Follow the bikers of Going South on their adventures though the Americas.
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Alex Godfrey, United Kingdom
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Andrew Finlay, United Kingdom
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Åsa Brandhill, Sweden
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Javier Godar, Spain
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deepeei crew, The Netherlands Amsterdam HQ
Viewing entries tagged with 'alex'
Turning South
Posted by Alex on 21 September 2009
Finally heading south, our spirits lifted, even with the incessant rain. The road had changed however, we were no longer on a broad highway extending out of sight on the horizon, the Cassiar Highway was much narrower with no shoulder, winding around and over innumerable hills bordered closely be thick forest. We were also to undergo a kind of initiation right, 25 km of thick and muddy gravel, which brought back traumatic memories of the our first section up on the Dalton highway in Northern Alaska.
After 80km of rain and no views, we were wondering what all the hype was about on this highway, reputedly one of the most stunning rides in Canada… Patience is a virtue. Arriving at Boya lake, we immediately understood, turquoise lakes and stunning mountains appeared seemingly out of nowhere and just got more impressive rounding each bend.
Needless to say the 400km were absolutely stunning, not knowing where to look and how to take it all in, it was awe inspiring. Cycling through this scenery is really the best way to take it all in and appreciate the most. Nevertheless, we still felt the urge to snap away constantly trying to capture the sights, knowing all along that no photo could do the slightest justice to this spectacle. It was worth a try.
3 comments. Tags: Alex, Cassiar. Location: Nanoose Bay, BC, Canada
Whitehorse to Junction 37
Posted by Alex on 15 September 2009
As we cycled out of Whitehorse and out of civilisation again two weeks ago, we knew that we had to cover another 400km going directly East before we could turn down onto the Cassiar Highway and start getting closer to Panama. The road was good however and the hills not too long or steep, so it was only to be expected that the rain should start falling halfway through the first day. Spirits still high from our last few days sitting in coffee shops and feeling a part of the modern world again, as we plodded on through what seemed to be interminable forest stretching out as far as we could see.
3 comments. Tags: Junction 37, alex. Location: Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
Tok To Whitehorse
Posted by Alex on 3 September 2009
Entering Canada was for us a real milestone, we could finally tick one of the states off and change country, even though we are returning to the US in less than month. Along with arriving in Canada came a feeling of true remoteness. The State of Yukon has a population of 30,000 people, 23,000 of which live in Whitehorse.
5 comments. Tags: Kluane, Grizzly, Lynx, alex. Location: Whitehorse,YT, Canada
Valdez to Tok
Posted by Alex on 1 September 2009
Arriving in Valdez late on a rainy evening, we were extremely happy to find that a new friend that we had made on the ferry ride had an available spot in their camping allotment. This spared us the need to hunt for a camping spot late at night. It rained all night, but by nine the next morning, after we had packed our soggy tents, the sun slowly started to break through the low lying cloud and mist. From here, we were to head North through the Keystone Canyon and over the Thompson Pass to enter the mountains.
1 comments. Tags: glaciers, alex. Location: Whitehorse, Canada, USA
Anchorage to Valdez
Posted by Alex on 26 August 2009
Setting off from Ron and Barbs place on Friday morning, we got as far as the end of the drive before Fins chain snapped again; another false start. Twenty minutes and a new chain link later we were back on the road heading South East along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. The ferry to Valdez departing from Whittier was departing at 2h45, giving us approximately 4hrs to cover the 50 miles between Anchorage and Whittier. The road was flat and the wind was in our favour. The views were absolutely stunning, cycling along the highway, 100 feet from the sea, steep snow capped mountains jutting out of the water on the other side of the inlet. About 20 miles in, my rear tire went flat; 20 minutes later, having removed a rather large metal shard from my tire, we were back on the road, in a bit of a hurry this time, as we also had to allow time to get a ride through a 2 mile tunnel in which bikes were not allowed, due to the single lane was already shared alternately by car traffic and the train. We still found time however to enjoy the stunning views along the way.
4 comments. Tags: alex. Location: Tok, USA
Flying Around Anchorage
Posted by Alex on 23 August 2009
We awoke in Anchorage early on Thursday morning to find a perfectly clear sky and crisp cold air. This being the first clear day in a long time, Ron, our host suggested going for a little flight in his Float plane, a 32 year old Cessna 206, so off we went to the airport, or rather the lake to prepare the plane. After the usual pre flight checks, part of which involved balancing precariously off the end of the floating pontoon, we boarded the plane and taxied to the end of the lake.
1 comments. Tags: glacier, flying, alex. Location: Anchorage, USA
Atigun Pass to Fairbanks
Posted by Alex on 15 August 2009
Having reached the highpoint on the Dalton Highway, all we wanted was downhill from then on, and downhill it was, for the first few miles at least...
5 comments. Tags: smoke, gravel hills, alex. Location: Fairbanks, USA
Deadhorse to the Atigun Pass
Posted by Alex on 13 August 2009
On August 2nd, after a grueling 3:30 am get up and a 6:00 am flight, we finally arrived in Deadhorse in Northern Alaska.
3 comments. Tags: tundra, oil, caribou, bears, alex. Location: 70.2111,-148.404
Alaska at last
Posted by Alex on 31 July 2009
After 48hrs of travelling, meetings, interviews and photoshoots, I have finally set down in Anchorage, Alaska. Although the flight in was pretty cloudy and grey, glimpses of huge snow-coveredmountains and massive white glaciers gave me a taster of what we are going to see on this first leg of our trip.After all the formalities of customs and immigration, with the usual suspicious questioning and a little sniff from the customs dog, I was out... finally in Alaska. I was greeted at the airport by what I at first took to be my Limo driver, holding a sign with my name and "GOING SOUTH", only to realise that it was Fin, standing there grinning at me from behind the sign. Then, from out of nowhere, a camera was in my face and I was being asked what it felt like to be in Alaska... the adventure had begun. Slightly dazed and very jet lagged, we returned to Ron and Barbs house, driving through downtown anchorage and taking in the grandiose scenery that surrounds the city. It was all really happening.
8 comments. Tags: alex. Location: Anchorage, USA
The Final Countdown
Posted by Alex on 25 July 2009
Greetings everyone, I am Fins new team mate and I would like to start by saying what an honour and pleasure it is for me to have been selected to become a part of this trip.
3 comments. Tags: packing, visas, thailand, new team mate, alex.
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