Today we get the bikes ready for the 1600 kms – 1000 miles return trip up to Prudhoe Bay. After breakfast at the hotel we headed up to the “Thunder Road” workshop. The bumble bee went in first, oil change, final drive oil change, new tires, shaft greased… Jerry and I worked together and got it done in a few hours. I also removed the oversized windshield and mirror extenders, top case and took off as much weight as possible.
It’s nice to work on a proper lift for a change!
In the meantime Zoe went to get some freeze dry camping food for the trip and a few other bits from REI. She came back with lunch just in time to push her bike into the lift. Again she worked together with Jerry and changed our the oil and swapped tires, inspected the chain and a few hours later both bikes were set.
New tires and less weight as we offloaded as much as we could
We are leaving all our unnecessary weight at the workshop while we head up the dirt road.
It was quite a hot day working in the sun and even though we are close to the arctic circle, the temperature hit somewhere around 30 degrees! It was pretty much 17:30 by the time we were done and ready for a shower and some A/C.
Thermometer on the mirror showing upwards of 35 degrees C!
Once rested we headed out into downtown Fairbanks for diner. We put the word out with our new found friends and Team Israel came to join us with a couple they met a few days prior and who invited them to stay with them. It was a pleasant evening dining al fresco in the warm Alaska sun. Another late night of course, keeps on happening in the land of the midnight sun but plans are made to head to Coldfoot somewhere mid morning. Bring on the dirt roads!
From our hotel at 2 in the morning!!!
TA
Final stretch, must be emotional after 100 days+ to see the end nearing!
Quite nice temperatures up there, same as we have in the shade at lunch time.
Big horses will be sensitive to the gravel roads, beware!
2 days to go? Approx.
Good luck and enjoy every moment!
Baci
A good work done on the bikes, but how do you get your stuff
Back ? I guess you’re coming back to this place once you’ve been in Prudhoe bay ?
Or did you rent a locker ?
Yeah it’s horrible to work in such temperatures… Here in the garden it’s over 60 in the sun .(almost fainted the other day) ..till only 6.30pm you can get back outside to work but than daylight is getting shorter 🙁
Won’t be easy to follow you guys in B but I’ll try.
Careful on that dirty track ok ?
Xxx Mum