Alaska by Javelin.

[Keith Clements]

Well to day was one hell of a trip! We got our tyre and hinge sorted in Whitehorse this morning when things opened, and had to go to 3 different tyre places to get the tube fixed, first one said we had to replace all tyres to a modern type! We moved on. The next couldn't do till pm, we moved on. Found a place happy to oblige straight away, so left the tyre with them and found a welding place to repair our ali minimum fr bott door hinge. It was a lady welder and she made a great job of it, and we were on our wayMostof the trip was nice but ordinary. Till after lunch at the green apple shop, and we got on to the worst part of the Alaska hwy. the road was anything but flat and in the road manual it describes the surface; caution:slow for frost heaved road and gravel breaks northbound to Alaska border. Rough road is often signed or marked by orange flags, but not always! Well that was an understatement.
Some background , the Alaskan hwy was built by the U.S. army engineers in 10 months in 1942. The responsibility passed to Canadian Army, then Public Works and now Yukon Hwys and Public works,by 1970s the road was vastly improved up to Haines Junction. But from there to Alaska border little was done. 85% of traffic from there North was of USA origin so 1977 they agreed to fund the reconstruction signing the Shakwak agreement . Some 300 miles/500kmof hwy. According to public works Yukon much of the soil here is of glacial origin and unsuitable for roads. Anything that causes the permafrost to melt will cause the ice rich soil to liquefy and liquid soil is weak and will settle or subside,. Then on refreezing it will expand or heave! This process wreaks havoc on the drivability of the road surface u undulation or cracking!
So we drove the first part of this section carefully and it is rough, and then got into the section of 40 odd km they are reconstructing behind a pilot vehicle, and the dust!.,? It will be great when finished but not much help now. And we have to return this way to get to Haines and the ferry . Oh well, car is still together. So oud day was long and we've set up the tent, showered , eat, at buckshot Betty's and met the lady, and now this and bed. The sun is still shining and not set yet it and it's 11 pm
Well the girls have just arrived from Skagway to here and they look rather tired. I'm off to bed too ..love. Neil

[Keith Clements]

Deleted

[Keith Clements]

Scott managed to get back into the USA without his passport but he has to do that twice more assuming they let him back into Canada.

Just had lunch which was the pizza left over from last night and some salad we bought.

Some views on the highway of distant snow capped mountains and miles of stunted pine trees because they try to grow in permafrost.

[Keith Clements]

Wifi service was abysmal till we arrived at our hotel in Fairbanks.

Just spent the morning visiting Santa at the North Pole and the afternoon at the Solstice Festival in Fairbanks where there was some great musicians playing Chick Corea jazz and Big Band music.

[Robin Fairservice]

Is there a USA Consul in Fairbanks who might be able to give Scott some temporary papers?

[Keith Clements]

Hi all, not quite sure where I got to last but here goes . It's Sunday the 16th day of our trip and the 19th June 2016.
From Prince George on Tuesday mng to Whitehorse Thursday evening we covered1625km (1017.5mls). In 3 days. I've covered the trip, but Friday mng we had to sort the spare tyre and weld the bott front right door hinge, the tyre took 3 shops to get done , the first said tubes not legal and required to fit 4 new tyres, Phhhhhht. Next would but earliest pm, the 3 rd obliging , did while we sorted hinge, welded at sheet metal place by woman welder . Excellent job! Refitted and out on road by 10.45am. That day was a hell of a ride. After we got to Haines Junction over the original alaska Hwy damaged by permafrost. I think I covered this . We made it to Beaver road about 5 pm, a slow dusty ride and rough! The girls arrived at mid nite from Scagway after a side trip. Camped. This time a shower!! Next day onto North Pole city(Alaska). Yes they've got one and Santa claus was the first Mayor for 19 years from the early 1950s . Mr Miller(alias Santa Claus) answered letters from children all over the world each year addressed to Santa c/o North Pole and his wife and family still do and run a thriving business. See photos. So we stayed at the RV park at North Pole and today Sunday have moved to Fairbanks after a quick service of javelin on Grass in the campground! Heaven for the knees.,
Tonite we are in luxury at the Bridgewater Hotel a short walk from the town centre as tonite they celebrate the Solstice (longest day thingy) tonite when the sun forgets to set!! It's not quite as astounding as it should be as rain (light) decided to visit today so we will see what eventuates. Pm we listened to two Jazz bands, very good and will return in an hour or so.

[Keith Clements]

Hello all, Saturday here, and we all had a sleep in at Beaver creek campsite after yesterday's bumpy trip. Had a leisurely pack up and breakfast and got away about 10.30. Today first thing We cross the border into USA again . No problems, and on we go to Tok the junction of the original. Alaska Hwy.

[Forumadmin]

More pics on the Google drive . See earlier link.
Off to the Arctic Circle today.

[Keith Clements]

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To the Arctic Circle today with luck. A difficult 200 miles....

[Robin Fairservice]

Congratulations to you all for a project equivalent to the "Wait & See" crossing of Africa!

[Keith Clements]

The road to the Arctic Circle was demanding with 100 miles of gravel that turned to mud on some stretches. We had to use the petrol in the can to make the Yukon River crossing where we refilled.

The water too added to the pleasure with light rain dampening the dust that then became heavier turning the dust into mud..

As we headed north the cloud started to break up and then sun shone . Still bright enough now to sunbathe at 10 pm.

Scott and I just walked back from visiting the plaque that marks the Circle from our camp ground just north of it.

Made a fire from collected wood and popped a bottle of champagne on arrival. Another is waiting for the midnight celebration.

We took pictures of the midnight sun had a bottle of rose champagne and then slept well.

The drive back was easier but we ran out of petrol 3 metres from the gas pump. That was because we back tracked a mile en route to find the others! So we had to push the car to the pump.

Just washed the car as it was caked with mud that contained calcium chloride that is used in the road building.

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[Keith Clements]

Now camping in Denali NP and off for an 11 hour bus ride tomorrow as no cars allowed into the depths of the wilderness .

Currently watching our clothes dry in the hot sunshine with a backdrop of snow capped peaks.

[Keith Clements]

ROBIN the difference to the Wait And See is that we have to drive back.

[Keith Clements]

Hi all, well the object of the trip was achieved on Monday pm and midnight. We drove on the Dalton Highway north from Fairbanks , the 156 miles to the Arctic circle with the sun at 5 pm about 40 deg up from the horizon, sank a bottle of champers between 6 of us, and after setting up camp on or just north of the line , settled down with the Mosquitos till midnight .
The road was a revelation after the permafrost problems on the main road, but as some 75% of the Dalton is gravel and it was wet from overnight rain, the dust was none, and the surface very good except in a couple of places of roadworks. We hit one spot just done Monday morning and it was soft and slidey and a bit scarey but by the time we returned all the big trucks had flattened it out to a good surface. The pipeline is something else, all $8 billion (1970 figures) of it. It's about 24" dia and 1/2" thick wall, with a 3" layer of insulation covered by galvanised flat iron cover. It goes from Prudoe bay on the north coast to Valdez on the south coast along from Anchorage.The huge tankers come in there . The scenery is different from further south, the pines called ridge pole pines are peculiar to north Alaska and Canada are more stunted up here and not a lot of much else in the open. And anyway the sun! On arriving , the sun was typical late afternoon but as we got nearer midnight it was just above the horizon and just after moved sideways in that position , and if we had stayed up it would've started to rise again! 20th of June is the solstice here when the sun doesn't set on the one day of the year. For some reason probably cos it was Sunday in Fairbanks they close the Main Street and have a long party, but this year it decided to drizzle and by 10pm people were starting to drift away home. So we had our own solstice party on a beautiful sunny evening around a fire , just 6 of us and the Mosquitos ! We were told they were big and hungry, they were right! Nets over hats socks tucked in , repellant on exposed bits , and they still get you.
Anyway we talked and snacked and sipped and at midnight got some photos of the sun , it was bright daylight. And went to bed with our mosquito nets. As we have for most of this trip!
Prior to arriving in Fairbanks we had left Beaver Creek and drove thro the border from Canada to USA again Scot ok now with his passport details on his phone, and thro Tok , Delta Junction and on to the North Pole . Yes there is a North Pole in Alaska , a city 12 miles south of Fairbanks, and yes Santa Claus (alias Mr Miller) lives here and replies to letters sent to him from all over the world! So there! I've mentioned this in another epistle I think. We stayed the nite in a camp ground here and next day went to visit Santa in his shop, but he was having a day off, even he has a day off, so we went on to our solstice party at Fairbanks , and the hotel for a change. A real bed, and shower , and no Mosquitos , heaven.
Now after a nite back in Fairbanks again , and a good meal at a Thai Restuarant, we travelled south to Denali National Park to see Mt Mackinley, North Americas highest mountain at 20320ft. Denali is the Indian name for the mountain and as they had been there a lot longer than Mr McKinley , that's what most people call it up here! It means "the big one". Bit cloudy today but tomorrow we have an 11 hr trip into the park so will maybe do some more. Internet at camp sites is a little hairy up here but I'll try .
Scott did a temp repair on front left shock top bush tonite as it was complaining after the trip north. Oh and I forgot to mention we had to wash both vehicles on returning as they were MUDDY like you wouldn't believe! Neil

[Keith Clements]

On arrival at Denali we had a knock from the front suspension which was a worn rubber in the upper shock absorber bush. This hopefully has been fixed with some copper shim.

Today we had a great if long day in the Denali wilderness seeing stunning scenery and wildlife and NO DRIVING.

Back on the road tomorrow making our way on the first of three stages to Haines. Probably end up in Wassila tomorrow.

May not now return to Europe...and wait till England becomes the 51st state.