Puddle Jumper
Posts: 12
| If you ride to Alaska part II;
I?m not trying to hijack this thread, but after I posted some info the other day I realized there was still some info that you probably won?t find in any books or magazines. So I?ll try to be brief and hopefully helpful.
When riding and you see an orange traffic cone on your side of the road (also watch for them on the other side, too) and it has a small flag sticking up out of the top and maybe even a diagonal stripe (of course the flag could also have fallen out, been pulled out, or was never there to begin with), that is to warn you of something wrong on the road. A hole, a bump, a dip, a crack, etc. Two cones in a row means the road is damaged a little more than if only one cone. Three cones means slow down, the road is really a mess. The problem is the cones are usually right at the spot in the road where the damage is, so ride looking ahead.
Along that lines are the frost heaves. Naturally occurring phenomena of the earth rising, twisting, buckling, diving down, and rolling on its own accord no matter what man tries to do to straighten it or smooth it out. These are found just outside of Whitehorse, YK. But don?t let that little patch fool you, the best is yet to come. About an hour and half further north after passing through Destruction Bay next to Kluane Lake (KooLaahNay) you will get to the next fun section. On a motorcycle it probably will not be too bad, just watch for the large open cracked areas, in a big rig it is an e-ticket ride if you don?t know they are coming.
The next section is north outside of Beaver Creek, YK. This is 20 miles from the Alaskan Border. This section gets real bad. You will also encounter them on the Glenallen Highway from Tok to Anchorage, AK., and also on the Parks Highway between Fairbanks and Anchorage (in and around Healy).
When you get into the frost heave areas, watch for the skid marks on the far side of dips and bumps, especially dual wheel skid marks. That is where grandpa (or possibly grandma) launched the RV, got air - incredible scene with a 40 foot Class A and tow vehicle attached- applied the brakes while airborne and upon landing locked them up in order to stop and restock the interior shelves, clean the spilt milk, pull the dog and cats out from under furniture or off chandeliers if still attached. Stay well back of the RVs in the frost heave areas, especially when going north. On their way home they drive much better having learned.
Around Denali watch for the tour buses that bring people from the cruise ships and other places up. They are driven by anyone from 18 to 80 who is hired for the tourist season, gets a 15 minute ?Learn to drive a tour bus class,? then turned loose on 60 or so unsuspecting people to take them around Alaska. They will stop unexpectedly, turn without warning, weave back and forth and generally are a menace. Go slow especially around the tourist village where a ton of souvenirs are out displayed and for sale.
Cell phone coverage has improved in the last year. I use ATT and it works in Fort Nelson, British Columbia (it didn?t before) and good reception in Whitehorse, YK area. It will also work pretty much off and on throughout Alaska (getting better up there all the time-though I don?t tell anyone down below unless I really like them, or someone would be calling too much for me). In between towns though, they are all pretty much dead. I wouldn?t spend money on a satellite phone or rent one either. Typically if you are in need of assistance someone will stop for you and either relay a message or help you out. Truckers carry tools and many even have a variety of stuff for emergency repairs (so do many of the local four wheelers), wave a bandana (red, orange or white so I can see it) and do it so I don?t think you are just waving ?Hi? and I?ll stop (as most others will, too).
Bring a bandana or dust mask to wear, you will need it in some places.
CUSTOMS: The Canadian Customs Officials are just that ? Official. They don?t do well with humor or light banter. Let them initiate the conversation (it will be short and to the point) and only answer exactly what they asked. If you try to humor them, screw with them, or generally waste their time (as they see it) they can and will reciprocate by having you unload everything you have brought with you and generally making your experience with them unenjoyable. I don?t know why that is other than it is. I have seen so many people really just trying to be friendly with them end up with their stuff spread out all over the place. A friend who worked for the R.C.M.P. told me to follow the advice I just printed and I have never had any issues. If there is anything amiss, be calm and polite. Ranting and raving is really bad juju. The American Customs folks are regular folks and will be a lot more friendly.
Lastly, Border crossings: avoid I-5 the Blaine, WA. crossing. If you are crossing in or out of Washington State, use the Sumas, WA., it is just a few miles east of the Blaine crossing. Blaine can back up for hours and hours. The worst I have seen Sumas is a little less than an hour, it is off the beaten path, but not so far as to mess up any travel plans.
You will see quite a few Victory riders up north in Canada, great folks they are.
Look for my trailer, it has a 2 foot by 3 foot Victory Motorcycle decal on the rear door. Wave, I?ll give you a ?V? sign back.
Steve
|
Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Thanks for the wonderful detailed description, Steve. I live in southern BC and ride a lot across the border in Washington/Northwest. You are bang on about the border crossings - but maybe miss what I see as a Canadian - namely what I call "The Border Nazi's" - American guys. Brown shirt/mirror sunglasses/pistols - and same attitude. But like anyone - they can be nice (and they ARE nicer at Sumas and smaller crossings) - just don't screw around and try to be funny. I think all those guys are frustrated police-wanna-bees and stuck in a booth.
I am going to prepare a detailed route map and I will note the locations of wildlife, road hazzards etc that you mentioned. Great stuff!
We are not camping - do you have any 'special' motels/inns that you would recommend by name/place?
Thanks also for the info on CB/phone/communication - great stuff - especially how to flag someone if we need assistance !!!
I've been on 'that bus' from the tour ships - luckily for us, our driver had motorcycled up from the mainland US near the end of April and had some interesting stories for us - but it was the roads from Anchorage to the Yukon that appealed to us as bikers and made us want to do the ride. I have done much of the BC portion (back in '93) and was hoping the roads would be improved some by now. The weather is as you describe and rain gear is your normal dress.
Re: patches of gravel/dirt - we ran out of pavement on the VV last summer and drove 20 miles on dirt/gravel (dry) and I was totally AMAZED at how well the VV behaved - like a giant dirt bike - was great! But 'reality bites' and I know that it may be different if the stuff is wet.
Anyway, thanks again! Hope to see you on the road - we will look for your 'decal'.
Don |
Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | sierravic - 2010-01-19 9:35 AM
If you ride to Alaska part II;
I?m not trying to hijack this thread.....
You will see quite a few Victory riders up north in Canada, great folks they are.
Look for my trailer, it has a 2 foot by 3 foot Victory Motorcycle decal on the rear door. Wave, I?ll give you a ?V? sign back.
Steve
I got it!
The new TV reality show...."Steve - Alaskan Trucker" I'd watch it  |
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 12
| Hey there Donetracey and Vinner1,
Thanks for the comments. I don't have any specific motels or inns since I camp out in my truck as I pass through. I will keep my eyes more open and take notes as well as ask around. Give me a couple of weeks or so and I'll see what I can come up with.
If you go and are coming from the Vancouver, BC area, I strongly suggest taking the Fraser River route from Hope, BC to Clinton, BC. I really think that would be a hoot on a bike and it gets you away from all the traffic on the "Coke" highway.
Vinner1, as for a show about me it would end up as a comedy. I'm still learning after three years. Every trip brings something new up to learn, always a new glitch with something. The latest trip in minus 40 plus temps allowed me to discover a battery lead that wasn't tightened and resulted in my alternator nearly failing. And that was after I inspected "everything" or so I thought. Now no nut goes unchecked.
Right now the road has a bit of packed snow and ice on it way up north, but as soon as it thaws and starts clearing I'll put an update and try to somewhat pin point the rough spots.
Steve |
Alaska?
