Saturday, July 31, 2010

Jesse just called (5 p.m.) from Tok, Alaska, Visitor Center. He says that on Thursday evening, he & his friend, Wayne, took some part off the bike to try to make it work better. He was having trouble starting the bike, and thought some copper points might need to be cleaned. Both guys worked on it, but had problems getting it back together. They were both tired & Jesse told Wayne to go ahead on the early AM Ferry without him, since he was on a schedule & needed to get to Fairbanks. Jess got up on Friday AM, and got the bike fixed without any problem and it is running well. He took the highway back to Whitehorse, and then back on the Al-Can highway toward Alaska. He spent Friday night in Burwash Junction at the Burwash Landing Resort. [found these pictures of Burwash Landing, Yukon]

Today, he rode from Burwash, where he encountered very rough roads & frost heaves until he crossed the border into Alaska. Then, he hit road construction, gravel roads, and pilot cars to lead he through the construction zones.

He called me from the Tok Visitor Center [found a picture of this, too] and, may try to go ahead toward Fairbanks this evening (about 200 miles). He needs a new front tire, but the motorcycle stores are closed on Sunday & Monday. He may go to Fairbanks, then tomorrow do the Denali Highway, and head to Anchorage. Probably will be at Brandy & Roger’s home in Kenai, south of Anchorage, on Monday, and then back to Anchorage to get the tire before starting back. He is happy, feels good, and says the bike is running well. He has slept very well in his tent, and says the weather is good with temps in the 60’s. A few drops of rain, but nothing that would slow him down.