight. Heidi gave us more specific directions but
we were going to get a bite to eat in Coldfoot first. Ruth had a
bakeless Bear Claw that she loved and I had a piece of cherry pie.
The road to Wiseman was again gravel and slow. It took us 45 minutes
to travel the 17 miles but the lodge is neat. Its obviously hand made
but is rustic and clean. There are two single beds in each room and a
common bathroom and shower. We liked it. We met the Japanese
researchers that are also staying there but we didn't chat much.
After a 275 mile day, we went to bed early.
--
============
Todd Ryan; Hudson, MA
Westborough HS Science Teacher
MSF RiderCoach
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