Sgt Bilco's great Alaska Adventure 2016

[Sgt Bilco]

The road approaching Valdez has to be one of the finest stretches of roads anywhere. The scenery is simply stunning and the road is an epic ride with some nice bends and great riding. My pictures again just don't do it justice but you get around 100 miles of this all around you and it's difficult to know were to look.

 

[Ash]

Scenery looks shite



I wish....

 

[Leasouth]

Seems a bit quiet here Must be taking in all the views and not sharing

 

[Ash]

Seems a bit quiet here Must be taking in all the views and not sharing

And forgetting us poor soles stuck in Blighty.....

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Been a bit busy chaps and internet signal is not good in some of the remore areas. I'll be on it at the weekend.

 

[wreck diver]

Good man
Thought you had all been eaten by bears or mossies!

 

[Udders]

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Been a bit busy chaps.......I'll be on it at the weekend.

Well? We're waiting......

 

[Jockser]

 

[leedude03]

I would love to do something like this. great pictures and thanks for posting this.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Valdez is a cool little town in a large bay. Considering they had a huge oil spill some years ago the whole place seems to be thriving with a big fishing industry. Well worth a visit if you get the chance.

They have a Salmon hatchery there and of course the 5 year old fish are now coming back to spawn. They swim up a chute were there eggs are removed and then fertilised. According to a ranger, the meat is pretty useless as the salmon are exhausted and at the end of their life so they are ground up for fish meal. Pretty neat operation.

Of course Bears appear from time to time to gorge on this feast but I missed them. Did see a Bald and Golden Eagle there though which was cool. One or two guys had proper cameras so will hopefully post some better pics.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

A few pics from around Valdez and possibly the best view from a bar anywhere.

 

[lmg]

Looks like a tasty meal

Sent from SYDland...

 

[AustinW]

We stayed in Valdez last year for a few nights - at campground right in the middle - the only one with grass but surrounded by massive RVs. Anyway the campground had a "jacobs join" supper one night - they provided boxes and boxes of salmon, filleted them and BBQ'd them. All we had to do was turn up with a contribution (Somerfield coleslaw and a bag of salad) and our plates and tuck into as much Salmon and home made salads, sauces, and home baked buns as we could - I managed 6 servings

One of the guys I was taking to was down from Fairbanks way for a 3-4 weeks fishing. They were about half way through and had caught 6 salmon, two halibut, some cod and several various every day - pretty much the most they could catch against their fishing licence. The salmon weigh 8-12lb each and the Halibut around 100lb each. That is a lot of fish, but they had a canning machine in their RV together with two big chest deep freezes. The dockside is equipped with fish cleaning and filleting stations so you can deal with your catch in a relatively bear free environment. The canning machine just needed a supply of empty cans, lids, and the fish. It then automatically processed the fish, put it in the can, sealed it, then steamed it until cooked and sterilised. They would then have enough fish for them, their family and a couple of neighbours until next year. He said in the winter he will go off hunting and shoot enough deer to keep them in meat too. He said they also grow loads of veg in the near 24hour summer daylight and while not quite self sufficient are not far from it. He also said where he lives (he built the house himself) the neighbours are something like 25miles away. It sounds like a tough but rewarding life up there. It is a great place indeed.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

There is only one road in and out of Valdez and it's a different view. Clouds in the mountains is how Alaska should always be in my mind.

Note the picture with the big Mosquito just turning in for an attack.........bastard!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

After Valdez it's off to Tok. I love these long roads through the forests and mountains as there is far more to biking than twisty roads. Who wouldn't love seeing this through the screen.

Had a little run down a b road and cae across a nice little cafe and store for a nice coffee and sandwich. The gas tanker at the fuel station was a beauty and have absolutely no idea how he was going to reverse it, I've driven some big kit but even thinking how that thing goes backwards gave me a headache.

Along the road a bit I saw this fleet of brand new water bombers all neatly lined up. I've never seen anything like these before and couldn't really work out how they fill teh water tanks unless they are in the floats. My idea was they must have a scoop that drops down which fills teh hatches on teh fuselage but I don't know. They were brand new and look like the crop sprayers so are tough old birds. Given the big fires they have up here, they will be used regularly no doubt.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Closer pic of the water bomber in case some one can provide more detail.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

After looking at the water bombers abd checking out the old avgas tankers, it was back on the road. Stopped for a cold drink and bumped into this girl byciclist who had started a road trip with her dog 2 months ago in Seattle. Have a look at the map and it''s a fecking long way....!! The dog sat in teh cart as she peddled merrily along. She was heading for Valdez and hope she got there safe.

Back on the long beaitiful road with superb views and came across a white lining truck. This is a phenominal piece of kit as he is moving at around 30 mph and simultaneously painting the yellow lines in teh middle and teh white lines at the side.!

The roadworks eased things up as the big storm came around the corner. As is always teh case, water proofs on expecting the worst.......and it never rained a drop.

 

[UturnTony]

You do get some great pictures Chris.

 

[Udders]

Closer pic of the water bomber in case some one can provide more detail.

Yes, I can confirm, it's definately a plane.