As north as north gets in North America

---

---

We have ridden around 1,000 miles north from Anchorage to Deadhorse, Alaska, chiefly to go for a skinny dip in the Arctic Ocean. Deadhorse is the most northerly settlement of Alaska reachable by land transport. The 400 mile dirt road that runs up here only exists to service the huge Prudhoe Bay oil exploration area, and the pipeline that runs south to Valdez.

On the way, we crossed into the Arctic Circle, ie into latitudes where the sun doesn't set during the summer time.

We are staying in what is basically a portakabin in a giant oil terminal at the end of the world, but it's very hospitable indeed. Hairy oil workers are asking us about the bikes and the trip, and are impressed by the scale of our ride. Glad I've had my haircut, though.

So, this is where it really starts, and it's obviously downhill all the way from here to Ushuia, so no major problems expected.

Pip pip!

---

Photos

A very long pipe
800 miles of this from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez through mountains and permafrost - a major engineering achievement

Land of the midnight sun
Although that's way past our bedtime, so we'll just have to trust them on that one.

A long and dirty road
400 miles of dirt road up to the Arctic Ocean. Note bike up ahead for perspective...

End of the line
The Americans really are jolly good at coming up with pithy and evocative place names, no?

Check out the wildlife
British motorcyclists remove clothes and jump into the murky grey waters of the Arctic - in the middle of a giant oil refinery. Of course.

Comments

[anonymous]

Nice Bum!! Is it Ginger???

[Chuck]

Bums
Naked hairy bikers all swimming together. And it's just the start of the trip. Whatever next?

[Alison]

Thanks for piccies. That Alaskan wildlife looks scary! Christine - did you join them?!! Last time I did something like that with motorcycle buddies was on Brighton beach - the Arctic waters look a damn sight better (although perhaps a touch colder I expect!)

[susan]

Hi you two, Looks like you are having a great time. Not sure about the skinny dipping though! Chris I couldn't see you!! Must be really strange with it being daylight all day. Looking forward to the next blog. Take care. Susan xx

[Lisa]

That's determination (or leathers?)!
I feel excited to be seeing a bit of what you are - thanks for taking us all with you on your travels : ) It's comforting to hear of a warm welcome in the bleakest of spots. Look forward to the next blog. Love to you both, Lisa xx

[richard]

This blog stinks
Theirs no fishnets, leather micro skirts and all the pictures of nude people is bloke. And what happen to pointy german hat.

[John]

from Quayside
Yes, yes. This is all very well. But what we want is a thousand words on the subject "the day that Dad and I threw everybody's stuff away at Cowes." PS. Good ol' Oniony.

[Sophia Robb]

Check out the technical pants!
At last! The famed technical pants! Guns last time around, bare assed-cheeks this time. It is all getting quite Deliverance. Brilliant to hear your news and see some of the sights that you are enjoying along the way. As promised (here's the boring bit for those not from Dorking), here's your update on the incident (The Incident or THE INCIDENT if you are a Dorking policeman). Sadly, the old chap died a few days later; the driver had not legged it, but was a young kid who was beside himself at it all and was being consoled in Carphone Warehouse while Dorking's finest screamed around playing Z Cars. All very sad. Oh, and it's raining here. And Slough still sucks. Love Sophia x