Fairbanks, AK

  Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Friday, August 24, 2007

  They crossed over into Alaska a couple of days ago and have settled down in a campground at Fairbanks, AK for a couple of days. They are just relaxing, doing some bike maintenance and laundry. They have met some interesting people at the campsite. One couple from Atlanta is taking a year off and are traveling up to the north shore of Alaska and then down to Brazil and then to Atlanta. Wow!

 I talked to Danner today and he was trying to send some pictures but ran into technical difficulties. I reloaded his computer before he left and forgot to put a photo viewer on it. His laptop is an antique and I didn't realize that it didn't come with one. He will try and download something and work on it later. The campground has free Internet so it would be nice to take advantage of that amenity. He has to go to the office because he doesn't have wireless capabilities. The other campers are lounging around their tents with their laptops. I see a new laptop in our future....

He was changing the oil on his bike tonight while guarding the entrance to his tent. There were a couple of beautiful ducks trying to get in or poop at the entrance. Nick and Dick were headed to a poetry reading along with some interpretive dancing. Danner said he would pass. Danner seemed outraged that the tickets were $18. For that kind of money, he said there should be some nudity involved. I guess he isn't up for any culture.

More later, Katheryn

         

 

Day 14, Thur, 23 Aug, A day off in Fairbanks
 
     Since we had such a nice campsite on the river, we decided to take a day off.  Well, sorta, as we found several things to do.  Dick got two new tires from BMW George.  He's a local character/legend that had a line of motorcycles at his house awaiting maintenance.  I rode over just to check out his operation and he almost ran me over with his old BMW complete with sidecar occupied by a large dog. Dick also managed to get a massage in Fairbanks.  We all changed oil in our bikes, not filters.  This seemed to be most interesting to our fellow campers.
       One of our neighbors was a couple from Atlanta who were riding two KLR 650's to the North Slope then to Chili and back home.  They were allowing a year and a half, didn't want to rush.  Another neighbor, the Kilian's with son, Max, from Calgary were riding three different bikes touring Alaska. We joined them for breakfast Friday morning at Sam's Sourdough Café, which was excellent.  Nice folks, hope they don't mind if we drop in for dinner next time we ski at Banff.
 
 
Day 15, Friday, 24 Aug, Fairbanks to Wasilla, AK
 
     Enough goofing off.  After our second breakfast at Sam's, it's back to riding in the rain.  We had done some high-speed pilot computing with distances, road conditions, and ferry schedules so we could get to Vancouver Island.  We planned the 18 hour ferry ride, a day of riding on the island, and then another ferry to Port Angeles in Washington.  We had it figured down to minute accuracy, but off one day.  It seems pilots can follow schedules, not create them.  Time for a new, new plan!  We also rode thru Denali Park so we could see Mt McKinley, but low clouds prevented that.  Nevertheless, the ride was beautiful.  We stopped in Wasilla and stayed in a nice cabin that could sleep six.  It cost $150 for the night and was a bargain.