Arctic Circle 2010

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
Hello!
I went with my buddy on a 5 week trip. We did 12388 miles.
First, we went through the northern states like minnesota and montana, into british columbia and the ferry through south eastern alaska (yellow line).

track.jpg


day 1: point of rocks, md
that's a historic train station in the background. my buddy rides an fz1.
IMG_0487.jpg


i'm wearing a one piece textile riding suit. it's very versatile in hot, cold and wet weather.
IMG_0494.jpg


first campsite in ohio, near a lake
IMG_0509.jpg


freezer bag cooking 101: just add almost boiling water.
ramen noodles, beef jerky, string cheese.
tastes pretty good actually.
here's more info:
Freezer Bag Cooking 101 | Trail Cooking

IMG_0515.jpg


i use a jet boil to boil the water. it can boil 2 cups in 90 seconds. sweet
IMG_0516.jpg


breaking camp in the morning. time to hit the road
IMG_0519.jpg


i killed a pretty butterfly.
Picture1_%20018.jpg


north dakota. no clouds. i hate riding in a straight line. so boring. i have a sportbike dammit!!!!!!!!
IMG_0546.jpg


sometimes all you could see were these farms of bright yellow sunflowers
IMG_0549.jpg
 
Last edited:

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
the roads are so straight here that i was able to lock my throttle open, take a glove off, and snap this photo with my iphone. i also changed the playlist for the music i was listening to. towards the end of the trip, enough sweat had seeped through my gloves so that i didnt need to take them off to use my iphone!!

38286_428174602566_726367566_4633125_3302303_n.jpg


the scenery started to change as we got towards montana. the scenery was fantastic! the roads were still incredibly boring....
IMG_0561.jpg



Picture1_%20111.jpg


one man's crappy home is another man's nice, rustic photograph. hahaha!
Picture1_%20119.jpg


it's obvious why they call mt "big sky country"
Picture1_%20208.jpg


it's just a HUGE cloud!!!
never seen anything like this before.
IMG_0599.jpg


Picture1_%20240.jpg


campsite in idaho. it was a nice one.
setting up camp. i ended up hating my tent during the trip. i need a bigger rain fly and a vestibule.
IMG_0614.jpg
 
Last edited:

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
we eventually rode from fargo nd to billings mt in one day. 629 miles. it was incredibly beautiful.
i was getting really bad gas mileage because of the luggage cases and extra weight.
38286_428174602566_726367566_4633125_3302303_n.jpg

in washington state and idaho we had fun on some nice twisty roads finally.
pretty lakes in wa state
Picture1_%20256.jpg


Picture1_%20261.jpg


IMG_0627.jpg


IMG_0630.jpg


Picture1_%20265.jpg



campsite in wa state
Picture1_%20267.jpg

Picture1_%20270.jpg


everything is so expensive in canada. gas, food, water. everything but healthcare.
IMG_0636.jpg


"what seems to be the officer, problem?"
i think he was telling me to be careful about forest fires. sure, whatev.
IMG_0639.jpg
 
Last edited:

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
british columbia. this is wine country. nice towns around blue lakes. every lake we see is a different shade of blue. twisty roads in the mountains.
Picture1_%20286.jpg

damn rich folks
Picture1_%20287.jpg


yo dawg.
i hear you like mirrors.
so i put a mirror on your mirror.
so you can look at yourself while you look at yourself.
Picture1_%20302.jpg


lots of blue lakes here. quite stunning.
IMG_0653.jpg


let me rant about bc drivers. omg. they are the worst drivers i've ever had to deal with in the entire trip. they drive so fast.
i'm going 85-90mph and i was too slow for people.
i was being passed by old trucks and chevy caveliers.
they'd pass me and the 2 RVs in front of me.
they are not afraid of any law enforcement. i think i saw a mountie once.
cars would pass and the oncoming traffic wouldn't even slow down. i saw cars from the opposite lane coming at me and i'd have to slow down and move close to shoulder. turns out i was just a scaredy cat.
worst drivers ever. nice people though :D
Picture1_%20327.jpg


IMG_0660.jpg

IMG_0663.jpg


kamloops lake campsite. i think we have a member from here.
we met some nice people here. we always met friendly people every time we stopped at a campsite, for gas, food etc. we learn a lot about the weather, road conditions and places to stay from just talking to people.
IMG_0667.jpg


having tags from the east coast of the usa generates interest, apparently.
some campers offered us their canoe to use, i declined because i was too tired.
Picture1_%20335.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
across the lake there were train tracks. the train would come by and blow its whistle. the train was a mile long or so. i saw a lot of trains in bc. they were full of lumber mostly.
i was able to sleep at night, though. i was told that it came by 4 times at night. how did i sleep through it? ear plugs and benadryl.
benadryl just knocks me right out! never go on a trip without it. seriously folks, do whatever it takes to get a good night's sleep.
Picture1_%20330.jpg



the midwest is harley country, but over here all you see are those bmw/adv rider types. they're pretty cool, if you ask me....

IMG_0676.jpg


Picture1_%20358.jpg


i'm probably giving myself a baby wipe bath here. some times this is the best i could do. hey, i survived.
see how small my tent is? i'd put my gear in my tent too. so my helmet, boots and suit would go in there to prevent the morning dew from getting them wet. i dont want to ride with wet gear.
i hate my tent. i bought it from REI so i'll just return it someday. :D
IMG_0693.jpg


fraser lake
Picture1_%20390.jpg


Skeena River i believe. very pretty. parts of british columbia were better than alaska. i know it's hard to compare and that it's all unique and beautiful and all that. but i saw so much in 5 weeks that i couldn't help myself.
so british columbia is a pretty cool place.
there's a lot of golf courses and plenty of booze (wine).
Picture1_%20433.jpg


IMG_0716.jpg


Picture1_%20479.jpg


IMG_0723.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
pioneer hostel in prince rupert. some nice campers told us about the place.
the ferry will pick us up in here.
we had a lot of rain lately so it was good to not camp in it for a change.
IMG_0725.jpg


cheap rates. hot showers.

southern bc is very dry.
in western bc, it's so wet.
remember the tv show: "The X-Files"?
it was filmed in vancouver during the early (and best) seasons.
having it be in canada gave the show a more spooky feel because canada is like the usa, except slightly "out of phase". things are kinda different, but you don't know why. that and everything has this wet glaze on it.

basically, i felt like i was in an X-Files episode.

IMG_0729.jpg


were you expecting the ritz?

Picture1_%20483.jpg


Picture1_%20493.jpg

amen.
Picture1_%20494.jpg


some folks told us that there are a lot of bald eagles in prince rupert.
IMG_0738.jpg

so we walked around the dock area looking for eagles.
IMG_0746.jpg

didnt see any there. then someone said to go towards the cannery.
Picture1_%20502.jpg

didnt see any there either
later someone at the hostel said to go to the town dump.
i never went.

Picture1_%20505.jpg



"I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar."
IMG_0764.JPG
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
prince rupert has kind of an annapolis vibe to it. there's real fishermen here and a cannery and not as many yuppies
38006_431119212566_726367566_4701189_6383468_n.jpg

prince rupert is also a terminal on the alaska marine highway. none of the cities like ketchican or skagway in alaska are connected by roads. everybody takes the marine highway. i'm going from prince rupert to haines. then riding north.
waiting for the ferry and customs. the ferry will take us through southeastern alaska.
IMG_0769.JPG


our ferry was the matanuska. it was built in the 1960's. kinda old. it wasnt so bad.
IMG_0771.JPG

all the motorcycles are moved aside. we were all talking about our trips. we met some one from virginia (a neighboring state to maryland).
IMG_0775.JPG

we had to bring tie-downs for the ferry
IMG_0778.JPG

this is the solarium. i just slept on those white deck chairs. i took my sleeping bag and air matress. there were heat lamps that kept us warm. i got some good sleep here. no need for a cabin. public restrooms and showers onboard too.
Picture1_%20521.jpg


it felt good to just chill on the ferry, meet all the characters on board,
and check out the scenery. i love being on the water.
Picture1_%20522.jpg

Picture1_%20523.jpg

we met a lot of tourists from germany, they were very friendly. some tourists set up camp on the deck of the ship. there were plenty of canadians, australians and english. besides tourists, there were seasonal workers and ordinary alaskans.
IMG_0780.JPG
 
Last edited:

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
lighthouse
Picture1_%20553.jpg

dont disturb the germans and dont mention the war
Picture1_%20570.jpg

this is some other port, i forget
Picture1_%20571.jpg

clouds and fog. surreal.
IMG_0822.JPG

america HELL yeah!!! :rockon:
IMG_0819.JPG

mustang ranch? :eek:
Picture1_%20581.jpg

bald eagle, finally
Picture1_%20590.jpg

the ferry has to navigate through the Wrangell Narrows.
it has to make more than 50 course changes in like 20 miles or so.
we pass by some small islands really close.
Picture1_%20592.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
Picture1_%20593.jpg

Picture1_%20596.jpg

he's being chased by kayakers
Picture1_%20598.jpg

Picture1_%20605.jpg

we all lined up to watch the action. everyone but the alaskans, they didnt care.
Picture1_%20606.jpg

Picture1_%20607.jpg

the sea is like glass. the whole point of the inside passage is that the islands protect ships from the strong seas and bad weather of the open ocean
Picture1_%20611.jpg

Picture1_%20609.jpg

keep looking at your shoes there, buddy
Picture1_%20615.jpg
 

neos

Intermediate rider
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
London, UK
www.facebook.com
Congratulations guys! That's a real achievement. I grew up in Toronto, ON and hope to do a similar trip in a few years. To start off with last April I managed a 3100m return journey from London to Lisbon.

Good luck with your future touring plans.

Cheers

Pete:thumbup:
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
there's a whale jumping out of the water on the lower right
Picture1_%20628_whale.jpg

juvenile humpback. i was so happy to get a photo.
whale.jpg

Picture1_%20632.jpg

IMG_0849.jpg

IMG_0876.jpg

this is close to haines.
the ship docked at haines at 5:00 am.
IMG_0865.jpg


so you're probably wondering where i am now in the trip report.
i'm at the northern part of the yellow line, in haines, alaska.
i have to ride through the yukon to get back into alaska.

track.jpg


we are off the ferry. it's like 5:30am alaska time.
also, the time zones are weird.
british columbia is on pacific time. when we hit south eastern alaska we were on alaska time. wtf? why not pacific? then we rode through the yukon so it was back to pacific st. take a look at a time zone map.

we met a lot of cool cats on the ferry. this is lance and shannon. they live in utah and were trying to get to prudhoe bay. they never made it.
check out their website:
MotoTour - Motorcycle Touring
big south park fans too.

Picture1_%20653.jpg


i got my heated gear on.
we were all nervous about weather, road conditions, border crossings, gas, etc.
lots of unknowns.
i hate waking up early
Picture1_%20655.jpg


we said goodbye to lance and shannon and headed out to the yukon.
thumbs up!
i'm riding in alaska bishes!
IMG_0885.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
we're going to be riding pretty close to those mountains on the haines highway
Picture1_%20660.jpg

it really was breathtaking.
IMG_0895.jpg

the haines highway was a path the prospectors used in the klondike gold rush. they were charged a toll, so it was not very popular
IMG_0899.jpg

Picture1_%20669.jpg

Picture1_%20671.jpg

IMG_0915.jpg

Picture1_%20676.jpg

Picture1_%20679.jpg

dang french again
Picture1_%20684.jpg

IMG_0927.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
Picture1_%20688.jpg

Picture1_%20692.jpg

crappy roads. not the crappiest though. i wasnt able to get the camera out for those lol!
Picture1_%20693.jpg

yuck! my poor sidis.
Picture1_%20702.jpg

Kluane Lake/ Destruction Bay
there's a canadian lesbian couple and their baby living near here, lol.
we met them on the ferry.
nice peeps.
Picture1_%20717.jpg


back in alaska. border checkpoint.
IMG_0955.jpg


alaska is just a big friggin wilderness.
there are no powerlines, no telephone poles.
just trees and mountains and lakes.
i remember seeing lakes and no way of ever getting to them. no roads, nothing.
pretty cool.
Picture1_%20754.jpg

Picture1_%20757.jpg

lots of people warned us about the moose. they just jump right out at cars. i saw a truck almost hit a moose. that would've killed me, no question about it.
IMG_0973.jpg


this is Fast Eddy's Restaurant in tok, alaska.
i like the food here. i had the halibut burger.
kinda overpriced.
it must be real gourmet stuff for the alaskans here. hahaha.
this place is popular among motorcyclists.
mostly bmw types.
that explains why it's so overpriced! zing!
here's me and my borat pose.
Picture1_%20749.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
dalton highway going to the arctic circle.
trucks rule the road here and they dont slow down!
Picture1_%20768.jpg

omg! wtf?
Picture1_%20769.jpg

pipeline. big deal in alaska. i think it's the largest thing in their economy. then it's fishing and tourism.
IMG_0991.jpg

Picture1_%20804.jpg

pump station near the yukon river.
gas was like $5 a gallon here.
i talked to some one who works for a helicopter company contracted to help fight the forest fires up north. his truck took more than $100 in gas, lol. he's from new mexico. he had to fly in the helicopter he maintains all the way up to alaska!
Picture1_%20780.jpg

Picture1_%20836.jpg

Picture1_%20832.jpg

Picture1_%20837.jpg

Picture1_%20844.jpg

IMG_1054.jpg
 
Last edited:

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
on the way to valdez
Picture%20039.jpg

IMG_1078.JPG

Picture%20096.jpg

thompson pass
Picture%20103.jpg

in valdez we camped at an rv park. hot showers and wifi, ftw!
the next day we did a glacier kayaking tour of the columbia glacier.
we took the water taxi to the glacier.
Picture%20119.jpg

this is where the pipeline ends.
the oil tankers receive the oil here.
i followed the pipeline almost the entire way down, so it was nice to see the end of the line!
Picture%20130.jpg

Picture%20134.jpg

waterfall formed by the melting glacier
Picture%20138.jpg

we were hanging on for dear life.
we all had to wear kayaking gear. also, i wore this loaner cap to keep warm.
ewwwww.......
IMG_1133.JPG

Picture%20141.jpg
 

Norbert

crash tested
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2,034
Reaction score
40
Points
0
Location
Recalculating....
Visit site
icebergs from the glacier floating out from the tide
Picture%20177.jpg

Picture%20204.jpg

Picture%20206.jpg

IMG_1156.JPG

Picture%20217.jpg

Picture%20218.jpg

the ice from the glacier had veins.
glacier ice is much more compact than ice in your freezer.
there is a lot less oxygen in it as well
Picture%20231.jpg

cool stone
Picture%20233.jpg

IMG_1181.JPG
 
Top