Tok, AK to Glennallen, AK – 138 miles
It rained all night. Today is a rest and coordination day.
I’m trying to meet Jack in Glennallen. He doesn’t answer his mobile phone and the message box is full. Brian Roberts had left a set of Continental TKC80 Twinduro Dual Sport rear and front tires with Jack when he came up here a couple years ago. The set only has 800 miles on them.
Alaska 1 runs from Tok to Anchorage. Glennallen is halfway there. Once again I load the bike in the rain, gas and ride southwest. This highway weaves through the mountains. Its a good road except for dozens of short deep gravel sections 50-100 yards in length. The tire tracks are about 12” wide but the gravel heaps are 2-4” deep. The goal is to stay in the tire tracks. If you get into the deep gravel, the bike can go into an increasing wobble that might end with no good.
I check into the Yukon Inn & Lodge and have a hot cup of coffee. I call Brian Roberts and he does a SPOT check on Jack. Brian calls me back and tells me Jack’s SPOT that he is an hour behind me!
After some confusion, Jack and I get together. First thing Jack checks the weather for Fairbanks, Coldfoot and Prudhoe Bay. It’s bad until Wed. Prudhoe Bay is good Thu, Fri & Sat.
Our plan now is to head up to Fairbanks Monday where I’ll have my street tires exchanged to the TKC80s, check the sprockets, chain and a few other adjustments and head north to Weisman. If we need to stay in Fairbanks, we’ll stay at the University of Alaska housing.
This is definitely a smell the roses ride. I plan to stop and take many photos all along the way to Deadhorse.
Tomorrow Fairbanks, and bike maintenance at Adventure Cycleworks.
Sounds like a game plan ND. As long as you go up the Dalton during a work day so I can follow you when I’m chained to my desk!
I just checked with Google Maps – they have Street Views along the whole Dalton Highway!! This world is getting smaller!
This will be great to go virtual riding with you and re-live this trip!!
Go ND!
Ditto what Jim said. Jim – you can see how Joyce & I got so hooked on watching you last summer. Gotta be even better for you having been there….WAY more than a vicarious trip – more like a Deja Vu.
Hi Dean,
Sue gave me your blog and it is a very interesting trip. I envy your trip but I know if I made it I would have callouses (sp) 2 inches thick. I plan to check your progress and continue to pray for your success and safety and I will print out your blog so far and go out to see your dad and Marlene Wednesday or Thursday and let them read it since they don’t have a computer.
The commentary is very good and pictures are so nice and I hope to see many more pictures when you finish. In any case when you finish if Colin can send me the pictures I will take extra pains to take them out to show your Dad. Sadly he doesn’t remember a whole lot these days but I know he would enjoy seeing them.
Take Care
JoAnn Sends her love as well!
Ernie Conner
Your right JannieV – you guys turned me on to that action – you get hooked doing that. Like a drug…
Dean, it will be interesting to see if you can still smell the roses…
Yes I’ll agree with the Deja Vu going though this trip again is fun he gets to some spots and I think I go pictures of that this is great. Go Dean Go just don’t ride all night have to get some sleep its a work day here. Be safe and do smell the roses.
Gee Dean, I guess you are smelling the roses today – ya haven’t moved…..
ok ok ok enough smelling lets ride. his probibly at the square dance and quilting party.