Riding the Dalton Part 3

I reach the Artic Circle and find the sign.  When I first arrive there are 2 bus loads of tourists there each waiting to get their picture taken by the sign.  I find out it cost them $340.00 each to ride up here from Fairbanks just for a picture and lunch.  After they leave I push my bike up to the sign and have another tourist take my picture.  Then another rider pulls in, we talk.  He is Mike Ervin from North Pole AK.  He is freshly retired from the USAF at Eilesion AFB just outside of Fairbanks.  He is also headed North to Deadhorse on his KLR650.  We decide to ride together to Deadhorse.  In the comming weeks we become good friends.  A bit later two more rides arrive, take pictures and we all leave together for Coldfoot AK, the next fuel/food stop.  The road now turns to dirt/gravel.  Yippee... now this is what I came for.  Over & Out