Screamineagle
09-28-2006, 09:51 PM
For quite some time I wanted to ride the ALCAN highway to Alaska. On the 3rd of August 2006 my dream began as I departed my home in Duncannon, Pa enroute to Alaska with a three day stop over in Sturgis S.D. I met up with my nephew and his son at the HOG heaven campground. My nephew rides a Harley, his son a Yamaha, and I had my 2004 1150RT. On Aug. 9th Tim and his son headed home to return to work and I headed to Alaska.
I enjoy riding on two lanes rather than four lanes when I'm not in a hurry, so I took US 212 to Billings then US 87 to Great Falls. From there I got on I-15 to Canada. I had been told that one needs only a driver's license to enter Canada. Well that is true but without a birth certificate or passport you will get grief. I was directed to pull my bike into a garage. Once there my bike and all my belongings were searched. I had nothing to hide so the search didn't bother me excempt for the long delay which caused me to set up camp in the dark.
I camped that night at Lethbridge Alberta. I had been looking forward to seeing Alberta Canada but when I awoke at 5 AM the next morning, it was raining. I rode in rain all the way to Whitecourt, Alberta. I was almost to British Columbia and the begining of the ALCAN and I didn't see anything but rain.
The next day was beautiful as I started up the Alaska highway from Dawson Creek BC . A short stop at the information building in Dawson creek was rewarding because I picked up information about the Alaska highway denoting gas stations, campgrounds, towns, etc. for each mile of the highway. That brochure turned out to be invaluable.
I don't want to make this a book length article. I want to tell you that the Alaska highway was much better than I had been led to believe. Most of it is smooth surface with very few curves and a few hills. There is some construction which causes time delays and gets the MC extremely dirty. But I never saw a police car patrolling or hiding with a radar gun. All I can say is it is North America's answer to the Autoban. Oh yeah there were also some places with loose gravel on the road but they gave plenty of warning ahead of time. I did slow down to between 50 and 60 at those times. Most of the time I was cruising at 85 to 100. Occassionally just for fun I would run 125 MPH for a short time.
There was some concern relative to animals and riding fast but, the tree line was cut back on both sides of the road about 100 feet and the grass was cut short. Several times I saw Caribou on the road. I had no trouble seeing them in plenty of time to slow to a safe speed.
In my opinion the Yukon had better scenery than Alaska.
Fuel in Canada is outrageously priced.
I only stayed three days in Alaska. That included one day at the BMW dealer in Anchorage getting tires and a partial service to the bike. It rained every day and the temp was 55 to 58.
When I arrived back home on August 26th, I had ridden 10,387 miles in 23 days to include 3 days at Sturgis and 1 day at the dealer. I guess one could say that I am not much for sight seeing. I just like to ride.
Oh, I did take pictures but with a disposable camera so I can't post them on the web.
I appologize for the long post but there is sooooo much to tell.
If the moderators want to edit or delete thats ok with me.
Bill
I enjoy riding on two lanes rather than four lanes when I'm not in a hurry, so I took US 212 to Billings then US 87 to Great Falls. From there I got on I-15 to Canada. I had been told that one needs only a driver's license to enter Canada. Well that is true but without a birth certificate or passport you will get grief. I was directed to pull my bike into a garage. Once there my bike and all my belongings were searched. I had nothing to hide so the search didn't bother me excempt for the long delay which caused me to set up camp in the dark.
I camped that night at Lethbridge Alberta. I had been looking forward to seeing Alberta Canada but when I awoke at 5 AM the next morning, it was raining. I rode in rain all the way to Whitecourt, Alberta. I was almost to British Columbia and the begining of the ALCAN and I didn't see anything but rain.
The next day was beautiful as I started up the Alaska highway from Dawson Creek BC . A short stop at the information building in Dawson creek was rewarding because I picked up information about the Alaska highway denoting gas stations, campgrounds, towns, etc. for each mile of the highway. That brochure turned out to be invaluable.
I don't want to make this a book length article. I want to tell you that the Alaska highway was much better than I had been led to believe. Most of it is smooth surface with very few curves and a few hills. There is some construction which causes time delays and gets the MC extremely dirty. But I never saw a police car patrolling or hiding with a radar gun. All I can say is it is North America's answer to the Autoban. Oh yeah there were also some places with loose gravel on the road but they gave plenty of warning ahead of time. I did slow down to between 50 and 60 at those times. Most of the time I was cruising at 85 to 100. Occassionally just for fun I would run 125 MPH for a short time.
There was some concern relative to animals and riding fast but, the tree line was cut back on both sides of the road about 100 feet and the grass was cut short. Several times I saw Caribou on the road. I had no trouble seeing them in plenty of time to slow to a safe speed.
In my opinion the Yukon had better scenery than Alaska.
Fuel in Canada is outrageously priced.
I only stayed three days in Alaska. That included one day at the BMW dealer in Anchorage getting tires and a partial service to the bike. It rained every day and the temp was 55 to 58.
When I arrived back home on August 26th, I had ridden 10,387 miles in 23 days to include 3 days at Sturgis and 1 day at the dealer. I guess one could say that I am not much for sight seeing. I just like to ride.
Oh, I did take pictures but with a disposable camera so I can't post them on the web.
I appologize for the long post but there is sooooo much to tell.
If the moderators want to edit or delete thats ok with me.
Bill