{"id":2997,"date":"2018-07-02T20:00:33","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T00:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ziaei.com\/ride\/?p=2997"},"modified":"2018-09-01T19:04:23","modified_gmt":"2018-09-01T23:04:23","slug":"alaska-2018-day-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ziaei.com\/ride\/alaska-2018-day-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaska 2018, Day 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

James Dalton Highway aka the haul road<\/a>, is 666km\/414mile isolated road of dirt, gravel, pot holes and occasional pavement.\u00a0 starting north of Fairbanks, crosses arctic circle and ends at deadhorse by arctic ocean.\u00a0 It is one of the popular destinations for adventure riders.<\/p>\n

I was told, the condition of the road up to arctic circle is ok, so I decided to give it a try.<\/p>\n

But first it’s time for some maintenance and oil change.\u00a0 I heard from other riders that at Walmart in Fairbanks you can borrow an oil pan to do your oil change, so I went.\u00a0 For the first time, I did my oil change for free on the road! using my custom made funnel to avoid mess in the skid plate and under the bike.
\n\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then I went for rear tire change to Dan Armstrong which does motorcycle service from his garage at home 24\/7, so I would have a better tire for the dirt and gravel road ahead.\u00a0 \u00a0But Dan assured me that my tire is just fine to go to arctic circle and back and I can change it after, so I went.<\/p>\n

130km later, the Dalton Highway starts and like every other motorcyclist I need a photo with the famous sign.
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Just few kilometers further, a nicer new sign with better access.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s a long and lonely road with occasional truckers, motorcyclists and sometimes RVs passing by.
\n\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The road crosses Yukon River.\u00a0 In 1974 a bridge was built over the river to replace furry crossing.
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Right after the bridge, there is the first camp and gas station.\u00a0 You have to leave the payment or id card inside first, then put gas, take a picture from gas pump with your cellphone and take it inside to show the amount to pay, and gas is not cheap here considering a big oil pipeline carrying a lot of crude oil is just few hundred meters away.
\n\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After chatting with other riders and a little rest, back on the road.\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Seems they ran out of name for this creek! “No Name Creek”\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The oil pipeline continues beside the road and is the only company along the road.
\n\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a>
\n