Day08-6/28/10-Mon, Fairbanks, AK

Glennallen, AK to Fairbanks, AK – 336 miles

Jack and I meet and head over to the Copper Center Lodge for a man’s breakfast.  2 huge pancakes, 2-eggs, & sausages.

We do a little service on our bikes and pack up to head to Fairbanks, 252 miles.

We ride north on Alaska State Hwy 4 Glennallen to Delta Junction.  Jack’s KLR is having intermittent fuel problems.  The bike is stalling, like fuel starvation.  With all this rain, it’s possible that the fuel is contaminated with water or the fuel is not transferring from aux cell to main.

Jack is trying to get to Delta Meat & Sausage, Mile Post 1414, on which is South of Delta Jct. on the Richardson Hwy, Interstate 2.  We arrive there at 6:00 PM but it is closed at 5PM.

This is the place where Dick Fish stops and purchases eats for his nonstop rides up to Deadhorse and back.

We head into Fairbanks and ride directly to Adventure Cycleworks arriving around 9PM.  This is a new father & son operation, Dan and Shawn Armstrong, working out of Dan’s garage.  There are 3 adventure style bikes in the driveway – BMWs, KTM’s, KLR’s and now my VStrom.  All the bikes are either going to Deadhorse or have just returned.

The shop worked on my bike from 11PM-12:30PM!!  Can you believe that!!!!

Dan spooning my KTC80 rear tire using a No-Mar Tire Changer.

I had both front and back street tires switched to KTC80’s and check the chain and sprocket.  Total bill … $60!  And they’ll store my street tires until I get back from Deadhorse where the street tires will be switched back.  I also ordered new front break pads to be installed when I get back.

We when to eat at Dennys at 1AM and checked into the dorms at 2:30AM.

Kevin Huddy, “AKbeemer” on the ADVrider, is in charge of housing at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  He’s extended the summer housing to motorcycle riders.

Low cost lodging in Fairbanks.

Jack and I are in a 2-student room, bathroom & shower down the hall, good Internet for $40/night.