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Snub13
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 08:00 am: | 
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I was paranoid about gas.
As it turned out, I was very pleasantly surprised. Most towns that were big enough to be on the map had at least one gas "station" often times just the above ground tank, but hey, I don't care what it comes out of as long as it makes the bike go. Also, EVERYONE on the road was very cool. If you stopped on the side of the road for anything (like to take a picture), the first person to pass (and then everyone after that) would stop to ask if you were alright. Around here you could sit on the guard rail for hours before anyone stopped. I guess everyone up there just understands just how remote and small we are. Very comforting.
I did (with one nail biting exception) follow some very good advice and (unless you're in Anchorage or Fairbanks) NEVER pass a gas station. There is plenty of gas, but you never know where the next pump is or if it will be open....
The exception was when we were going from McCarthy to Tok. We stopped in Chitina and topped off but we didn't stop in Glennallen (I also didn't top off the spare can!). Chitina to Tok is about 200 miles....no problem! Chitina to Glennallen is only 70 miles or so....we have plenty of gas! The low fuel light came on about 30 miles out of Tok (we were on the Vstrom at this point and I didn't know about it's range). We made it without having to push, but I was doing a lot of math in my head....and kicking my self in the but!
Our can was a one gal. job from the Wally mart in Fairbanks. It worked out very well.
Another surprise was the price of stuff. All I had heard was how expensive everything was but I didn't think prices were any higher than home (gas was cheaper). |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 01:05 pm: |
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Cool, I never thought about others stopping to offer assistance. Born and raised in North Jersey you know.
Unrelated news, I have just found out that I can expect my bags on or about 11/15...Woo...Hoo |
Snub13
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 02:07 pm: |
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Uhhhh, "unrelated news"........that's what started the thread......
As for people stopping to offer assistance, I know what you mean. It was a bit of culture shock to us. The first few times we would kind of look sideways and say yes, we're ok.....you want something? We finally figured it out... |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 07:01 pm: |
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Hell yeah, if someone pulls over when I'm on the side of the road I'm figuring they want some of what I got. Especially up there in the middle of nowhere. |
Snub13
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 11:15 am: |
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Ok, how about some more Alaska pics.....
Top of the World Highway, going to Dawson City, YT, Canada
Yes, that is snow....June '07
Top of the World!
Crossing the border
The free ferry into Dawson City. It's the only way into Dawson City from the West. This was also the third time we crossed the Yukon River.
Downtown Dawson during the '07 Dust to Dawson MC Rally
Dawson was very cool. Wood sidewalks, dirt streets. Felt very much like the old West, or at least what I imagine what the old West would be like.
Dawson City and Yukon River from Midnight Dome
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Snub13
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 11:33 am: |
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More various shots.....
Keep an eye out for orange signs or flags (like in the first pic from the last post). The road crews do a great job of marking road damage and frost heaves. They don't seem to have pot holes but these frost heaves are something else. A section of the road heaves from frost then a part of it sinks back down leaving a big dip.
Denali Highway (The paved part from Paxon to Tangle River Inn). This guy didn't like me tail gating
Tangle River Inn. This was taken around 01:00
Our accommodations at Tangle River
The parking lot at Tangle River...AK DOT will let anybody drive
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Snub13
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 11:42 am: |
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Glacier above Valdez
Outside of Valdez
The Sothern end of the pipeline, Valdez
McCarthy Road
The foot bridge into McCarthy. If you go via car, you have to walk (or get a shuttle) the last few hundred yards. Bikes can drive across.
Kennicott Mine
Unknown
I think this is on the Top of the World Highway
Ok. I have to take a break.
Tim |
Shopguy10
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 12:05 pm: |
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Great STUFF!!! Keep it coming! |
Snub13
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 02:42 pm: |
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Ok, I put some more on photobucket... here goes......
The border on the Top of the World Highway. Not sure if you can see it but the sign says "population - 2" LOL
"Gold Dredge #8" North of Fairbanks. It's a tourist trap but what the hell....
GOLD!
It's amazing how something that big can blend in so well.....
This was an everyday event. Lots of bugs....Take plenty of bug juice, 100% DEET is best. BIG mosquitos!!!!!
Don't know him but took it to show some scale. This is at the glacier by Valdez
On the way to Valdez
That's about as close as you can get to the Valdez Terminal.
Valdez Harbor
unknown
Ever heard of Copper River Salmon? This is the Copper River
Going to McCarthy
Downtown McCarthy
Inside Ma Johnsons Hotel
Main Street McCarthy
(Message edited by snub13 on November 06, 2009) |
Snub13
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 03:04 pm: |
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Man, posting all these pics makes me want to go back!
unknown
I think this is coming back from Dawson City. Talk about wide open spaces....you could really get lost up there!
The bathroom in Chicken, AK....the "Chicken Poop!!!!". I had never seen a 4 stall out house. The one on the far right is handicapped accessible...honest
on Top of the World Highway. In '07 it was for sale....didn't have a price.
Dawson City
The City Museum was awesome. Highly recommended
Yukon River from Midnight Dome
Ok, so in the Jack London Bar and Grill, they have a drink called the "sour Toe"...I guess a long time ago some guy uh, lost his toe and for some reason stuck it in a bottle of booze....Hey, the winters are long up there. what else is there to do?
Anyway now stupid tourists can get a shot and put a toe in it.....YES a real toe. And me being a stupid tourist did a shot of....Yukon Jack, what else....
Chicks dig it!!!!!
Tim |
Chopped_burban
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 04:08 pm: |
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Looks like an awesome trip. I hope to do a trip up there with the wife one of these years. Ironically, I will be riding my Uly, and the wife will be on her Wee-Strom. |
Chopped58
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 04:18 pm: |
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Wow, awesome shots! I'd love to get up there some day. |
Snub13
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 05:53 pm: |
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You guys HAVE to get up there!!!!!
It was a lot more affordable than I had originally thought.
Round trip air for two, the bike for 15 days, insurance, 16 nights in various hotels, food, gas and booze and well I guess everything....was less that 5 grand.
It could have been done for less. There are a ton of places to camp and cheaper places to eat. Still Not any more expensive than say going to Aruba or something like that and way more cool!
Tim |
Itileman
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 08:34 pm: |
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Great trip. Great pix. It's on my list along with an extra set of wheel bearings. |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 09:58 pm: |
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I can hardly wait to get up there. |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 08:27 pm: |
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Eight more days 'till Aluminum Exclusives... |
Snub13
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 10:56 am: |
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4 more days....... |
Snub13
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 09:11 am: |
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Bueller, Bueller.....????
Anyone........ |
Rdkingryder
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 09:52 pm: |
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Nice ride report. I miss Alaska. I had a great trip too and want to go back sometime. Thanks for taking me back. |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 10:44 pm: |
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I talked to my dealer and I should have them before the big Thanksgiving 4 day weekend. Perfect. Don't worry boys, I'll let you know as soon as I get them. |
Snub13
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 04:53 pm: |
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Your big weekend is rapidly approaching....any news? |
Awhig
| | Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 03:58 am: |
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I was in Chico, CA last June, on a 9500 mile trip from Pensacola, FL to the Icefields Parkway, doing a very indirect route. Was sick and tired of my leaky left stock bag. The day I got home from the dealership, in a rainstorm, I opened the stock bag and water gushed out. Took me seven months of fiddling to get tired of it. Anyway, back to Chico, I was passing through, did an internet search, decided on H&B Gobis. Just happened that a dealer was in Chico. Eurotech Motorsports. Went over there, it was a Saturday. He had a Gobi on display but not for sale. We tried it on, bolted right up, as advertised. The US distributer for H&B is also in Chico. I asked the Eurotech man, (forgot his name, but a good guy, rides a GS) if he would call the distributer and ask him to come in on a Saturday and give us these bags, as I was traveling and did't wish to wait. An hour later I was on my way with solid, totally waterproof cases and down a bunch of money. But HAPPY!
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Awhig
| | Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 04:03 am: |
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Forgot to add the Gobis fit the stock brackets without modification and I left my stock cases in Chico. |
Snub13
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 01:37 pm: |
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Hey, Skin......any word???? |
Wbrisett
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 03:16 pm: |
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Forgot to add the Gobis fit the stock brackets without modification and I left my stock cases in Chico.
The ONLY downsides to the Gobi bags is that "as is", you can't raise the pillion pegs, and they are smaller than the stock bags.
Otherwise, I think the Gobi are the bags to get (unless you want to spend big buck for the aluminum ones).
Wayne
(Message edited by wbrisett on December 22, 2009) |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 07:46 pm: |
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really nice pics. i'd be happy to be able to take a cruise up to alaska. |
Rdkingryder
| | Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 12:33 pm: |
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It's weird, but every time I see a ride report of Alaska, it makes me want to go back. I feel a part of me was left behind there. (of course I did leave my wee strom in YT). Maybe it's just "unfinished business". Fond memories.
(Message edited by rdkingryder on December 31, 2009) |
Rdkingryder
| | Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 12:41 pm: |
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Clearly I have very little idea on how to post a picture here. |
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