Sport-Touring the Dalton Highway?

[MizzouRider]

Originally Posted by sarhog

Awesome! I watched the first 6 videos, the 7th said "not available for this platform". I've used an iPad for all.

I just watched the first six, and then had the same message for #7.. I'm on a iPad also..
Rick, these are fantastic videos. I've wanted to go to Alaska for years. We are heading up this summer. I'm already losing sleep think/dreaming about it. Your videos (at least the first six, only increase the anticipation!)

I noticed you seem to just cruise on over the metal grate and plank bridges, wet or dry. I've been over a few and had the same approach, but in many of the Alaska RRs, posters have discussed how challenging they are. Were they as "puckering" as described?

Thanks again for posting! Fantastic.
(Yep, I'll be almost 59, when we get to Deadhorse.. We're not getting any younger.)
Jeff

[eemsreno]

Rick
I’m on video 2 now, very good job, It brings back good memories . I have a slow internet connection so I do a lot of waiting for the video to load. Thanks for taking all the time to make videos like this. Steve

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by MizzouRider

I just watched the first six, and then had the same message for #7.. I'm on a iPad also..
Rick, these are fantastic videos. I've wanted to go to Alaska for years. We are heading up this summer. I'm already losing sleep think/dreaming about it. Your videos (at least the first six, only increase the anticipation!)

I noticed you seem to just cruise on over the metal grate and plank bridges, wet or dry. I've been over a few and had the same approach, but in many of the Alaska RRs, posters have discussed how challenging they are. Were they as "puckering" as described?

Jeff

No, not really... I never experienced any "wandering"on the steel grate bridges, especially compared to the slick mud. Somebody pointed out that I didn't do the "look-down" thing with the camera on the Mackinac Bridge.
I think that's because it was the first one I crossed that actually had traffic.
And the GoPro camera seems to exaggerate the speed a bit. I wasn't really going at normal highway speed on the wet ones.

I've looked at Part7 and I get the same message on the iPad, but it works fine on the PC.

When I uploaded the videos, I got some YouTube warnings on Part1 and Part4: "Your video may include music that is owned by a third party."
But Part7 has a comment that says "Video blocked in some countries".
I guess it has something to do with the way Apple filters that stuff.

Anyway, I was just too lazy to go back and remove all the music and start uploading again...

[vfrpilot]

I just finished watching all 7 videos. There is only one word for my take on them.... "ÄWESOME!"
We're leaving in June. Can't wait!

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by duckman44

Sorry but did you say what helmet camera you used. I am about to pull the trigger for a Go Pro and want to know if that is what you used.

Thanks for keeping me pumped up about my future adventure!

Yes, I used a GoPro HD Hero2 for all the riding video, and an iPhone for some of the stationary bits.
I just got a Wi-Fi BacPac for Christmas, which is awesome: with a free app, I can see the video preview before shooting, and I can change all the camera settings with a touchscreen instead of the 2-button dance on the camera.

Unfortunately, The camera + the WiFi BacPac + the extended housing is a brick when attached to a helmet.
I now have it on eBay, and will be looking at the new Hero3 with a smaller, lighter frame, and built-in WiFi.

BTW... When I left home, I had the camera mounted to the side-bar of the bike as in the first 10 seconds of the actual film. That nearly destoyed the camera with vibration.
When I realized the housing was gouging the camera, I removed the camera and left the empty housing attached to the bar. After reaching South Dakota, I looked down and found that the empty housing had broken off somewhere in the previous 6 states.

If I had left the camera in the housing, there woudn't even be a video from this trip!
I stopped in Prince George, BC and bought a new housing. That's why there is no GoPro footage from the western states on this trip.

[nick949eldo]

Rick,

I'll join the chorus of praise for your great trip, excellent riding skill and fabulous videos. Inspirational. Like others, I agree that your terse overlay commentary and subtle mix of video and stills with non-intrusive music makes for a great package. I'll be stealing a few of your tricks myself.

I've now vibrated two GoPro mounts to death. Sadly they just aren't as good as the rest of the camera setup.

Happy riding

Nick

[findlj]

Rick - congrats on one great RR! I'm 56 and just retired and planning a very similar trip. Your videos and report are really informative and motivating. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Can't wait to take my Tiger up there.

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by nick949eldo

Rick,

I'll join the chorus of praise for your great trip, excellent riding skill and fabulous videos. Inspirational. Like others, I agree that your terse overlay commentary and subtle mix of video and stills with non-intrusive music makes for a great package. I'll be stealing a few of your tricks myself.

I've now vibrated two GoPro mounts to death. Sadly they just aren't as good as the rest of the camera setup.

Happy riding

Nick

Thanks, Nick!
I see that you've done the Trans-Labrador Highway. That's on my short list - I've gone as far as the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton, but didn't have time to do Newfoundland and Labrador. If I head back up that way again, I'd like to do the TL-HWY.

I think when I was looking into it a couple of years ago, there wasn't yet a road all the way from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Blanc-Sablon. So that's been completed now?

[nick949eldo]

Originally Posted by rick3foxes

Thanks, Nick!
I see that you've done the Trans-Labrador Highway. That's on my short list - I've gone as far as the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton, but didn't have time to do Newfoundland and Labrador. If I head back up that way again, I'd like to do the TL-HWY.

I think when I was looking into it a couple of years ago, there wasn't yet a road all the way from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Blanc-Sablon. So that's been completed now?

Rick,
Its a through route now, and the section from Happy Valley to the Labrador coast is the best part of all IMHO, although 389 from Baie Comeau north to Labrador City is very pleasant - typical Canadian Shield 'rocks, trees and water'. They are paving the TLH like crazy, but there is still plenty of the gravel that you love so much and nothing that's a patch on what you rode of the Dalton.

Compared to the mountains of the west, the scenery is - well, an acquired taste. I love the endless muskeg and the stunted spruce forest, and even the inevitable blackflies are part of its character, but its not for everyone. There is a huge push to develop Muskrat Falls, near Happy Valley for Hydro power, so you could set yourself an agenda to see it before its ruined. I saw the Rupert River (James Bay Road) http://www.rupertriver.com/ before its flow was diverted, and am darn glad I did.

I wouldn't bother trading the Connie for a GS or a KLR. With your skill and experience, you'd be just fine.

All the best

Nick

[solorider40]

Rick,

That is one of the best video ride reports I have watched so far! You have inspired me. I still have kids in school, but in a couple of years I'll have the time to be able to take some long trips. Alaska is one of my destinations. Great job and hope to see some more ride reports from ya.

[InDenial]

I appreciate all the work you put into the editing and posting. You have just set the new "standard"!!! I'll be on those roads this summer and your post sure helps. Thanks,

[1marka]

I just want to chime in with everybody else to say thanks for taking the time to edit all the video and posting it. It is truly inspirational.

[dnorton]

Rick,

Great ride, good job on the video. Really enjoyed it.

Where to next?

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by dnorton

Rick,

Great ride, good job on the video. Really enjoyed it.

Where to next?

Thanks! Glad you liked it.
I have two trips on my list - the southwestern states/Pacific Coast, and Newfoundland/Labrador.
Hope to do one of them in 2014.

[dnorton]

The Alps are fun, I highly recommend it.

Question that I suspect Alcan Rider can answer. The Prudhoe Bay Hotel, was that the old Western Geophysical facility in a previous life? That building looks strangely familiar....

I noticed a bunch of nodwells and vibrator trucks in the video, but they aren't parked in a place that looked familiar.

------I worked up there in the early 80s for Western Geophysical-----