Alaska!

This morning we crawled out of our tents cold and a little sore. The wind had whipped the big white tent around all night, keeping us from a deep sleep. Non the less we packed up and continued north.





We trekked on towards Fairbanks knowing that just ahead there would be mile after mile of construction on the Alaska Highway. It would be slow going for about 80 miles of so.




The construction started and the road was covered with a loose gravel. Speeds went down to 35 as we negotiated our way through.




















I even got an escort because of my wide load!





The views were still very beautiful although we could not focus on anything except the road ahead. One wrong line, or slip up would mean disaster. We gripped the handlebars and battled the roads until we became more comfortable with them. A few places were hairy and we had to slow down to a crawl and stabilize our bikes with out legs in order not to fall. Once that was gone we were happy to take a well need rest





Then we saw it....15 miles to the border! What a great sight that was. We moved on with a new urgency wanting so much to cross the border, not only to finish another piece of the puzzle, but to turn our cell phones backup on!











We still had another couple hundred miles to go so we settled back and rolled on. We turned off the intercom and each listened to our own music to make the time move on. We passed moose, bear, and evens porcupine. We kept the speeds down to avoid an up and close encounter from a crossing moose.





Break time.....















We crossed a bridge over a wash way and decided this was a good place for a break. During the thaw, this place is a torrent of ice cold water, flowing from the snow capped peaks.















It briefly rained, laying a thin coat of water on the dusty surface. But soon the cloud had blown east and the blue sky was out again.









We stopped by to see Santa at the north pole, and got a ho ho ho from him. He is busy wrapping presents for this years run. The rain deer are building up strength also.















We arrived at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and checked into our dorm room we reserved. We get to take a break from the tenting and get a well needed hot shower and breakfast!
Tomorrow we will change tires and head up the Dalton! Another dream come true!