Deadhorse... and return?

Getting to Deadhorse was the most challenging motorbike riding I've ever done, taxing my personal riding skills, physical stamina (wind, rain, temperatures), and the capabilities of the bike itself, in that order.

Though the sport bike is said not to be the first choice for such roads, my Yamaha FZ6, rolling thru the almost endless mud on Continental Road Attack 2 tires, never missed a beat.

I was elated and relieved to reach Deadhorse. I did not crash or have a mechanical or tire problem. But now I realize that I am only halfway done; another 500 miles of Haul Road await me on the drive back to Fairbanks.

Wiseman overnight: Lorna's green house, her husband "Clutch's" mining junk, er, equipment museum, and our bikes under cover.

"My" cabin

David's tent and all our bikes

Clutch's mining equipment

No grid here! Only wind, solar panels and generators, microwave tower com link for telephone.

Bas with Lorna's lap dog Sammy sitting in a barber chair in Lorna's house

The pipeline goes underground in some places

Mudfest over the Brooks Range

Low visibility in rain and fog over Atigun Pass

Self portrait. After about 7 hours in the rain, my "extreme weather" waterproof jacket was not

Dripping down onto the north slope from the Brooks Range

Soupy!

Bas with his helmet cam

Dorus batting mosquitos!

Three Spacemen: Dorus, Bas and me. Looks like we're waving at the camera but really we're waving at the mosquitoes!

One of many lakes near the Arctic Ocean

Made it!

Closest thing to sun I've seen in days, and I had to come to the Arctic to see it! The rain finally stopped about 10 miles from Deadhorse.

I am so ready to be in the hotel and get warm! The last 60 miles across the arctic tundra with strong winds, overcast and rain was really cold. I had the vest cranked up to High and don't know if I would have made it without.

these big grey steel doors guard the sanctity of the hotel from the mud room...

Beware of the Bootie Nazis!

This is the INSIDE of my helmet. The haul trucks (18 wheelers) were going at least 50 mph even in the rain and mud & generated a huge, intense cloud of brown spray, which, despite hunkering down behind my windscreen, was unavoidable and rendered visibility near zero for a few moments. Only thing to do was to hold my line and wipe my face shield until visibility returned. I had to stop several times because the mud was running down the inside of my shield.

Wet stuff from in my waterproof jacket pockets.