TravelStream™ news feed for member dm3 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/dm3 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:02:41 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1186934460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1186934460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1186934460/tpod.html Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:02:41 -0500 One deranged individual with two questionable companions gut it out to Fairbanks, maybe further to the North Slope.

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Cody, Wyoming, United States

I get calls from Danner several times a day since I need to be reassured that he is still alive. He rode over 15 hours the first day and caught up with his friends in St. Joe, MO. He was hot and exhausted the temperatures were around 100 for most of his trip.

They got off early the next day to avoid some of the heat. Today when they stopped for gas, Dick accidentally dropped his bike. The fender was bent and rubbed the tire and the luggage bag support was broken. They managed to patch it up after a pit stop at Home Depot. They are trying to get to Great Falls, MT or Cody, WY by tonight.

Day 3, Sunday, 12 Aug, Scottsbluff to Cody, Wyo.

ADDENDUM: Danner: We tried to get an early start, but Nick noticed a problem with Dick's right saddle bag. He had dropped his bike after refueling the day before and the weight caused the support to break. His front fender was loose also. Nick had worked on the fender and was quick to point out that all of his maintenance gets the 15/15 guarantee "fifteen miles or fifteen minutes, whichever comes first." Actually, Nick is an excellent mechanic and carries lots of tools.
Once we got going it got hot quickly, 100, but it was dry and the elevation was usually around 3000-4000 feet. We went thru Guernsey, Casper, WY, Shoshone, Thermopolis, then into Cody. Even with all the Sturgis folks around, we scored a nice room at a good price. It was nice to be in Cody again. Katheryn and I had been there before with Nick and Dick on a ride several years ago.
If you go to Goggle Earth, Thermopolis, Wyo, then Hwy 20 to Cody, you can see the really beautiful canyon we rode. Outstanding riding.


Day 4, Monday, 13 Aug, Cody to Great Falls, MT

Danner: We were late getting started so Dick could get his bike welded at the bag support. The temp got hot fast but then cooled off early. Lots of beautiful scenery today. There were forest fires all around and the rangers were running people out of Yellowstone Park. We also could not ride the Beartooth highway as the smoke was quite thick. We had ridden the Beartooth on the last trip and it was one of my favorites. Got into Great Falls, MT at dark and found a hotel complete with laundromat and hookers. Nick did my laundry the next day while I did maintenance.



Our Hero near Banff D ick, Nick, and Danner with first mountain


Guy with loaded bike


Day 5, Tue, 14 Aug, Great Falls to Banff

Off to a late start again as I needed two new tires. I had planned to get them in Canada, but they were getting worn. This worked out well since they were readily available in Montana and fairly cheap. They lasted for the rest of the trip. We crossed into Canada with no problems. The scenery is really beautiful now and it has started to cool. We were trying to meet up with Andrew Montgomery, Dick's friend and architect, in Banff. Unbelievably, we almost run into him coming off a freeway ramp. We all camped out for the first time on the trip; it worked well. Had a nice dinner in downtown Banff. All the streets are torn up for repaving and landscaping. Katheryn and I had been to Banff before to ski. It looks really different in the summer, much more crowded.


Day 6 , Wed, 15 Aug, Banff to Jasper, AB

This was a beautiful ride on the Icefields National Parkway. So many nice shots, in any direction. Stopped at a gas station, cafe, tourist trap that was full of Japanese buses, expensive. Gas is about $4.50 to $5 per gallon now. I have switched my GPS to kilometers. The Canadians are most tolerant of our mile system that even the Brits have abandoned. It was embarrassing. We camped again at Jasper. They had bear proof containers for your food and toothpaste; I saw a squirrel. Met a guy from Prince George named Steve. He was camping there for a week and gave us a tour of the town. Had a nice dinner with him and ate at the Petro Canada he had recommended for breakfast.




Day 7, Thur, 16 Aug, Jasper to Burns Lake, BC

This was another beautiful day that warmed up nicely. Andrew split off from the ride for Kamloops then the States, these young people and their peculiar habits of working. All hell broke loose as we hit a nasty thunderstorm just outside of Burns Lake. We zipped into the first hotel as we entered town, no one was there except the owners, a Korean couple. When I bitched about the $65 rooms, Mr Kim offered to make it 79. Comedians everywhere! Mrs Kim dried all our clothes for us and left them in a bag on the door. I managed to leave my fleece jacket there and didn't realize it until the next day, bought another. She mailed my original back to my address on the sign in slip. Nice people! There was extensive damage as we left town the next morning. Lots of wind and lightning all night. Trees down all along the road.



Cellular Dickie Nick, the smartest of the 3 stooges?


Day 8, Friday, 17 Aug, Burns Lake to Stewart, BC

Today we started out on the Yellowhead Hwy to Kitwanga then the infamous Cassiar Hwy; it was spectacular. There was some slow going for blasting and some large cracks in the dirt where the road was sliding down the mountain, but it was not that bad. We even rode it south on our way home.We decided to change directions and go to Stewart although it was not on the way North. The ride into Stewart is beautiful, many waterfalls, and rivers. Unfortunately it rained continuously. Putting up a tent while it's raining is not fun. After we set up camp, we had a nice salmon dinner downtown. We also gassed up and did laundry. Returning to the campsite at night, I didn't notice a slanted mud puddle and dropped my bike on my nice new, expensive highway peg. Ouch! no other damage though. I didn't need to stretch out my left leg anyway, just the right. Otherwise all the bikes are running well.

That night it rained 1-2 inches, and we saw no bears. Stewart is a good hotel town; one shouldn't camp there. Nick heard some Harley guys talking about being told by the bar maid they couldn't leave the bar. When they looked puzzeled, she explained that there were three grizlies walking down main street and they looked hungry. They took her advice.


Day 9, Sat, 18 Aug, Stewart to Dease Lake, BC

The weather was clearing as we rode back to get on the Cassiar Highway. Had to stop for gas and food at the only choice. We would wind up eating there three times, but not because of quality. On one stop, there were about 10 vehicles in line for fuel. The ride up the Cassiar was 50-70 mph and then a crawl. It kept changing all the time. We had to stop for blasting and avoid the orange painted cracks where the road was sliding down a mountain. The views were worth it.
When we arrived in Dease Lake, I decided to hotel ($89 for a dump) while Nick and Dick camped about 5 miles north. The site was not good, lots of rocks. They later found out about a better site at Mile 143. We met for dinner at the local bar to discuss plans for the next day. Here we met the trip winning character. She was tall, skinny, about 65 with a trash mouth and attitude to match. She and her husband were headed north in an RV. "I drive and he behaves" and I believe her. She instructed Nick, in great detail, on the finer points of swapping out engines on a '54 Chevy. When she heard Dickie complaining about having cold feet on the days ride, she asked "What happened? somebody piss in your god damn boots?" I was surprised to find such a classey lady in Canada.




On the Cassiar Highway That's the real color
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Smithville, Tennessee, United States

OBSERVATIONS:


There were a lot of Harleys at Sturgis.

It's easier to ride in the cold than heat.

My Honda ST-1300A gets better mileage at 90 mph than 60. Most unusual!!

I took a lot of stuff I didn't need and had to buy stuff I was missing.

Things are quite expensive in Canada and a US dollar only buys 1.03 Canadian. Businesses exchange even either way. Alaska is also expensive.

There is no litter in Canada (didn't go to major cities).

We saw very few cars on the roads in Canada or Alaska, mostly RV's and motorcycles.

No Harleys in the Yukon, mostly KLR 650's, BMW GS's, and a few others.

All roads seem to be under repair during the summer.

We should have taken more time to tour. We didn't get to everywhere we wanted.

You can get very comfortable camping even on a motorcycle. We did not need a folding chair, all the campsites had picnic tables.

There were no police on the highways, conditions controlled speed.

People would stop if you pulled off the road to see if you needed help.


NOTE: I'm home, safe, and a little tired. I missed Katheryn a lot and Kobi a little. Katheryn accomplished a lot around the house and organized my workshop while I was gone; it's beautiful. She also got in a trip to see both kids and the four gradchildren. She and her mom met Amy and family near Destin, FL at an Army facility.
I will continue to update and add pictures to entries Katheryn has made to this site. It may be a little difficult to follow. I have updated the first two and the last entries.

MORE OBSERVATIONS:

There are virtually no billboards in Canada or Alaska (except around larger cities).

Starbucks is taking over the world.

So is WalMart. They have very little fishing gear, lots of camping stuff, and a huge selection of hockey sticks, even in summer.

Cross country bicycling is very poplar up North, both huge supported groups and singles or couples. They have lots of gear hanging on their bikes.

Wildlife is everywhere. We saw: black bears, moose, wild goats, wild sheep, Big Horn sheep, large coyote or small wolf, badger, salmon running upstreams, black fox with white tipped tail, raindeer, and others probably.
A good comfortable seat is very important on a long motorcycle trip.


ALASKA TRIP

My 2 Cents Worth, by Nick Woodward

On any motorcycle trip, there are several things that must be done in order for the trip to be a success. Obviously the bike must be dependable, comfortable, have reasonable fuel range, and be able to carry all of the necessary baggage. This trip I rode a 2007 BMW R1200R with stock saddle bags, and on my first trip to Alaska, a 1993 BMW R100GSPD. Dick rode a 1999 BMW R1100RT both times he went, and Danner had a Honda ST1300. All these bikes did just fine, ride what you like.

Next, have the proper clothing and camping gear (assuming you will be camping, and you should). My basic riding clothing was the Aerostitch Darien coat, shirt, jeans and BMW boots (with gore-tex). If it was raining, I would put on the Aerostitch Darien pants. In two motorcycle trips from Tennessee to Alaska, my Aerostitch coat and pants and BMW boots always kept me warm and dry. When it was cold I would layer up as necessary, with a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, vest, coat, gloves or rain pants. This may seem overly simple, but be sure to get your rain gear on BEFORE you get wet. If you get wet first, you will find that your rain suit will do a great job of keeping the water in also.

Danner and I used the Hellen 2 Wheels luggage packing system because it has worked for me for several years. Go to Hellen2wheels.com and check it out. Dick successfully used the large waterproof "river runner" bags that you can buy at any outdoor store.

Dry Bag
This is the bag I carried my sleeping gear in. The coldest nights were about 28 or 29F, and I was never cold or uncomfortable. Most nights it was warmer.
Heat reflector (these things work well and do not take up much space)
Air mattress (1 ½ inch self inflating Thermarest)
Sleeping bag (30 degree rating worked for me)
1 Polyester sleeping bag (Ozark Trail cost about $10.00 at WalMart)
Thermarest camping pillow + a blow-up air pillow.
P- Bottle in zip-lock bag (indoor plumbing)
Nit hat for cold nights, my head got cold without it. Note: Dick carried a sweatshirt with HOOD and sweatpants to sleep in on cold nights. This is a good idea, and next time I will do the same.
My packing drill was:
In the mornings, I would get out of my sleeping bag, put on my clothes (quickly if it was cold), and start to pack up.
First I would roll up my air mattress with valve open, after it was rolled up nice and tight, I then closed the air valve. I then put the air mattress in the Dry Bag and let it unroll in the bag. When the air mattress unrolls there is a space or pocket in the center that I stuffed the rest of my sleeping gear in. Next I stuffed in my sleeping bags (2ea) followed by my pillows and Zip-lock bag with my empty P-Bottle. I will (in the future) throw my sweat suit in this bag.

Tent Bag
It will rain or at the very least, your tent will be covered with dew in the mornings, so make sure your tent does not leak. We sprayed the seams with 3M Scotchguard several times with good results. In my tent bag, I stuffed a four man Eurica Timberline tent, plastic camping hammer and ground tarp. The ground tarp is the plastic sheet that Eurica sells for that tent. In the mornings when I packed up I would: First, take off the tent fly and lay it aside. Second, I would pull the tent stakes and put them in their bag. I carried the stakes in my saddlebag. (Get the stakes from Walmart that look like a big nail with a plastic T at the top so they work with the hammer's pull out function and don't bend in rocky soil.) Third, I put the tent poles in the little tent bag supplied by Eurica and then
put the tent poles in the Hellen 2 wheels tent bag. It is easer if the poles go in the bag first (trust me). Next the tent fly is stuffed in, then the tent is stuffed in, (do not fold the tent up neatly; it is a waste of time) followed by the hammer. The ground sheet is stuffed in last. The ground sheet is generally wet and dirty on the bottom side, so I would pick it up by grabbing the sheet in the topside center and picking it straight up. That way the topside (clean side) is on the outside and the wet, dirty side is in. I would give the groundsheet a good shaking and stuff it in the tent bag last. Don't worry that the tent is wet, it will dry out quickly when erected. Also, get a large tent as there are lots of item you do not want to leave out in the rain.

Tank Bag
Tank bag cover
Ear plugs
Camera (we used WalMart to dump memory to CD's)
Bug spray
Mile Post guide book + Maps
Flash light + LED light
Tire pressure gage
Maint. manual on CD
BMW Anonymous book
Glasses
Extra Helmet visors
Rubber bands
Travel clock
Pen and small note book
Cell phone charger and electric power outlet (12v cig. type) for bike
Chapstick

Clothing bag (this is what I carried in addition to what I was wearing when I left home, I used this bag for a pillow also)
1 blue jean
6 each: underwear, socks, handkerchiefs
3 each long sleeve shirts
6 each short sleeve shirts
1 light cotton sweatshirt
1 Aerostitch pull over
1 long underwear (I never used them, but they do not take up much room)
Soap, towel and sandals (if the towel was wet it went in saddle bag or was tied to out side of bag to dry)

Medicine, Dopp Kit
Passport, money, and insurance papers (Canada is picky about your proof of insurance so call your insurer, they know what to mail you.)

Chair
Not really necessary. I have carried a Kermit chair to Alaska twice but it is not necessary as there is a picnic table at each campsite that we saw. I would not take a chair again.

Saddle Bags
Hat, I also used a LED light that clipped on my hat bill, and it came in handy when I wanted to read at night.
Extra Bungee cords and tie down straps (the straps came from Hellen2Wheels).
Aerostitch Darien pants without the liners (I rolled them up and put a rubber band around them).
Light vest from Walmart.
Heated coat ( I never used it and will not take on next trip.)
Northern Light coat with gore-tex (great product from Cabella's that I used in place of the Darien jacket liner).
Gloves, 4 pair different weights (on the water proof ones, MAKE SURE that you can put them on with WET hands).
Tools (basic torx and stuff to change tire + minor repair and extra fuel filter if your bike is fuel injected).
Tire plugs (it is hard to go to Alaska and not have a flat tire).
CO2 bottles, or a 12 volt air pump for tires, I took both.
Plastic camping hammer + tent pegs.
15 or 20 feet of light cord or rope.
Extra Zip lock bags + Garbage bags.

Travel Tips
Be sure to scotchguard your tent and riding coat and pants, bring the can with you.
Phone cards to America are cheaper when you buy them in Canada.
Know how to patch a tire and inflate it. This is one roadside repair you may get to do.
Danner used ATV handlebar muffs that were well sprayed with Scotchguard instead of heavy gloves. They are warm and waterproof.
Theft and crime are not a problem in Canada and Alaska.
Do NOT take a gun thru Canada.
"Bear Bangers" or pepper spray can be bought in AK and MT, don't know about Canada.
The Milepost is a great source of information.
Wireless is available in the bigger towns if you take a laptop, or internet cafes, libraries are available.
Cell phone coverage is limited.
Bring the individual energy bars; they were very handy, also bottled water.
Don't keep food, toothpaste, or anything else that could attract bears to your tent. Some campgrounds have metal storage containers for overnight use.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1189475100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1189475100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1189475100/tpod.html Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:19:01 -0400 One deranged individual with two questionable companions gut it out to Fairbanks, maybe further to the North Slope.

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Hanksville, Utah, United States

Danner and Nick said their goodbyes to Dick. He lives in Oregon and that was the end of the trip for him. They thought he looked kind of sad that they were going on without him. They headed onto scenic highway 101 to ride along the west coast for a while. I think they really enjoyed the great twisty roads and views. All of the pictures came to me over my phone so I don't really know where the pictures were taken.

They spent the night Reno, Nevada and then headed over to the National Redwood Forest. They seem to be taking their time and basically enjoying themselves. They rode through Bryce Canyon, famous for its unique geology, consisting of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah, or so I read when I tried to check it out.

I don't know what this is but it is pretty.

They were planning to go up to Ogden, UT to visit the man who purchased one of Nick's airplanes but he was in St. Louis at an air show. I thing Nick misses his plane. They talked about dipping down into New Mexico but the last I heard they were in Hanksville, UT at the Amoco station. They were getting tired and wanted to have a short day and find a Laundromat but no such luck in Hanksville. Danner said that there are no trees or anything, just the desert.

I don't see any malls.

I have no idea where they are going to stay tonight, and neither did they when I talked to them this afternoon. There are no cities anywhere near them and Dick's wife packed their camping gear and mailed everything back home for them. They were tired of dragging everything into the hotels at night. I guess they figured that their camping days were over since they were back in civilization. Maybe they headed to Colorado instead of going to New Mexico. Who knows??!!
Danner thinks that he might be home Thursday, Friday or Saturday or maybe Sunday. They are still staying flexible. More later, Katheryn






Photos:

Day 25, Mon, 03 Sep, Anacortes to Centralia, WA

Our hotel had a complimentary breakfast then it was off to the ferry about 45 minutes away. The 30 minute ferry ride would cost $4.85 and that included the bike. It was pleasant and took us to western Washington. Thru Port Angeles, around the north side of Mt. Olympus, near Neah Bay then on to Hwy 101, we would ride three hours in the rain. A possibly gay, Jewish, Harley guy decided to ride with us. He was nice and had brought his dog along for the ride (see pics).






Day 26, Tue, 04 Sep. Centralia to Dick and Bonnie's house (Nehalem, OR)

We took the tourist route and went to Mt St Helens. The museum and movie were excellent. We could not see the volcano because of low clouds. The forest has mostly recovered and it's hard to see any damage from the eruption except for filled valleys. Lots of nice riding in this area. We stopped at Astoria to see the column, then back on to the coastal highway to Nehalem.






Day 27, Wed, 05 Sep, another day off with the Speer's

We did laundry, got my tire re-plugged, dumped our pictures off the cards to CD's, and shipped our camping gear home. Thanks Bonnie, 43 pounds I didn't need any more. Dick and Bonnie gave us a tour of the area and we ate at a lovely seafood place. Nick slept at the house, and I stayed at the antique shop apartment, nice!


Day 28, Thur, 06 Sep, Nehalem, OR to Gold Coast, OR

Time to get home! We got back on 101 and were greeted with strong cross winds and fog. But the views are beautiful and we stopped many times for pictures.


Day 29, Fri, 07 Sep, Gold Coast to Reno, NV

Continuing down 101 to Arcata, CA, then on to Hwy 299 to the east. This road was the best riding of our entire trip. We toured the redwood forests and the museum. Our next stop was Shasta Lake to tour the Russell shop (m/c seats called day long riders). Then on to Susanville to spend the night. Oops, there is a large forest fire and every room is taken by the firefighters. The next rooms are in Reno, 80 miles east. We get there at 11:00, not a fun ride.


Day 30, Sat, 08 Sep, Reno to Ely, NV

We took Hwy 50, called the loneliest road in America out of Reno. It is lonely, in great shape, with interesting scenery, especially if you like desolate.


Day 31, Sunday, 09 Sep, Ely, NV to Tropic, UT

Hwy 50 to Hwy 89. There was lots of cross wind on the Interstate. It was so bad we had to get off and ride the back roads. We rode thru Red Canyon Park then Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon was beautiful; we got some nice pics. Hotels near the park were all full. We finally found a dump for $80.
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MEZIADIN LAKE, British Columbia, Canada

I just got back from spending the week in Florida with my daughter's family and didn't have Internet access to update Danner's travel.

They are still alive and doing well. It has been raining some and the weather is much colder. They are waking up to frost and freezing temperatures. One day the roads were so bad they were only able to go 100 miles all day.

One night they were able to find a motel under $100 and Danner and Nick wanted to stay. Dick said, "no way, I'm going to camp at the next campground." (cheap pilot syndrome is a chronic disease) The campground was 51 miles down the road. The next day, Danner and Nick stopped at the campground to pick up Dick but couldn't find him. They asked around but no one remembered seeing him. They headed out and asked about him along the route whenever they stopped. There is only one road, so they knew he had to be on it somewhere. The group was separated about a day or so. They hooked up again in Whitehorse, Canada. Dick said that everyone along the road told him that his friends were looking for him and that they would overnight in Whitehorse. Apparently, there aren't but about 30 or so people traveling on the road a day and the people are friendly. Dick had stayed at that campground but he was off hiking to see a waterfall when they came by. He had left a note on his bike but they never saw the bike.

Now they are back in civilization, better roads, traffic and motels. They are headed to Idaho to spend the night at Dick's house. Danner and Nick want to do some more sightseeing and mosey on down but Dick got a phone call from home and needed to get there quicker. He has left on his own and the others will be at his house later.

Still no pictures but Danner said that everything is really beautiful. He said that there are hundreds and hundreds of beautiful lakes but he has never seen a single boat on any of them.

More later....Katheryn



Day 24, Sunday, 02 Sep, Cache Creek, BC to Anacortes, Washington

This run was beautiful. It took us down the Frazier river canyon with its excellent roads, lots of curves, and great views. We stopped to check out Hell's Gate and watch kayaks run the rapids. I found a Starbucks just off the interstate; you gotta love the GPS. Border crossing at Sumas, WA was easy. Then it was on to Anacortes and a Mexican dinner. Our hotel was nice.


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Portland, Oregon, United States

Danner was finally able to send a couple of pictures. They are back in the United States and expect to be at Dick's house later this week. They are planning on stopping at Mt. St. Helen's to check it out.

This is a picture from some of the campgrounds in Alaska and one of Danner at the North Pole.
There was a cruise ship somewhere they stopped. This is my idea of how to tour Alaska. Forget all those bad roads and rain and waking up to frost on your bike!! I want my chocolate candy on my pillow!!

They were riding south in Washington state and noticed a guy on a Harley pulled over on the side of the road. They stopped to see if he was having trouble. He was just resting and so they all took off. The guy started riding with them and they all pulled into a restaurant to get something to eat. That is when Danner noticed that the guy had a passenger. Can you believe the pink accessories??

More later, Katheryn

PS. You can click on the photo icon and follow the prompts or double click on the picture to see larger versions of the pictures.

Day 25, Mon, 03 Sep, Anacortes to Centralia, WA

Our hotel had a complimentary breakfast then it was off to the ferry about 45 minutes away. The 30 minute ferry ride would cost $4.85 and that included the bike. It was pleasant and took us to western Washington. Thru Port Angeles, around the north side of Mt. Olympus, near Neah Bay then on to Hwy 101, we would ride three hours in the rain. A possibly gay, Jewish, Harley guy decided to ride with us. He was nice and had brought his dog along for the ride (see pics).

Day 26, Tue, 04 Sep. Centralia to Dick and Bonnie's house (Nehalem, OR)

We took the tourist route and went to Mt St Helens. The museum and movie were excellent. We could not see the volcano because of low clouds. The forest has mostly recovered and it's hard to see any damage from the eruption except for filled valleys. Lots of nice riding in this area. We stopped at Astoria to see the column, then back on to the coastal highway to Nehalem.


Day 27, Wed, 05 Sep, another day off with the Speer's

We did laundry, got my tire re-plugged, dumped our pictures off the cards to CD's, and shipped our camping gear home. Thanks Bonnie, 43 pounds I didn't need any more. Dick and Bonnie gave us a tour of the area and we ate at a lovely seafood place. Nick slept at the house, and I stayed at the antique shop apartment, nice!


Day 28, Thur, 06 Sep, Nehalem, OR to Gold Coast, OR

Time to get home! We got back on 101 and were greeted with strong cross winds and fog. But the views are beautiful and we stopped many times for pictures.


Day 29, Fri, 07 Sep, Gold Coast to Reno, NV

Continuing down 101 to Arcata, CA, then on to Hwy 299 to the east. This road was the best riding of our entire trip. We toured the redwood forests and the museum. Our next stop was Shasta Lake to tour the Russell shop (m/c seats called day long riders). Then on to Susanville to spend the night. Oops, there is a large forest fire and every room is taken by the firefighters. The next rooms are in Reno, 80 miles east. We get there at 11:00, not a fun ride.


Day 30, Sat, 08 Sep, Reno to Ely, NV

We took Hwy 50, called the loneliest road in America out of Reno. It is lonely, in great shape, with interesting scenery, especially if you like desolate.


Day 31, Sunday, 09 Sep, Ely, NV to Tropic, UT

Hwy 50 to Hwy 89. There was lots of cross wind on the Interstate. It was so bad we had to get off and ride the back roads. We rode thru Red Canyon Park then Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon was beautiful; we got some nice pics. Hotels near the park were all full. We finally found a dump for $80.
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Tok, Alaska, United States

I heard from Danner yesterday and they have started to head south. They wanted to keep going north but the road is under construction and is in such bad shape that it didn't seem like a good idea to continue north. They sound like they are having a good time. They want to catch the ferry that will take them to Vancouver Island, Canada. It is an 18 hour trip along the coastline but they haven't been able to find out if there is room for them on the boat.

When they were riding yesterday Danner was in the middle, going about 65mph or so. Danner saw a huge 350+ pound bear come running out of the woods crossing the road. He immediately started braking and missed the bear by about 30 yards. He said it happened really fast and the bear cut across the road in between the 2 bikes. Yikes.

I just got off the phone with Danner and now they aren't sure if they want to continue south or go back north. The motto for their trip is "indecision is the key to flexibility". They are all just a mess. He said that they are going to force themselves to make a decison at dinner. The campsite they are at tonight is having some kind of festival. There are about 30 campers and one restaurant. The local exciting Saturday night action.

More later...maybe. I am heading to Florida to spend a week with my daughter and her family at the beach. I'm not sure if I will have Internet access or not. BFN, Katheryn


Day 16, Sat, 25Aug, Wasilla to Tok, AK

Today's ride was uneventful, pleasant. We got in early and ate at Fast Eddies again and set up camp at the Sourdough Campground again. They had all sorts of stuff going on as they were closing after Sunday. The owners go to Oregon for the winter. I guess that would be a warm spot if you were from Tok. If you don't mind camping in the snow, you can for free. There's no one there to collect fees.
We had some neighbors that got cold during the night and got in their cars to run the heater. It did get gown to 28 degrees but warmed up nicely as we departed.


Day 17, Sunday, 26 Aug, Tok to Haines Junction, Yukon Territory

This was a nice ride with good weather. I stopped to take a picture of Nick and Dick approaching a bridge. They look like two ants. While speeding to catch up with them, I didn't notice they had pulled over to wait for me. They didn't notice when I zipped by.
Two hours later we got together again. Cell phones, when they work in the North, are of little help while riding a motorcycle. We had a nice dinner at the only spot in town. Dick decided he wanted to camp at the Million Dollar Waterfall Park. Nick and I opted for $70 hotel rooms that were overpriced. We would pick up Dick at his campsite on the way to Haines the next day.


Some road &n bsp; &n bsp; The ants


Day 18, Mon, 27 Aug, Haines Jct, Haines, AK, back to Haines Jct, then Whitehorse, YT

Our hotel rooms were warm; Dickie froze. There was ice on my seat as we left. First off, the fog got us, followed by light rain and road construction. But this route offered some pristine asphalt and stunning scenery. We stopped in to pick up Dick but couldn't find him. He had packed his tent, loaded all his gear, and walked down to see the waterfall just as we rode thru the campground. After checking the jail and hospital, we finally met up again just four hours late. Lunch and touring at Haines then the reverse route back to Haines Junction in drier weather, a nice ride. Then it was back to Whitehorse at our favorite campground.


Day 19, Tuesday, 28 Aug, a day off in Whitehorse

Time to be real tourists. It was 30 degrees this morning.


Bus and train to Skagway.

Dick Speer: On the train - WOW - following the sourdough trail of the miners. The Chilkoot trail from Whitehorse to Skagway, AK, gold mines. Whitehorse, where Jack London ran the rapids and charged $25 a trip. The rapids reminded the miners of a white horse's mane, hence the name.

Danner: This was a highlight of our trip. It cost $115 for the bus and train ride. Both were very nice. The train runs on narrow gauge track (36 inch). Laying that track could not have been easy with steep mountains, streams and lakes. The train stopped twice on the way to Skagway to pick up hitchhikers who had been walking the miner's trails. Some had been out for weeks. We had fish and chips in Skagway and gawked at all the tourist coming off the cruise ships. The bus ride back to Whitehorse was nice.


Day 20, Wed, 29 Aug, Whitehorse to Junction 37 (near Watson Lake)

Rain in the latter part of this leg. We found the $45 sleaze bag hotel, a new low. You have to see the pictures to appreciate it. It was so bad that when the manager came to check on us, he offered a $20 rebate or we could leave with full refund. We stayed; it was raining and getting cold.



Day 21, Thur, 30 Aug, Junction 37, Yukon to Bell 2, BC

Back on the Cassiar Hwy, but this time we are heading south. The beauty of this route offsets the rough ride. It was not really that bad. We arrived at Bell 2 early to find rooms were $180 per night. There is only one hotel, restaurant, and gas station. Bell 2 is really an upscale heli ski resort that has RV and tent camping. They had three helicopters. We camped out with the mosquitoes and bugs. I pitched my tent on a grassy median, not the tent sites, as they were rocky. The restaurant was pricey but nice. Breakfast then back on the Cassiar.


Day 22, Friday, 31 Aug, Bell 2 to Burns Lake

We stopped at the end of the Cassiar at Kitwanga to gas up and eat. Then we headed to Burns Lake on the Yellowhead Hwy. Dick decided to depart the group to do a high speed run to Oregon. Nick and I would continue on our more leisurely route. We wound up at the same Korean hotel in Burns Lake. Mrs Kim did our laundry while we went to dinner, nice lady. She also gave us suites.


Day 23, Sat, 01 Sep, Burns Lake to Cache Creek

Enroute we saw a dead black bear on the highway, just a reminder that moose, elk, and others can easily take out a motorcyclist. Maybe we should slow a bit. We arrived early and found a nice quite hotel run by an English lady who brings babbling up to a new level. She sent us to a nice restaurant for dinner. My plug patch of my rear tire is leaking so it's gas and air at each stop.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1187926800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1187926800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1187926800/tpod.html Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:01:09 -0400 One deranged individual with two questionable companions gut it out to Fairbanks, maybe further to the North Slope.

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Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

They crossed over into Alaska a couple of days ago and have settled down in a campground at Fairbanks, AK for a couple of days. They are just relaxing, doing some bike maintenance and laundry. They have met some interesting people at the campsite. One couple from Atlanta is taking a year off and are traveling up to the north shore of Alaska and then down to Brazil and then to Atlanta. Wow!

I talked to Danner today and he was trying to send some pictures but ran into technical difficulties. I reloaded his computer before he left and forgot to put a photo viewer on it. His laptop is an antique and I didn't realize that it didn't come with one. He will try and download something and work on it later. The campground has free Internet so it would be nice to take advantage of that amenity. He has to go to the office because he doesn't have wireless capabilities. The other campers are lounging around their tents with their laptops. I see a new laptop in our future....

He was changing the oil on his bike tonight while guarding the entrance to his tent. There were a couple of beautiful ducks trying to get in or poop at the entrance. Nick and Dick were headed to a poetry reading along with some interpretive dancing. Danner said he would pass. Danner seemed outraged that the tickets were $18. For that kind of money, he said there should be some nudity involved. I guess he isn't up for any culture.

More later, Katheryn





Day 14, Thur, 23 Aug, A day off in Fairbanks

Since we had such a nice campsite on the river, we decided to take a day off. Well, sorta, as we found several things to do. Dick got two new tires from BMW George. He's a local character/legend that had a line of motorcycles at his house awaiting maintenance. I rode over just to check out his operation and he almost ran me over with his old BMW complete with sidecar occupied by a large dog. Dick also managed to get a massage in Fairbanks. We all changed oil in our bikes, not filters. This seemed to be most interesting to our fellow campers.
One of our neighbors was a couple from Atlanta who were riding two KLR 650's to the North Slope then to Chili and back home. They were allowing a year and a half, didn't want to rush. Another neighbor, the Kilian's with son, Max, from Calgary were riding three different bikes touring Alaska. We joined them for breakfast Friday morning at Sam's Sourdough Café, which was excellent. Nice folks, hope they don't mind if we drop in for dinner next time we ski at Banff.


Day 15, Friday, 24 Aug, Fairbanks to Wasilla, AK

Enough goofing off. After our second breakfast at Sam's, it's back to riding in the rain. We had done some high-speed pilot computing with distances, road conditions, and ferry schedules so we could get to Vancouver Island. We planned the 18 hour ferry ride, a day of riding on the island, and then another ferry to Port Angeles in Washington. We had it figured down to minute accuracy, but off one day. It seems pilots can follow schedules, not create them. Time for a new, new plan! We also rode thru Denali Park so we could see Mt McKinley, but low clouds prevented that. Nevertheless, the ride was beautiful. We stopped in Wasilla and stayed in a nice cabin that could sleep six. It cost $150 for the night and was a bargain.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1187571780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1187571780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1187571780/tpod.html Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:39:52 -0400 One deranged individual with two questionable companions gut it out to Fairbanks, maybe further to the North Slope.

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Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

I just heard from Danner. They have made it safely to the Yukon Territories in Canada and are planning to stay two days at Whitehorse. As Dick said, "I need a day off!!" I have been very surprised at their brisk pace. They have been on just gravel roads for the last few days. The poor road conditions really deteriorated with unrelenting rain. Dick dropped his bike again and Danner's slid sideways when he tried to go uphill in the mud. Only minor damage to the bikes, the riders are fine.

They have been camping a lot since the few motels available are over $100 per night. These are not fancy hotels, something along the lines of a Motel 6. I haven't received any photos yet because Danner doesn't have Internet access but he assures me that the scenery is wonderful and they are having fun.

They crossed over into Canada in Montana and went through Calgary, Banff, Jasper National Park, then into British Columbia, Prince George and spent last night at Dease Lake. Tonight they are in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, CA.

ADDENDUM:

Day 10 and 11, Sunday and Monday, 19-20 Aug, Dease Lake, BC to Whitehorse, Yukon

Off again on the Cassiar. We intercepted the Alcan highway near Watson Lake and could pick up speed. The Alcan is amazing when you consider its length and location. There was an excellent show about it on Discovery. Dick found the Robert Service Campground in Whitehorse for our two day stay. We each had to get a $16/night site. They were lovely, with a river, and nice bath. Dick found a city swimming pool with bubbles. He was happy. Whitehorse is a nice city with everything we needed. We did laundry (which had wireless free Internet) hit Starbucks and WalMart. We did some relaxing and took a boat ride up the Yukon river. Lots of airplanes on floats and an airport with airline service. It was nice to be back in civilization.



Pretty pictures above

Dickie after eating wild berries, then all recovered.




Day 12, Tuesday, 21 Aug, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to Tok, Alaska

Finally off to Alaska, we crossed the border at Port Alcan. All of our border crossings were easy. We never got checked for anything. Arriving at Tok early, we had a nice dinner at Fast Eddies Restraunt. The Sourdough Campground was excellent at $6/night, complete with live music, pancake breakfast, and tent sites covered in wood shavings and sawdust.






Day 13, Wed, 22 Aug, Tok to Fairbanks

This was an easy day of riding. We set up camp at the River's Edge RV Campground early in the day. We will stay two days in Fairbanks. More later.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1186741020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1186741020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dm3/alaska/1186741020/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:31:20 -0400 One deranged individual with two questionable companions gut it out to Fairbanks, maybe further to the North Slope.

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Sparta, Tennessee, United States

START, Day 1, Friday, 10 Aug 2007, Home to St Joseph, MO.

The alarm clock blasted at 3:50am this morning. Danner bounded out of bed and began his final preparations for The Big Adventure. The plan is to ride all the way to the North Slope of Alaska and back home within 6 to 8 weeks. They are going to cross the border in Montana and cut across Canada. They don't have any fixed schedule or route, just enjoy the ride.
He finished loading his bike and left around 5:00am. It was 78 degrees, he was already sweating and he hadn't even gotten out of the garage. He is headed to St. Joe, Missouri to meet up with the other two riders who are planning to leave from Memphis around 6:30. They will try and stay in contact via cell phones and voice mail. They may not make it all the way to St. Joe, they will have to see how it goes in this heat.
I heard from Danner around 10am. He was already in Paducah, Kentucky. He said that he had only gotten about two miles from the house and the road was blocked because of a huge wreck. He waited about 15 minutes and turned around and went another way. That detour added another 30 minutes to a long, hot day.

ADDENDUM: by Danner, BACK HOME. I'm adding pictures and text where appropriate. There were insurmountable problems with computers, cell phones and the Internet as we traveled. Jessica says it's easier in the "third world" than the US and Canada.
Day 1 was very difficult with 103 degrees for four straight hours. Lots of stops. Katheryn had made me a water container to go in front of the tank bag. I would fill it with ice and drink as I rode. Starbucks has large green straws that can be taped together to make it work. This ride was grueling, 733 miles, and I didn't escape the heat. Passed thru Cookeville, Nashville, Paducah, St Louis, Kansas City, to St Joseph, MO for the night.
ADDENDUM: by Richard Speer. HOT and VERY HOT!! In our hotel were many refugees from Sturgis. Departed at dawn so as to ride in cooler, early morning temp. Breakfast an hour and a half later at a Mickey D's in order to make it quick and get back on the road. By 9:30 it was hot.


Day 2, Sat, 11 Aug, St Joe to Scottsbluff

Danner: We got up early and were on the road by 6:00am. I'll describe this day as not as grueling as the first because it only got to 96. Leaving St Joe thru Lincoln, Kearney, North Platt, Sidney, and overnight at Scottsbluff. This route can best be described as flat, boring, and smelly, lots of feed lots. In today's 573 miles, the only highlight was a stop at a large Cabellas in Sidney. We got more camping gear for Canada.

Richard: Into Nebraska at Nebraska City, found another Micky D's, short stop. Then a nice divided, lonely road into Lincoln City, gassed up and got on the expressway west. Summer time in Nebraska, hot, hot wind, lean bike to the left, hang on. Mile on mile, heat wind, trucks, smells- oh yeah. Smells off and on, what is it? Whatever it is, not good. Feed lots, sewage, comes and goes unless you're in Scottsbluff, there it stays. No need for personal hygiene in Scottsbluff, no need at all. Steak for dinner after a 30 minute search for the steakhouse which was within sight of the hotel. We had gotten directions from the hotel clerk who had never lived anywhere but Scottsbluff.
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