Holed up in Anchorage!

I arrived in one piece in Anchorage on Sunday. I wish I could say the same about my luggage!Apparently it was reluctant to leave the safety of Frankfurt Airport. Lufthansa assure me it is winging its way to me as I write this update and all being well it should be with me in about 5 hours - this is good news for many reasons. 1. I can`t start my trip without my riding gear 2. I have now worn my underpants back to front and inside out and am running out of options. The weather was beautiful and sunny when I arrived 2 days ago and now a wet and windy front has settled and could be around for the week, which should make the infamous Dalton Highway (450 miles of dirt road)an interesting experience. While acclimatising and getting over jetlag, I thought it mandatory to explore and experience all things Alaskan. So far my dining requirements have been totally taken care of by one "authentic" Alaskan eaterie:- All I can say is, this is not a place to diet! Good wholesome food (and obviously plenty of it)and the smallest beer they serve is a pint! Made the mistake of ordering BBQ pork ribs and got a plate big enough to feed a small army - unfortunately, I became that small army and am not so small anymore. If my gear doesn`t arrive soon, I may be too big to get into it. Yesterday was taken up by getting my bike released from US customs and FedEx - reams of forms and paperwork (my all time favourites). Eventually got it all stamped took it back to the FedEx depot and was asked if I had brought any tools to dismantle the crate! I gazed at the ceiling whistling in true Homer Simpson style (why would I bring tools with me???)Doh! She escorted me through more security where we liberated a huge claw hammer and wire cutters from the high security FedEx toolbox and I set off following her as she drove my precious cargo on a forklift truck to a safe place 600 yards from the depot(security apparently, didn`t want me running amok on my dangerous goods in their depot). She finally deposited my crate in a "safe" carpark and left me to it. In no time at all I had hacked my way through the crate and freed my wheels:-



Lufthansa permitting, I set off early tomorrow for the first stage - 360 miles North to Fairbanks.