Fairbanks

Now my thoughts were turning to the bike.

I've never abused a vehicle quite like what I've done to this bike for the past 3 days, and it was showing.

Remember - this is a sport-touring bike, not an adventure bike, and I had been pounding it through cobblestone/gravel/dirt/mud like it was a dirt bike.

Now it was time for an oil change and some TLC. And I found the perfect place for all that.

On internet forums and emails, I had learned about about fellow rider Dan Armstrong, his son Shawn,  and his business Adventure Cycleworks in Fairbanks.

I called him when I enterd Fairbanks, and got directions to his place. But I knew I couldn't take this bike to a mechanic with the amount of mud that was covering it.

The front of the fairing had accumulated dried mud until it almost touched the front fender.

I knew the oil drain plug wouldn't even show up as a little bump in the mud.

So I asked Dan where I could take the bike to run it through a pressure wash before coming in for an oil change.

He said "I have a pressure washer", and that took care of that!

When I showed up, he had it ready and went to work.

This was no ordinary bike shop.

Dan practically adopted the bike the moment he saw it, and treated it like his own.

After several minutes he stopped and said, "OK - the right side of the front wheel is clean!"

He must have washed the bike for 30 minutes while I watched.

Top, bottom, luggage, under the fenders, windshield, etc. etc.

Half of the Dalton highway was now draining across his driveway.  :-)

Then he put the bike up on the hydraulic lift and changed the oil & filter.

We also managed to fix the loose turn signal, loose driving light, missing screws from the license plate light...

Tomorrow, I'll try to find domething at the hardware store to replace the missing left footpeg rubber.

BTW - after more than 6,000 miles so far, it wasn't a bit low on oil.

After the oil was changed, we stood and talked while a big hailstorm blew through. I was glad to have chosen a perfect time to be in the garage having maintenance done!!

Dan Armstrong

Adventure Cycleworks

907-457-4259

362 Snowy Owl Lane

Fairbanks, AK 99712

http://www.advcycleworks.com/

Now that the bike was restored to working order, It was my turn.

I needed some "shower time" and "laundry time".

Dan recommended that I try the University of Alaska, and I had read of others staying there.

When school is out for the summer break, they rent the dorm rooms to travelers.

And look at the nice welcome - covered parking!

So that's where I am now.

The rooms are great, there's a bathroom with showers down the hall, and a laundry room one floor up from me. No fancy stuff like a phone/TV/mirror, etc.

Just the basics.

And the pizza guy delivers here.

Life is good.