Wednesday June 30th, Tok, Alaska
190 Miles
BUGGAR!!!!
Today has had a few dramas, but we are all sorted now and finally in Alaska.
It was a bit overcast this morning when we left Dawson City. With rain threatening, we didn’t waste time as we were traveling over the Top of the World Highway to Chicken in Alaska, a journey of 110 miles. This road is unsealed and can cause a number of issues when it rains…it becomes impassable. It is closed for about 7 months of the year. The first part to the border was great, good wide roads, well graded and few potholes. The road had vast views, it followed the top of the ridges and in all directions all you could see were tree covered hills.
The border with Alaska,was at the highest point, about 4500 feet. By then we were in the clouds, and could hardly see the Border Post…must be one of the most dismal checkpoints.
Once we entered the states the road deteriorated to a red mud surface full of potholes. It was really grim.
We slowed the pace to less than 20 mph for much of the time. and were going quite well until about 10 miles from Chicken the tire monitor system that Ian had spent so long getting organized, paid for itself many times over by alerting us that the front right was going down……FAST. Luckily by then the road had dried out, and we were in a good place where we were visible from both directions. Sure enough when we got out, there was a hissing sound and a big stone was wedged into the tred.
Out came the jack and in no time Ian had it in place and the wheel off. Then came the problem, the new spare tire that we had organized in Missoula wouldn’t go on. The rim that was supposed to fit our truck was Chinese made and it didn’t quite line up! No way would it go on. Several cars passed us by without a sideways glance, then along came the Samaritans, Richard and Martha who were traveling in a rented RV. Their spare wheel fitted Ruakiwi so before long we had it on and were on the road again. We needed to get ours fixed so that they could have theirs back but the garage in Chicken didn’t do repairs. So after a lunch stop with Richard and Martha we continued on the 80 miles to Tok, a town on the Alaskan Highway which was where they were headed.
Stopped at an “interesting” looking service shop and within 45 mins we had our tire repaired and were able to return Richard’s spare. Now we will have to buy another rim for the tire when we get to Fairbanks. It is so wonderful to have people like them who just couldn’t do enough for us, we are forever grateful.
Spotted a car wash and Ruakiwi was badly in need of a good clean. Every orifice that we could find was shampooed and rinsed off.
Now we are ready to start on the Alaskan part of the journey.
Today has had a few dramas, but we are all sorted now and finally in Alaska.
It was a bit overcast this morning when we left Dawson City. With rain threatening, we didn’t waste time as we were traveling over the Top of the World Highway to Chicken in Alaska, a journey of 110 miles. This road is unsealed and can cause a number of issues when it rains…it becomes impassable. It is closed for about 7 months of the year. The first part to the border was great, good wide roads, well graded and few potholes. The road had vast views, it followed the top of the ridges and in all directions all you could see were tree covered hills.
Once we entered the states the road deteriorated to a red mud surface full of potholes. It was really grim.
Out came the jack and in no time Ian had it in place and the wheel off. Then came the problem, the new spare tire that we had organized in Missoula wouldn’t go on. The rim that was supposed to fit our truck was Chinese made and it didn’t quite line up! No way would it go on. Several cars passed us by without a sideways glance, then along came the Samaritans, Richard and Martha who were traveling in a rented RV. Their spare wheel fitted Ruakiwi so before long we had it on and were on the road again. We needed to get ours fixed so that they could have theirs back but the garage in Chicken didn’t do repairs. So after a lunch stop with Richard and Martha we continued on the 80 miles to Tok, a town on the Alaskan Highway which was where they were headed.
Stopped at an “interesting” looking service shop and within 45 mins we had our tire repaired and were able to return Richard’s spare. Now we will have to buy another rim for the tire when we get to Fairbanks. It is so wonderful to have people like them who just couldn’t do enough for us, we are forever grateful.
Spotted a car wash and Ruakiwi was badly in need of a good clean. Every orifice that we could find was shampooed and rinsed off.Now we are ready to start on the Alaskan part of the journey.
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