Latitude 66 degrees 33 minutes North - The Circle - Day 21

Got up early and went the meet the motorcycle rental guy a few blocks away. After doing the paperwork and getting some instruction on the instruments and controls on the BMW as well as some tips for the road, I suited up and wen tot meet Ed at the hotel.

Set out for breakfast at a local restaurant and headed north. 197 miles to the arctic circle from our hotel.

Fumbling with the controls on the motorcycle until my hands and feet became familiar with their positions and responses we set out for our journeys goal. The road to the arctic circle isn't for the queasy, the Sunday driver, or non-confident motorcycle rider. The main part of the journey is on the haul road, the ice trucker road, the road warrior road.

Sand, gravel, freshly spread wet oil, bumps, holes, construction, hills, mountains, sharp turns, trucks, trucks, trucks. We were pretty lucky as the traffic on the road today was light until we were more than halfway back. The weather gods cooperated by drenching us in warm sunshine and clear skies.

We crossed the Yukon River and gassed up. Last gas for 120 miles. A milestone on the road to the circle and points north.

The sign reads Arctic Circle

Now, it would have been the ultimate to ride to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska - or Deadhorse ( wonder how it got that name?), but the road 20 miles south of there was completely washed out and under water, so there's heavy construction going on there and the ride is another 7 hours from our destination today. Took us 5+  hours to the circle. Met several other riders also going  to the same place. Most seem to be on BMW's , though there were some Harley riders as well as other touring model. .For the feint of heart, there is a mini-tour bus that runs tours there in air-conditioned comfort. After today's experience, it didn't look too bad.

Yukon River Camp

Touched the Circle !!

Me and Ed at the Circle

The Hot Spot Café - in the middle of nowhere

Dalton Highway Sign

Dalton Highway Sign Map

The bike I rented was just perfect for this road, and performed exceptionally well almost all the way there. After we gassed up at the Yukon River Camp, the bike began to buck, losing power, then regaining it. This went on to the circle and back to Fairbanks. What a treat. Ed's calling me a serial cycle killer. That's 2 biked down on one ride. Fortunately I learned how to make the ride work - no cell service, so no other option, and got it back to the rental office. I don't know what the issue is, but I'm not having much luck lately with motorcycles. Maybe it's an omen, maybe it's bad luck, maybe it's meant to happen so that I have some interesting stories to tell about the ride. Who knows for sure, but one thing for sure is that I'll never forget any of it!