2013 Travel Story 2/5

24 February

Unfortunately I had to give up on the first attempt. The sledge, fuel and all the luggage were far too heavy to pull. To get less weight I have send 80kg/200lbs by air to Nuiqsut, the first town where I can get off the ice and can go on the road system. Plan was to have a fresh start today. A severe weather alert caused another delay. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon I can go on my way.

26 February

Every day there is something new that is withholding Sjaak from leaving Barrow and getting on the polar ice. After bad weather before, it was a coolant leak yesterday and today the generator which is necessary to preheat the bike failed due to dirt in the fuel system.

3 March, 4 March

Yesterday the oil filter got so much pressure that it deformed and lost one litre of oil at once, before I could turn off the engine.
Another delay…

The deformed oil filter.

9 March

Dear Polar Ice Ride Adventure followers.
Finally the moment of leaving the Top of the World is in sight.
The wind which blows the snow over the ice will soon go down. This same wind brought movement in the ice on the west coast of Barrow and what was a thick layer of ice before, turned into open water over night. But I go to the east, together with Lioyd, a guide which I hired to escort me with his snow machine. Apart from bringing safety he could also tow my sled if necessary. This way I can spare my motorcycle which can barely pull the heavy load.
As soon as Lioyd gives the okay we leave from the Top of the World.
Will it happen this time?
Until…
Sjaak

10 March

Satellite phone message:
Covered 47mi / 77km in bird’s-eye view on the ice, today.
Final 6mi / 10km very difficult, took hours.
Coordinates of the spot where we sleep N71.01.938 W154.39.281

Good to know...

11 March

Satellite phone message:
Had to replace oil filter again.
Still rode 24mi / 40km today.
Snow has hardened a bit now, but it’s a struggle.
Fell once today.
Front part of the R1 is now in tent to keep the engine 'warm'.
Overnight stop at: N70.53.078 W153.35.345

12 March

Satellite phone message:
Covered 39 mi / 63 km in bird’s-eye view today.
Fell once.
Via the Harrison Bay we're heading for Nuiqsut.
Hope to reach it tomorrow.
Overnight stop at N70.35.522 W152.06.290

13 March

Satellite phone message:
EXTREMELY HAPPY!
We made it to Nuiqsut!
But it was a struggle, fell twice and I am totally exhausted!
It is -27.4°F / -33°C as we go to sleep now.
Hope to get the axle for the sled and my other stuff tomorrow, so I can continue my trip on land!

17 March

Today Sjaak put the sled on wheels behind the R1 and rode from Nuiqsut to Deadhorse.
Everything went okay!
Spontaneously he got invited at the MagTec Camp to stay overnight.
Tomorrow he will head south and if all goes well, cross the Attigun Pass.

18 March

This morning I left Deadhorse, I was only just on the Dalton Highway when the sled pulled my bike to the right. Flat tire on the sled, I thought, but it turned out that the weld on the axle of the castor was broken, so that wheel was sitting crooked. Camp/HSE manager, Todd of the Deadhorse Magtec Camp told me that I could always call if anything was the matter.
So I did, and he took the sled back to his camp on a trailer.
Now everything is ready for the next attempt!

.....

On the Dalton Highway...
At the foot of the Atigun Pass, it looks peaceful but it was hell on this side of the pass.
Strong wind and a temperature of -27ºC / -16,6F.

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