psmitty Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I just joined 20 days ago and thought I should show you my 2008 Alaska Trip.... If you want to see more of my trips go to: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewAlbums&friendID=85232036 7,229 miles in 15 days. Entering Canada Hi! I'm Paul When it says gravel slow down. Construction Zone. Get used to it. On my way to Dawson Creek, BC Dawson Creek, BC The Alaska Highway Mile "0" 1523 miles to Fairbanks My usual motel for the night. That night it rained so hard I rode into town and bought a tarp to go over the tent. Notice the cyclone fence. It is to keep the bears out. It works unless someone leaves the gate open. More gravel. Get used to that too. A mother bear and her cub. I don't have to worry. I can outrun her. Fort Nelson Hotel More bear. They were everywhere. Not a bad place to camp. Just don't have any food with you. The hot springs feels good! Slow down. The Yukon Sign Post Forest The washboard was hard on the bike and me. Entering Alaska The bridge was frozen over. The furthest most Denney's The Dalton Highway There is gas at the Yukon River. The Alaska Pipeline The Yukon River bridge Don't forget to get gas! Wait your tun. Link to comment
jimfastcar Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Congratulations on a great adventure !! I would not have braved that road on my RT, would have thought only a GS would be suited - good for you Link to comment
Bullett Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 That looks like fun. Thanks for sharing your pictures, Paul. Link to comment
VinnyR11 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Great to see an RT on this trip. Don't see it often. Nice pics. Link to comment
Mike05 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Great pictures! Looks like you had a fun run! Thanks for posting. Link to comment
SageRider Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Paul, Thanks for sharing. Looks like a fun time! Great photos! Link to comment
Paul_Burkett Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Nice Ride Report. Welcome to the board. Link to comment
tallman Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Very nice. Looks like you had a great time. Link to comment
Effjay Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Thanks for sharing your trip pics, Paul... What an experience that truly I'd love to do but on a bike with much less expensive tupperware than on an RT! Just looking at all that pea gravel gives my cosmetically anal retentive juices the willies! Jeff Link to comment
TEWKS Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Paul don't need no stinkin GS. You do know...you just crushed this poor fella. Nice ride. Pat Link to comment
hopz Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Hey, thanks for the report. most excellent! Did the RT suffer any undue wear and tear? I'm thinking about road chips and other damage from stones? Any broken headlight covers? Tires? Link to comment
Duke55 Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Paul, I,m glad you posted your pics.I really want to do this trip when I can get the time off.It was great meeting you and you sharing your trip with us in Death Valley. Ride On ! Link to comment
Smoky Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Nice report, brings back lots of memories. I did this in 2007 on my R1100RT. It was a great trip, I did much the same route as you. Returned on the Stewart-Cassiar. My RT was ideal for the job, did a day trip from Fairbanks to the Circle and back. The fairing was great for keeping cold, wind, rain, and bugs off me. Like you, I only needed on dry bag for my extra stuff that wouldn't fit in the bags and topbox. Mostly I camped, took a motel a couple of times. I want to do it again, but 2-up with the wife on my 1200RT. Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hey Pat, Thanks for the pix. I took a GS on my AK ride and spent most of the time wishing I had ridden my k1200RS. I am hoping next year to take the Lovely Flame two up on the R12RT back up there... Glad you had a wonderful time! Steve in So Cal Link to comment
sfarson Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Excellent and encouraging. Thanks for the images. Link to comment
CoarsegoldKid Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 What time of year did you take this trip? Would you alter that if done again? Link to comment
skinny_tom (aka boney) Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Thanks for the report Paul. It was great to meet you in Death Valley. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 What time of year did you take this trip? Would you alter that if done again? I took my trip in early June, but I hear July and August is the on season. The best part was everyone was coming when I was going. I like that! If I had to do it again I don't know what I'd do. It just happens to be that the bulk of my free time is in the beginning of the summer. I can't go in July ... too many obligations. Can't go in August because I don't have enough time. The alterations I would make are to add at least another week (or two) and adjust my time frames for more sight-seeing. It was amazing scenery but I didn't give myself enough time to visit Mt. Ranier. I took almost 1000 pictures but wish I'd have taken a little more time to smell the "roses." Link to comment
CoarsegoldKid Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I remember you New Guy. I poured you a glass of beer. Thanks for report. Link to comment
Selden Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I rode from Georgia to Homer and back in 2006, leaving July 2, and returning August 13 (6 weeks). Unbelievably good weather most of the way (3 days of rain, none continuous). I expected to run into caravans of RVs along the Alaska highway mid-July, but at times I went for an hour without seeing a vehicle in either direction. Preferred hostels to hotels/motels (cheaper, more interesting people). The biggest challenge of the trip was heat in the lower 48. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 Hey, thanks for the report. most excellent! Did the RT suffer any undue wear and tear? I'm thinking about road chips and other damage from stones? Any broken headlight covers? Tires? I'm sorry. I didn't see the question until now... I didn't have anything major. Just scratches on the windshield and little paint chips on the front of the fairings. I learned to stop when the big trucks came by and wave. That seemed to make them slow down. After riding the Dalton, I stopped at the End of the Road BMW in Fairbanks and had the bike checked out and my oil changed. They found nothing wrong with the bike and said my tires were ok. I should have had them put on new tires. When I got home there was not much left! The headlights worked until I got home. A few days after the ride the low beam bulbs went out. Nothing else to report. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 I remember you New Guy. I poured you a glass of beer. Thanks for report. I remember it well. Thanks! The next one's on me. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 Thanks for the report Paul. It was great to meet you in Death Valley. Same here. Link to comment
tgregg Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Paul, You certainly have fit in well here! I guess I can't introduce you as "The New Guy" anymore :=) Great report, this is a ride I really want to do soon before I get too old. It looks like you rode alone and that would be my first choice also. Would you do it solo again or recommend having a buddy? How are the gas station spacing? I can do 250 miles per tank, would that be adequate? Hope to see you at Spring Torrey. Gregg Link to comment
questrider Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Paul don't need no stinkin GS. You do know...you just crushed this poor fella. Nice ride. Pat I'm surprised the GS rider in the background isn't flying the "bird". Link to comment
LDHack Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Made a similar trip on my 1150RT a few years back in early August, but continued on to Deadhorse. The RT is such a great and versatile motorcycle. And the fairing protection from cold and wet is so good. Handles gravel like a champ. Liard hot springs is a refreshing, must stop on the way north/south. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 Paul, You certainly have fit in well here! I guess I can't introduce you as "The New Guy" anymore :=) Great report, this is a ride I really want to do soon before I get too old. It looks like you rode alone and that would be my first choice also. Would you do it solo again or recommend having a buddy? How are the gas station spacing? I can do 250 miles per tank, would that be adequate? Hope to see you at Spring Torrey. Gregg Hello Gregg, The trip can be done alone and I would not hesitate doing it again by myself, but there is nothing like sharing your experiences with someone else. If you ever go in June I'll go with you. Just let me know. Most of the good motels along the way ranged from $80-$150 a night. If I had my wife with me I would have no problem paying that. But by myself, no way! There was no problem finding camping. Camping sites were everywhere and they cost around $20 a night. Even if the campground is full they'll let you set up a tent somewhere. They do have free firewood in Canada. I'm not sure, but I think it's to keep the bears away. It worked for me. The furthest distance between gas stations was close to 200 miles. Just don't expect something open late at night. If you travel late at night it might be 300 miles between gas stops. The owner operated ones close early. On the way home, I rode well into the night and I carried a two and one half gallon gas can. I had to use it once. Link to comment
Smoky Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I didn't carry extra gas for my trip, also in the end of June. And I found that both Garmin and "Milepost" were very good a directing me to gas stations that looked like they had been closed for years. I got gas anytime I found a place and I was below half a tank. The low fuel light was on so much I feared the bulb would burn out! This was one of the best trips I have ever taken. I was supposed to go with my riding buddy on his Honda ST, but he couldn't go, and I had the time booked, so I went solo. I sure made good time, you can really cover the miles up there when you only have yourself to consider, and the tent is on the pillion. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Smoky, I didn’t carry gas on the way up. Not even on the Dalton. I only carried it on the way home when I knew I'd be riding well into the night. In the picture, I am still in Alaska and bought the gas can as I left Anchorage headed for home. I used it once on the way home and gave it away when I got to the Edmonton Mall. I really didn’t like carrying it along with me, but I thought I had no choice. As you can tell in the picture the bike looks like it never went on the Dalton. It did just fine! Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 After visiting the Edmonton Mall I rode through Jasper National Park. Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Then I rode through Leavenworth, Washington. It usually doesn't look like this. The roads were under construction. Link to comment
BamaRider Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I enjoyed your pictures and story. Link to comment
Albert Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Great stuff Paul, thanks for taking the time to post that. Link to comment
Tank Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I often have wondered about carrying a fuel jug of that size. Did you pick it up as a afterthought on the road, or was it pre-planned. Link to comment
Tank Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 scrach my last post , I should have read futher, as you ancered my guestion futher in the thread Link to comment
psmitty Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Tank, The only problem I had with carrying extra gas was I could smell it from time to time and I kept looking over my shoulder to see if it was still upright. It made me really nervous carrying it. Link to comment
Crank Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 That was great to view and dream about...I live in FL...thanks for the review! Link to comment
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