Transitions...

[DDT (12)]

Transitions...

There are few 'typical' days in the far north, but each day does seem to bear a remarkable resemblance to the day before and the day after... sort of... Rounds of moisture seem to crop-up every few days and sweep across an area, and those, of course, can be rather soggy. The days in between those not quite predictable rain rounds frequently have a rogue sprinkle or two that can pop-up out of nowhere then quickly disappear: Usually not worth the bother to even consider 'suiting-up'...

Daily temperatures can also vary widely over extended periods. On this trip, however, the temps so far have remained quite cool requiring 'layers' daily plus the use of 'electrics' to supplement body heat. This Florida boy, who frequently refers to himself as a 'Heat Refugee', has been mindful of his conscious choice NOT to bring along gear more suited to the range of temps being encountered. There have been absolutely no instances of 'heat exhaustion' at all...

The weather is not the only thing occurring worthy of note. For example, a number of 'transitions' frequently unfold during visits to this mysterious land of contradictions, contrasts, and conundrums. Take our group of riders on this most recent excursion...

Three of those riders have transitioned from 'Alaska Virgins' to 'Alaska Rookies'. The fourth member of this distinguished gaggle has transitioned from an 'Alaska Veteran' to the status of 'Near Alaska Junkie'. A full fledged 'Junkie' would be someone like Eric West (Valker), who has ridden there four times already and will likely return yet again. What they all have in common, obviously, is the fact they have done far more than talk about such a ride: They've actually paid their dues by making the very long and often challenging ride...

Another transition occurred on July 15th... Our girl rolled 800,000 miles on her odometer, thereby elevating her to a very unique status. She is a rugged, dependable, solid piece of motorcycle artistry superior to any others, in the humble likely biased opinion of her devoted partner.

She is so much more than simply a great machine, though. Most riders own motorcycles and develop a special fondness for them. A few, like this rider for instance, actually have affairs with mechanical beings, with the affection and bond going much further than pride or enjoyment...

However, even with all her innumerable virtues, this milestone would not have been reached without the help of many of her friends... two of whom are along on this ride. Dennis Scott and Mitch Oehmke have labored tirelessly on numerous occasions to keep her fit and rolling on her mission. They've both even made 'house calls' and rescued her in far away places, and/or made repairs on motel parking lots and alongside highways.

Of course, her complete story cannot be told without mentioning Terry Nickel, tman403, who 'bought' her on a handshake deal back in 2013, then made her whole again and rode her from Calgary, Alberta, to Asheville, NC, the following year to InZane to reunite her with her most eager lover. Mere words are entirely inadequate to describe the emotions and heartfelt joy that resulted from that most self-less and generous gesture!

Many others also have played a role in keeping this story from ending. As if that weren't enough, the countless friends I've made over the years we've been together have enriched my life far beyond anything I could ever have imagined. It seems ironic, and to this humble devotee of our girl inappropriate, that I've received so much attention for the accomplishments we've shared together. She is the real story here, I'm just the lucky guy who gets to ride her...

A five-leaf clover!  I've seen two of these in my life, both found by Sweet Cheeks on this trip... A very good omen, I think...



There's a sight you don't see every day... The eclectic crew arrived!



The crew: The old guy seated in the middle is the charity case of three excellent riders, L-R: Dennis Scott (Trout Dude), old guy, Mitch Oehmke (MitchO), and Janice McVey (Sweet Cheeks) standing...



Old guy napping near the four Valkyries that brought the crew...



The crew and their rides...



At this mile marker on Route 2 between Tok, AK, and Delta Junction, AK, on the way to Fairbanks, the 800,000th mile rolled up on our girl's odometer...



The couple who've shared so much life together...



The luckiest guy I know with two of his dearest friends...



Other pictures taken along the way...





Another funny thing... This trip has turned out to be one of the highlights of my riding career. Sharing such an adventure with three very special friends, meeting all of the challenges and cumulative effects of a lengthy road trip, and feeling the sensations that can only be earned through effort that produces lasting wonderful memories, is a payoff beyond belief. I almost didn't make this trip, but my friends kept after me to join them, so I acquiesced... And now I'm grateful for that too along with all the rest that goes with this...

DDT (12)

P.S. All pictures courtesy of Sweet Cheeks...

[Valkorado]

Great report and pics.  Sure purty up yonder!   

[LadyDraco]

Congrats  on 800K !

Great pic's  thanks for  posting 

[Valker]

Well played, Sir!
Keep having fun. I still want to be you when I grow up.

[Hook#3287]

Awesome bike, awesome rider, awesome friends, awesome post

Can't see how it could be better.

Obviously, I'm in awe 

Always a treat to ride along with you Bruce, thank you.

[t-man403]

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The luckiest guy I know with two of his dearest friends...

This photo is so appropriate to mark 800,000!!! 
Can't imagine how you yourself felt watching the odo and having this group with you...
Awesome photo "Sweet Cheeks"!

[hubcapsc]

What a crew  !



-Mike

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Awesome trip Bruce    Curious any gravel, mud roads ?

[Jersey mike]

I head about the earthquake and the tsunami warning yesterday, I don't know where you guys are but I hope all are safe.

[Charlie McCready]

Great pics Bruce!!  Glad all is going well.  Be safe and have a great trip!! 

[carolinarider09]

Another funny thing... This trip has turned out to be one of the highlights of my riding career. Sharing such an adventure with three very special friends, meeting all of the challenges and cumulative effects of a lengthy road trip, and feeling the sensations that can only be earned through effort that produces lasting wonderful memories, is a payoff beyond belief. I almost didn't make this trip, but my friends kept after me to join them, so I acquiesced... And now I'm grateful for that too along with all the rest that goes with this...

DDT (12)

P.S. All pictures courtesy of Sweet Cheeks...

The paragraph above sums it all up very, very well.  I truly understand and, while I have not been to Alaska, I have been on trips that provide pleasure and new things and show the closeness of my friends. 

And the photos are well done and very enthralling. 

So, enjoy the life, the time with friends, and thrill of riding. 

Good trip report sir!

[cookiedough]

awesome riding for sure, Alaska is on my bucket list to visit, although probably not on a cycle.  I am no high mileage cycler such as yourself not even a smidge close.

[Mooskee]

Great trip, and trip report. Many of us are riding with you vicariously; wishing we could experience what you four are living.

Ride safely. Take care of each other, and enjoy the journey.

Congrats on you and ALI reaching the 800,000 mile mark.

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks for taking the time to keep us informed of your travels.  And thanks to Sweet Cheeks for the pics. 

[Farside]

  Great report on such a Spectacular bike trip with friends that make these memories last forever Maybe one of these days not too far in the distance - 2026, I can start exploring as you four. Safe travels to this highly motivated Valkyrie friendship you've created

[JimmyG]

What an adventure Bruce.  My Alaska encounter was a little different.  I'[d love to be on that ride with you. You've got some great companions with you already. Ya'll continue on, be careful now.

[DDT (12)]

Thanks, Everybody!

As always, your comments are most welcome and very much appreciated. Yes, this is turning out to be an amazing trek! The best part for this weary traveler is the enjoyment that comes from sharing it all with three very special friends. I can't say enough about them and their contributions to this undertaking.

The roads seem even better this time than the last, and that last time was vastly better than the first time! An important trend for sure, and that should offer encouragement to any others considering such a trip. We have encountered many stretches of missing pavement... Road repairs up here usually involve ripping up the old and relacing it with new... Still, the roads overall continue to be a very pleasant surprise.

Where replacement does occur, the unpaved stretches can vary from a dozen or two yards to several miles. The surfaces we've encountered have all been hard-packed sub base, though, with some (but not too much!) loose gravel, and with shallow paths/tracks easily identifiable to be followed to avoid the most treacherous rows of gravel: Nearly always a third or fourth gear event (although some more adventurous riders like Trout Dude never downshift from fifth!). There can be some minor, shallow mud in places due to rain or dust control but nothing difficult (except for potholes, which are to be avoided!).

Among the difficulties of group travel is dealing with widely varying preferences, tastes, and budgets. Also, things like experience, stamina, and general health can play a significant role. One of the things we've done is to split up a couple of times to rejoin later on in the ride. This has been a particular blessing for this aging rider who has far less ability to do marathon days or rigorous riding conditions than his younger and more fit partners. I'm on a solo run at the time of this post, as a matter of fact, as the others have ridden on a rather ambitious side-leg off our baseline course. The best of both worlds!

My friends don't have to miss anything because of my limitations, while I get 'rest days', easier ride days, and extra leisure time instead of exhaustion! If our 'plan' had been so rigid that splitting up temporarily would not happen, then the compromises necessary would have resulted in everybody missing out to some extent on what they wanted and/or needed to do. This has proven most effective for all concerned!

While we haven't encountered any concerning amounts of gravel on the roads, parking lots can be a very different matter! Even gas station/convenience stores and motels often have gravel parking lots... Paved lots and driveways are not only more expensive to install, but they are also considerably more expensive to maintain due to the harsh winters, so... lots of gravel! Much care must be used on those surfaces... avoid using the front brake or making any sudden, radical turns and you'll do much better.

There are no paved roads north of Fairbanks (only about 100 miles from the Aric Circle), so that's as far as we've gone. While the sun does technically set briefly in summertime up there, it does not actually get dark during the evenings... The days seem to transition from dusk back to dawn skipping right over 'night' altogether. Some folks have a problem sleeping without darkness, although no one in our party has had any problems with this. Motels frequently advertise 'room darkening curtains' right along with other extras like free wifi and cable TV as among their pluses!

A major-league adventure to be sure! Much discovery to be had including plenty of self-discovery too. Any decent rider with over-the-road experience and enough stamina to stick it out over the very long distance involved can safely make this trip. I don't mean to downplay the scale of this ride... It's not for the faint of heart or those who have led pampered, soft lives. The pay-off in personal satisfaction, pride, and sense of accomplishment, however, is incredible! A voluminous photo album will aid future recollections of a very bold achievement in one's life!!!

DDT (12)

[f6john]

I've been wondering if you guys might run across a meathead or two since this would seem to be about the season one might stumble across such a critter!

[hubcapsc]

A couple of years ago I ditched Allan, Joe and Lance the day after we
screamed down I-40 from Hazen Arkansas to Amarillo Texas. They
were gonna do it again the next day, they wanted to go to Arches
and The Grand Canyon and ...

I went north to Colorado and rode around in the wilderness for
a few days until I ran into Mitch in Durango...



-Mike