Day 11 • Fairbanks to Fairbanks • 407 mi

The Dalton.

In a way, it's the reason I'm here. While reading motorcycle tales, tall or true, I came across references to a mystical highway in Alaska—415 miles long, and the full list of what's on it is: 2 fuel stops. Running from Livengood (No Services) to Deadhorse at Prudhoe Bay in the Arctic Ocean, the highway runs about halfway up Alaska along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Also known as the Haul Road, Alaska Hwy 11, or "the one from Ice Road Truckers", it's a pilgrimage for motorcyclists.

A unholy combination of pavement, gravel, dirt, or any combination of the three, it's a tough road to ride. Huge trucks supporting oil operations rule the road, and tend not to cater to bikes. Potholes, furrows, loose gravel, and "road damage" are everywhere, demanding constant presence and attention.

I wasn't able to do the whole highway this trip. Despite riding 12 hours today (9+ in the saddle) and making it past the taiga to the tundra, l pushed back to Fairbanks for the evening.

There's always another bend in the road to ride.

But in the end, I reached where I wanted to be.

Total mileage: 407 mi
Trip mileage: 1293 mi