Alaska winter 2009 Videos

R1-Sjaak about his travelling companion Doris Wiedemann, the plans and the preparations.

31 December 2008, the moment supreme. Sjaak leaves the Netherlands by train and celebrates New Year in Frankfurt, Germany. On the very first day of 2009 a plane takes them from there to New York. In a warehouse they trace the crate made by Meilink containing the bikes, which was shipped by MOL-Logistics. Did the bikes survive the long sea journey?

Even globetrotters can’t get away from a visit to the Statue of Liberty…

After a visit to a very special McDonald's they sent their winter gear to Touratech Seattle, because they will only need that from there. Then, the longed for moment is there: they can set out!

On their way south the couple arrives in Virginia. People cannot understand their goal is Alaska in winter.

Sjaak and Doris settle down in Danville at Triangle Cycles. Owner Rusty let Sjaak do some maintenance during his R1 world tour. They are extended a hearty welcome and receive all help in making the bikes ready to set out, something they didn’t finish at home due to a lack of time. They get shelter and a good meal, therefore THANKS.

At Triangle Cycles they do some final odd jobs and then it’s off to Florida. During the whole trip Doris places photos on her website. The Geotate system shows exactly where they are taken.

Heading southbound Sjaak and Doris arrive in Florida. They are not prepared to the temperature of 86°F/30°C over there, but that will change soon. First, they put on stickers before the trip officially will start.

Arrived in Key West, Florida, they put on some more stickers. Then it is off to the southernmost point of the USA where the challenge officially starts.

From here on the “Search for the extreme” is a fact.

Because of the tight schedule they speed up. Still, there is time for the cuddly toys along the waterside in the Everglades.

They cross the United States from east to west over long straight roads.

Sjaak and Doris visit Taylor in Phoenix. Sjaak got to know this motor bike rider during his R1 world tour. As a former resident of Alaska, Taylor experienced the extreme weather conditions there and can inform them very well.

It is not always nice weather at the Grand Canyon, but that has its charms too.

At the parking lot of their lodge the adventurers encounter a trailer of Rokons. The owner explains what kind of two-wheeler these are. After that the trip goes over the Isabella Walker Pass in California.

Sjaak and Doris are guests of Dave Barr and his wife Susan in Bodfish, California. Due to an anti-tank mine explosion on 29 August 1981 Dave lost his right leg. The left had to be amputated just above the knee. For the most of us that would mean the end of an adventurous future, but not for Dave. Approximately nine years after that horrible day he started a world tour which lasted for 3 and a half year. For that he used his own 1972 Harley, a choice that didn’t make it real easier for him. An impressive meeting!

Dave shows how it is living with two artificial legs. Already for years Sjaak has great respect for the incredible achievement and the perseverance of Dave. Hearing his story in person strengthens this even more!

Ted Simon rounded the earth in the seventies on a Triumph. Reading his book Jupiter’s Travels increased Sjaak’s urge to travel and ever since he hopes to once meet Ted. Finally that moment is there.

A glimpse at the editing room of Reismotor where Marcus and Ripko take care of the latest footage and place it on the internet to share the adventure almost live with everyone. Their particular effort deserves a particular space for the Reismotor sticker.

330ft/100m Tall Sequoias. Doris disappears bike and all in such a coastal mammoth tree.

That they’ll have to camp in the extreme cold is quite certain. Therefore they carry Carinthia sleeping bags which in combination with Carinthia clothing should keep them warm while sleeping in their Hilleberg tent at -40°F/-40°C.

At Touratech in Seattle, whereto they earlier sent their polar gear, Doris and Sjaak can prepare their bikes for the wintry conditions. Also, a possible problem with the R1 subframe is solved. Beforehand this was strengthened by Van der Woudentechniek but due to the many luggage the trunks rock too much. The solution …

During their stop at Touratech USA they visit BMW South Side. Here Doris’ bike gets provided with special Putoline snowmobile oil and suitable coolant for the expected temperatures. Meanwhile the R1 gets original tires on which Reifen Immler vulcanized a snow profile!

How a golf ball turns into a tool for screwing spikes in the tires and the mounting of switches for electric heated clothing from Klan. They have to think about everything. So, extra thin oil is poured in the OSCO chain oil system and they fabricate whatever necessary.

Doris shows which preparations her BMW went through before she starts the extreme part of the challenge. She meets Helge Pedersen who assembles a small tube into her Arai helmet to prevent the visor from freezing.

After a meeting with world traveller Helge Pedersen they swop the USA for Canada, where snow awaits them.

The first real snow appears. Time to place the Best Grip spikes. In order to prevent flat inner tubes they use on advice of former ice speedway racer Roelof Thijs pieces of fire hose. During Sjaak’s earlier winter adventures this turned out to be very effectually.

At temperatures below -4°F/-20°C an ordinary battery doesn’t do the job anymore. Therefore the extra Odyssey batteries (which were indispensable) were connected to the electric circuit. Besides the 0.126in/3,2mm spikes, spikes of 0.3in/7,5mm are screwed in because of a thick layer of snow on the Alaska Highway.

Fantastic sunsets, buffalos and super-fast passing trucks. Sjaak and Doris arrive at the famous Sign Post Forest. This forest of signs has its origin in WWII, when a soldier during construction of the Alaska Highway got homesick and placed a sign of his hometown.

It is nice to be able to put both feet on the surface while riding. Therefore, Doris lowers her BMW a bit. Special Hyperpro springs make it possible to decrease the height 4.3in/11cm at the back and 2.4in/6cm in the front.

A flat tire for Doris or heavy snow, it cannot keep them from reaching the border.

Over snow and ice roads Sjaak and Doris reach the city of Fairbanks, where they get invited by Kevin & Any to stay in their home. Here they make final preparations to cover the extreme part to the north. There is also time for an outing to the World Ice Art Championships where they even come across a Dutch team.

The results of the sculptors at the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska.

A winding Dalton Highway follows the Alaska pipeline.
A bridge leads the adventurers to the frozen Yukon River and a pause at the polar circle is a nice moment to break into the spare fuel.

While riding through the serene landscape the duo passes the dangerous Attican Pass where many accidents happen.

After a heavy and very challenging trip over more than 10,000mi/16.000km Sjaak and Doris have arrived in Deadhorse. The last bit to the Arctic Ocean is restricted area due to the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay. Thanks to Gary of Cruz Construction, they get a very rarely permission, but in a car and under escort, to cover the final 8mi/13km.
Here ends the wonderful Alaskan adventure!