Reflections...

[DDT (12)]

Reflections...

Well, the big adventure to Alaska has concluded. We came out from the ride down HWY 37 just up the road from where we'd stopped on that first day to don the Gerbings. We turned south again and headed through Kamloops for the return to Washington state...

Forest fires had dictated our route selection once we'd left Hyder... We did make the ride out to Prince Rupert, though... I hadn't planned on going out there, but the ride to the coast at Hyder had turned out to be such a pleasant surprise, I thought "why not?" That was a most pleasant surprise, as well! Great scenery and a good road all the way following along a river.

I'd wanted to ride down HWY 97, then across HWY 99 through Whistler, BC, but fires had parts of both of those roads closed at the time, so... We took what was available - the detour east off HWY 97 on HWY 24 back to HWY 5. It was at HWY 5 the big loop had been completed. 

I'd also thought about swinging over to Jasper and down through Calgary to visit friends there, as well. However, there were also fires being reported around Banff and in the national parks in that area, so, I passed on one of the top rides in all of North America. Natural events do play a roll more than we might suspect, and that was certainly the case this time. 

Ahhhh, but what an adventure it was! It started out as a whim... I suppose you could argue that it had been in the back of my mind for some time, and the combination of opportunity and lack of reasons not to go had pushed me to pull the trigger. Possibly, I think it is conceivable that my subconscious had been moving me imperceptibly along that path for longer than I knew... Who knows?

As with all 'open-ended trips', this one afforded me the luxury of coming and going, staying or moving on, as events and opportunities presented themselves... No boundaries or limits to force me to go one way or another, I could literally just roll with the flow... I like it that way...

There were several surprises on this outing... and all were pleasant. First, the roads were vastly superior to what we'd encountered back in '94! I've made mention of that already, so I won't go into it too much here, but suffice to say, there were no really bad stretches like I'd worried there might be. I guess what we see depends to a large extent upon what we look for and what our frame of reference is, however...

That nice guy trying to be helpful back in Ft. Nelson on the way up, who'd tried to warn me off taking that ride in the first place... To him, the road was terrible, and he was clear on that. Myself, I found it, in comparison to really bad stretches I've encountered over the years, to be a wonderful road! Not perfect by any means, but there was nothing I came across that had caused me to think about turning around and abandoning the trek...

The bugs were another surprise! My recollection of mosquitos, flies, and other insects was seriously bad!!! Not this time. The locals told me that the weather since winter had been too cold and otherwise not good for them to develop like they certainly can, so they were not nearly the annoyance this time that I'd experienced on the previous journey... Luck of the draw, I guess... Some years it can still be like I remembered, just not this year... thankfully!

Wild life viewing seemed much better this time... We did see plenty on the previous trip, but there just seemed to be more of it, and greater varieties of it this time. A real bonus, as I do enjoy seeing critters unlike anything to be found where I'm from... The novelty alone is fascinating, but the thoughts it generates, and the fantasies it creates make this aspect of travel that much better...

Fuel and motels were never a real problem. I wasn't sure what to expect this time, but even modest caution and watchfulness got us through this challenge with no issues... Prices were even not as bad as I'd expected. Very high, to be sure, but again, ones expectations play a large roll in how things are perceived. 

Contact with Native Americans was very different, and I'm particularly happy with the way that turned out, and that I had a chance to gain a different perspective... The vast majority of my previous contacts, but based upon an admittedly small base of actual contacts, had caused me to see them as quite reserved, stoic, even a bit stand-off-ish... Not so this time!

I had many contacts on this trip, and they all without exception were pleasant. I found them to be warm, friendly, and just like any other folks! A really good lesson here on being careful about forming opinions with limited information or experience! What you think you see may not be what is actually the case!!! And that goes both ways... where we are mentally at any given point can influence how others see and respond to us!

Contacts generally with all people were most positive and pleasant! I was amazed at this. Usually I get along well with everyone, and I easily meet folks along the way. This time, however, it all seemed better... easier and even more enjoyable than usual...

I suspect it must have something to do with me and the aura I projected this time. I am a work in progress, and I have been evolving over the years... Is it possible I've actually 'improved' a bit?

That brings me to one of the biggest revelations of all... the roll my own thinking, perceptions, and state of mind plays in the interpretation of events unfolding around me. How much of the 'difference' in everything I thought I saw was really pretty much the same as it had been before, and how much had my own thinking and perception evolved over time? I was clearly in a different mental place twenty-three years ago than I am today, so... Hmmmm...

DDT

[The emperor has no clothes]

What a great ride and adventure you had ! I'm not sure of the answers, but I'm sure glad you got to ponder them. Thanks for the beers, the stories, and for you being you. 

[DDT (12)]

And, thank you for pretty much the same thing! A truly unexpected pleasure meeting up with you and Brenda in Anchor Point, AK! And, thanks to you, I wound up in a place I probably wouldn't have even stopped at... and an adventure resulted that I could not have anticipated... This trekking stuff sure is amazing, isn't it...? Meeting interesting folks, seeing incredible sights, and thinking thoughts that otherwise wouldn't occur to us... Know what? I think I'll do some more!!!

DDT

P.S. I'm sitting out the eclipse thing... I'm riding around northern Minnesota during that potentially cataclysmic event, saving my retinas for other sights and sites to behold... I'm far enough away that I haven't run into any jacked-up motel room rates or bumper-to-bumper traffic... No animals acting weird either...

Still DDT

[Serk]

Man, I like getting in your head almost as much as I like sitting on your bike riding along with you. (Hope that came out right.)

I'm so jealous it's not even funny that you're STILL on your Inzane ride!

I know planning is anathema to you in general, but now that Alaska is in the rear-view mirrors where do you go from here?

Wherever it is I'm sure you'll get the most out of it, learn and grow from it in the best ways possible.

Edit - Maybe the bugs weren't as bad because DDT had personally wiped most of them out 23 years ago?

[DDT (12)]

Man, I like getting in your head almost as much as I like sitting on your bike riding along with you. (Hope that came out right.)

I'm so jealous it's not even funny that you're STILL on your Inzane ride!

I know planning is anathema to you in general, but now that Alaska is in the rear-view mirrors where do you go from here?

Wherever it is I'm sure you'll get the most out of it, learn and grow from it in the best ways possible.

Edit - Maybe the bugs weren't as bad because DDT had personally wiped most of them out 23 years ago?

Although I did do some of my best work all-time killing bugs on that outing... I can't take credit for the present circumstance... Oh well, I may just have to keep doing it... you know, for the good of the folks up there and all...

No plan, per se, but I do have sort of an outline... Thom (TP) and Nancy had recommended a ride to JP and me last year, but rain changed our plans for us. This year, I was going to swing through there on the way to InZane, but we changed that and opted for a loop-de-loo around Colorado instead... So, I'm just filling out some ride-resume stuff now... I do plan to swing through Alabama in a few days to visit with some dear friends... Then I'll head for Florida and put in an appearance, so I can maintain some semblance of a claim to residence there... After that...? Hard to say... but you knew that, didn't you...?

DDT

[trout dude]

Hey Bruce glad you and Ali are back and i enjoyed all your post and pictures. I could not answer them i've been a little busy and not at home but keep up with with y'alls trip and man what a trip wishing i was there the whole time.   Keep safe and i will talk to you soon my friend.
Dennis

[The emperor has no clothes]

Man, I like getting in your head almost as much as I like sitting on your bike riding along with you. (Hope that came out right.)

I think it came out right   I have enjoyed Bruce's riding stories from day one. But I've enjoyed his way of expressing his thoughts even more. I don't think I've ever read anything from the DDT that didn't make me examine my own thinking.  


Bruce, you have a GREAT writing style ! Thanks again, my friend.  

[3fan4life]

Man, I like getting in your head almost as much as I like sitting on your bike riding along with you. (Hope that came out right.)

I'm so jealous it's not even funny that you're STILL on your Inzane ride!

I know planning is anathema to you in general, but now that Alaska is in the rear-view mirrors where do you go from here?

Wherever it is I'm sure you'll get the most out of it, learn and grow from it in the best ways possible.

Edit - Maybe the bugs weren't as bad because DDT had personally wiped most of them out 23 years ago?

Although I did do some of my best work all-time killing bugs on that outing... I can't take credit for the present circumstance... Oh well, I may just have to keep doing it... you know, for the good of the folks up there and all...

No plan, per se, but I do have sort of an outline... Thom (TP) and Nancy had recommended a ride to JP and me last year, but rain changed our plans for us. This year, I was going to swing through there on the way to InZane, but we changed that and opted for a loop-de-loo around Colorado instead... So, I'm just filling out some ride-resume stuff now... I do plan to swing through Alabama in a few days to visit with some dear friends... Then I'll head for Florida and put in an appearance, so I can maintain some semblance of a claim to residence there... After that...? Hard to say... but you knew that, didn't you...?

DDT

I know that you're not a "Planner" anymore but it would be great to hang out with you in Sparta Labor day weekend.

If the wind were to happen to blow you in that direction.

[Wizzard]

Your reports are Epic. Wish I could write like that. But i do take more pictures than you 

Thanks Bruce.

[DDT (12)]

Man, I like getting in your head almost as much as I like sitting on your bike riding along with you. (Hope that came out right.)

I'm so jealous it's not even funny that you're STILL on your Inzane ride!

I know planning is anathema to you in general, but now that Alaska is in the rear-view mirrors where do you go from here?

Wherever it is I'm sure you'll get the most out of it, learn and grow from it in the best ways possible.

Edit - Maybe the bugs weren't as bad because DDT had personally wiped most of them out 23 years ago?

Although I did do some of my best work all-time killing bugs on that outing... I can't take credit for the present circumstance... Oh well, I may just have to keep doing it... you know, for the good of the folks up there and all...

No plan, per se, but I do have sort of an outline... Thom (TP) and Nancy had recommended a ride to JP and me last year, but rain changed our plans for us. This year, I was going to swing through there on the way to InZane, but we changed that and opted for a loop-de-loo around Colorado instead... So, I'm just filling out some ride-resume stuff now... I do plan to swing through Alabama in a few days to visit with some dear friends... Then I'll head for Florida and put in an appearance, so I can maintain some semblance of a claim to residence there... After that...? Hard to say... but you knew that, didn't you...?

DDT

I know that you're not a "Planner" anymore but it would be great to hang out with you in Sparta Labor day weekend.

If the wind were to happen to blow you in that direction.

Well, I've been fretting some over the health issue with 'Ginger', and I've been most encouraged by your updates! I'm thinking I just may show up to have a look see and discover for myself just how she's doing... Yeah, and it would be good to hang with you, too, my friend... Looks like I'm heading that way... I hope!

DDT

[Strider]

What a great report my friend.....Enjoy the evolution........See you on the road soon I hope.  You never cease to amaze me with how you express the evolution process....

[JimmyG]

Bruce, I have thoroughly enjoyed your trip reports.....uh, adventure stories more like it.  What a trip, felt like I was there sometimes. Thanks for sharing the adventure. See ya soon...

[DDT (12)]

Bruce, I have thoroughly enjoyed your trip reports.....uh, adventure stories more like it.  What a trip, felt like I was there sometimes. Thanks for sharing the adventure. See ya soon...

Thanks Jimmy. I've almost called 'number 5' several times to order a DRU shirt... but I have no idea if I'll actually make that ride! Oh well... such is the life I've chosen... I'll see y'all when I see ya!

DDT

What a great report my friend.....Enjoy the evolution........See you on the road soon I hope.  You never cease to amaze me with how you express the evolution process....

Warren, my good friend... I do appreciate your words. More, I appreciate you! You are one of the most remarkable folks I know... and that is partly because of the path through life you have wound up on... Your own evolution has been... well... curious! We all do what we can with what we find, and, like you, that's what I have done. I do hope we can ride again together. I have some very fond memories of some of our adventures, and it sure would be fun to recall those with you. Until then, I'll continue to reflect quietly with a huge smile on my face!

DDT