Alaska trip 2022

[Sgt Bilco]

A few shots from Lake Louise Lodge.

Mel and Gordon found a guy to take them fishing out on the lake. They didn't catch anything but from what I understand thats not the point. They had a great time out there anyway.

Also it was Margarets birthday so Bill has brought a cake over from Anchorage for the occasion. She was really pleased and said it was her best birthday ever. How that can be the case when you are away with a bunch of tossers is beyond me but there you go

Mileage: 262

Start song: ELO Mr Blue Sky
Finish song: The New Roses - One More for the Road

 

[Tinytim]

Only dipped into this thread last night. Now caught up and all I can say is fabulous and ta for taking the time to keep it updated. Fantastic photos.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

So, the last day of the trip dawned beautiful and sunny and the only thing to be heard was the floatplane coming into the dock. You really couldn't get more Alaskan than that.

The floatplane was owned by a couple of French/Canadians who grunted a couple of answers to questions. No matter where they are, the French Canadians really are miserable bunch and will rarely engage you in conversation and 9 times out of 10 will ignore you. Of all the people we get to meet on these trips, these miserable bastards are the only ones who won't engage so fuck 'em I say

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Mel had unfortunately hurt his knee the day before so as Bill had come over from Anchorage in his Grand Cherokee, it was decided that Mel would go in teh car with Margaret as his chauffeur and Bill would ride Mels bike with all his gear on. Luckily, they are a similar size size so it was no bother.

Out of the Lodge and straight onto some construction where they were mending a 15 mike stretch which were damaged in floods and suffering from frost heaves. This is where the ground freezes and forces the soil up and roads can get like bloody roller coasters.

They run a huge grader over the roads and take the level down about 6 inches. They backfill wit gravel and other stuff to compact it down so it's a decent surface to drive on. However, if you catch it as teh grader is working, it can get very "interesting". !!

The girl holding the stop sign was good fun as they generally are. Her name is Becky and I've got here number if anyone is interested? Don't ask............ Anyway, she was telling me she does 7 days on and 2 off. The days are 12 hours with the first 8 at $33 ph and the last 4 at £49ph. She booked 87 hours the weeks before and reckons she can earn up to $3k and week! Not bad for holding a bloody sign all day!!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

More staggering scenery before we stop at the Eureka lodge for breakfast.

Mr Moose comes everywhere with me and was thoroughly enjoying his ride around his home state

The sign in the cafe was very apt for a few of the usual suspects on these hallowed pages.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

As in a lot of places up here, hunting keeps these places open in the winter and they do like to show off their prizes.

 

[Jockser]

The sign in the cafe was very apt for a few of the usual suspects on these hallowed pages.

I have a pair of socks that state I'm fluent in sarcasm. Maybe I could get a job up there

 

[Pukmeister]

Awesome trip report, thank you. Trip of a lifetime.

If I ever have to good fortune to get off the daily treadmill such as a big lottery win, I will put you on speed dial !

 

[Sgt Bilco]

After a hearty breakfast we headed off and again into some amazing scenery.

Mel and Margaret were driving Bill's Hemi V8 powered Jeep and were having a great old time driving through this beautiful countryside.

They looked a bit shifty in the black car with blacked out windows......FBI anyone?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

A quick stop to view the once mighty Matanuska Glacier which is receding at a rate of knots. I've definitely noticed it going back in teh 10 or so years I've been coming up here and I guess before long it will just disappear altogether which would be tragic.

It was then off to Hatcher Pass which is just north of Anchorage.

 

[richardbd]

I like the float plane

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I may or may not have told everyone just how steep the final run up to the summit is but I was confident that the whole group would make it up there without incident especially as we'd done quite a bit of dirt riding on the trip.

There were one or two slightly nervous smiles as everyone got to the top and believe me, it's bloody steep but well worth the effort to ride up there and a worthy last hoorah to the trip.

 

[richardbd]

Only done the Hatcher Pass once. It was snowing...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Then is was the run back to Anchorage to drop the bikes off and I think it was with some relief to one or two guys that we got back with no issues whatsoever.

 

[richardbd]

What an excellent trip and trip report.

Thanks Bilco...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We always have a meal at the end of the trip and had a brilliant evening at the 49th state brewery in Anchorage on Saturday. Nick and Jon had unfortunately had to fly that day but the rest of us had a good evening and we were joined by the recently maligned Itchyboots who despite giving us the wrong impression of herself a few days previously turned out to be great company and loved being in a normal situation with no pressure.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

So that was a great finish to a fantastic trip to Alaska.

I'd like to thank all the guys who came on the trip who made it one of the best tours I've done without doubt. The camaradarie and friendship shown were second to none and I'd ride with any of these people at any time and any place.

Mel, Gordon, Jon, David, Andrew, Garry, Nick and Bob and Margaret thanks for your company and hope you enjoyed it as much as me!!

Just a few stats.

The trip was a little over 2700 miles and we never had one real issue with any of the bikes. We did a chain as a precaution on an F850 but bar that, they were perfect.
Not one puncture or flat even though some of the roads are rough and hard packed dirt.
Al Jesse panniers are crap and leak like sieves.
11 days sunshine and 3 days rain

As we left Alaska bound for Seattle, the heavens opened so the timing couldn't have been better. The Alaska Air 737 Max hauled us out of a murky airport into the bright blue sky over the glacier fields which was one last stunning view to remember.

Thanks for reading and here's to next years trip June to Alaska ............

 

[Jon]

I don't think anyone had dry panniers on the first 4 days of the trip Jesse, Givi or the whatever the 3rd make was - but freezer or vacuum bags make great cheap waterproof standby purchases if you've been a twat and assumed they would be.

Book me in for next years trip now please

 

[Timolgra]

Nice one Chris, so glad it went well for you after the Covid interlude and take no note from AV, funny guy but all part of the circus now

 

[boatman]

Great Trip report Chris
Throughly enjoyed it