Alaska Highway

For the last few days we have driven 980km east and south along the Alaska Highway, built just after the attacks on Pearl Harbour to secure road access to the North Pacific in order to defend the US against a possible invasion from the Japanese.

There are very few cars on the road. Trucks, RVs and motorcycles make up the majority of the traffic. 

Most of the bikes are adventure  bikes; BMW GS1200s, Africa Twins and those ugly  Harley Adventures are the most common. Most of the good old boys from the lower 48 are heading to Alaska (Canada is considered a long, rather inconvenient transit). Most of the Canadians are heading for Tuktoyatuk on the Arctic Ocean, along the now legendary Dempster Highway. This seems to be the Canadian adventure riders holy grail. Either route would be epic.

The American recreational vehicles are worthy of their own story, to be told some other time perhaps. Suffice to say that the old adage 'the bigger the better' is clearly the philosophy practiced here. Rigs the size of greyhound buses, towing full size 4wds (usually Jeeps) and with a GS1250 tied to the back of the bus are all the rage. They transport 2 tiny grey nomads from A to B. Typically Pop is dressed in smart slacks, polo shirt and yahtie shoes while Ma is nowhere to be seen, totally enveloped in the huge wrap around leather lounge in front of the big screen TV.