9 February 2013
The first ride in Barrow was a bit unaccustomed but went okay.
Luckily the ice north of Barrow is flat!
The first cold start will be tomorrow.

12 February 2013
The first test ride with the sledge after a very successful cold start at -32ºC.
Tomorrow Sjaak’s plan is to ride to the ice, take the wheels off the sledge and do a test run.
A few more preparations need to be done and then the adventure will start!!!

13 February 2013
Yesterday, Sjaak got to see the polar ice at the point from where he’ll start the ride.
When he got there it was too late to take the wheels of the sledge and try it.
Because some very friendly locals who are helping him had a four wheel drive with them to pull him out if necessary, he went on the ice with the wheels on.
The wheels of the sledge where digging in the deep snow and got stuck a few times.
But it went much better than he had hoped for.

It looks very promising.
The R1 had no problems at all riding the terrain.
The big wheels rolled straight over it.

Today the plan was to tow the sledge to Point Barrow.
Due to ice in the fuel system and a coolant leak this is set to tomorrow.

18 February 2013
First test with the sledge on the polar ice north of Barrow.
When Sjaak turns the bike the sledge wants to go in a straight line.
It resulted in hitting the ice/snow a few times. That’s why he is going to use a long rope between the R1 and the sledge during the Polar Ice Ride.

19 February 2013
Today the adventure from the northernmost point of continental USA to the southernmost point started at Point Barrow.
To get there Sjaak had to adapt the bike and the sledge to the climate and ice conditions. This was only possible thanks to his new friends who live here and who know this environment.
Clifford, Nelson, Michael, Jacob, Charles and others, thank you guys!

(photo by Michael Donovan)