Alaska, One off the Bucket List

[coachchuck]

This post should be moved to the Completed Adventure.

Well I am about to get another Item off my Bucket list.

I want to Experience Alaska. I plan on seeing a little of Canada along the way also.

Alaska is bigger than several countries. It is like it is a country of its own.

I have looked forward to this for many years now. I have planned for it for 9 months now. I less than 2 weeks, the adventure begins.

I would like to take my wife along, but she doesn’t think it will be much fun if she has to ride on the back of a motorcycle and camp for the next 30 days. We went to Hawaii a few years back and that was more of her kind of adventure.

Here is a link to the route I took. http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?...c4fce227bdb43e

[coachchuck]

Friday June 1

Neil decided to go with me on my Pre Trip Test Run. He loaded a little lighter than me. I gathered all the items that I plan on taking and loaded them. It was to be a true test run. I packed everything for a 30 day trip, even if I was only going to be gone for part of 3 days. See the list of items on the page labeled Equipment

I finished installing the Sonic Springs Friday morning. It is unbelievable how much better the front is on the Wee. I think about changing the tires and decide I don’t have enough time to do it before I leave. Besides the rear tire is good for at least 1500 miles (the front for 3000 miles) and I am only looking at maybe 700 miles.

I pack everything. I then unpack and repack to get everything in a nice neat compact order and still very accessible. I take into account when i might need it. I end up packing it all about 3 times and parts of it 5 times. I am happy with the order now and everything is in a dry area that needs to be. I am not foolish enough to think that there will be no rain or possibly snow on this month long trip.

Neil arrives about 3pm on Friday. He had to take care of the farm before he could leave. This is going to be a long ride for him, having not ridden even 200 miles in a trip. And having not ridden the motorcycle in a long time. We take off. About 1 1/2 hours later we stop to grab a bite to eat. Neither of us has had lunch and it is almost dinner time. Our next stop is Oseola Cheese. If you are ever on hwy 13 and go by it, you have to stop. They have 100s and 100s of different kinds of cheese. They offer samples, and I always end up buying something I haven’t had before, because I try a sample of it. Next stop is for gas. It was short in and out.

We continue on to our final destination for the day. It is a good thing I over packed. The tempature has dropped into the 40s. Neil packed for the 90s. I give him some of my winter gear. I put on some warmer clothing I am carrying also. SMORR (South Missouri Off Road Ranch). I have been here many times in my jeep, but this time it is only to camp there. It is quite the place. The shower facility has both heat and AC. We like the heat tonight. When we arrive we are greeted by the owner, who is curious how we found the place, since motorcycles are not the norm here. It is not near major town or attraction unless you like off-roading. He tells us where we can set camp and that they serve breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30. We each set up our camp in the dark. then build a small fire to sit around. Finally sleepy we go to our individual tents for the night.

You can see our route at the Maps page It is the 2nd link on June 1. http://alaskavstrom.wordpress.com/map/

[coachchuck]

I wish I could sleep in. It is habit to get up. So right at 5am my internal alarm clock went off. So I got up, added wood to the fire, watched the sun come up over the horizon with the horses in the field below it. It was kinda pinkish sun rise this morning. walked around camp. I then could go back to sleep. The next time I woke up, there was something messing with the tent. I get out and find the owners puppy using the tent for a slide. He runs up as far as it can and slides down the side of tent. It is a black Labrador puppy, and not very old. Neils is up now, so we kinda plan the day.

The breakfast bell is rung at about 7:30. I get biscuits and sausage gravy with tator-tots. We talk to some guys we know that have come down to off-road. Then pack up camp and we are off. We head out to see Peel Ferry. We were told it is not far. Ends up being about 90 miles and in another state.

Well we took off for the ferry on Bull Shoals, the air was in the upper 60s and a clear sky. What a beautiful day for a ride. We travelled around, almost got lost, stopped to talk with some locals. Neil was offered 12 horses to add to his 2. They are in a draught down there and hay is expensive. He decided not to take them up on the offer. We continued on the hills, the curves the trees, looking down from the hill-tops to the valleys was absolutely beautiful.

I got a little surprise. Coming around a curve, I caught some gravel on a corner. Well I didn’t do so well. I was on the outside line of the curve. Soon as I lost all the contact with the asphalt, and was in the grassy shoulder, I dropped the bike. It was a lowside. I went rolling down the road with the asphalt shredding my jacket and the bike went sliding down the ditch. I was surprised at how little damage the bike sustained. The worst of the damage was the bracket that held the luggage on. It allowed the bag to hit the swing arm. Neil found a large stick to wedge the luggage box away from the rack and I bungee corded it in place. We started up the bike and off we went to ride on the ferry.

We didn’t have to wait on the ferry long. It was departing when we got there, about 30 minutes later we were loading for the ride across the lake.

img_4190.jpg
Peel Ferry

[coachchuck]

Thur – Fri, Jun 7-8

Well I got a new jacket and face shield on order after I damaged these in the wreck. My new Jacket is Tourmaster Air Intake 3. I didn’t have any time to research, but several riders I talked with liked theirs. Hope this works out.

I got my bike back together. I used a 3 lb hammer, 3 foot pry bar, and a couple of wood 2by4 scraps to fix the brackets that hold my Jesse Luggage on. I contacted Jesse and they could sell me a new bracket inexpensively, but didn’t have any in stock. And I could not wait for their next run of them. I have the old style, not what they are currently using. So I had to make do with reshaping the piece myself. I got the mirror back in position and fastened the hand guard back on with a zip tie. It is sometimes amazing what you can accomplish with simple tools. Really not much damage.

In preparing the bike, I replaced the tires with Anekee 2. Changed the oil, replaced the chain, checked the sprockets, brakes, and all the bolts. I used Ride-On in the tires for both balancing and sealing. It took me about 4 hours to change both tires, I don’t have machines for this so I used a C-clamp and tire spoons. The new tires feel so much nicer than the old wore out ones did.

I have laid out all the equipment, clothes, documents, and supplies I am taking on the dining room table. I keep checking it; thinking I am forgetting something. On the pre-trip run I forgot a fork and a towel. I am amazed at how small amount of space is needed when you go toward minimalism and not take everything like some past trips in campers with the family.

I finalized my proposed route. Of course this route can change at any time. It will be dictated by weather, road conditions, time required at someplace, money, and my whim. I might decide to stay somewhere for a while or I might not. The only time line I have to follow is the trip has to be over so I can go back to work on July 16th.

[coachchuck]

I plan to be somewhat minimalist, after all I have been either car camping or hotel-ling is for some time now.


My Transportation
Bike and Modifications: bike.jpg

Suzuki DL650K8 – VeeStrom

Tires – Anakee 2 front and back (I will install just before I leave)

Skid/engine protection plate – H&B

Engine Guard – H&B

Handle bar risers – Roc shok

Seat – Sargent

Folding highway pegs

Electrical – Fuse block – Eastern Beaver PC8

- 2 power outlets (generic, marine grade)

- heated grips (generic, from a snowmobile)

- volt meter

- air thermostat and ice indicator (degree C)

Suspension - Rear – DL1000 shock/springs

- Front – Sonic 1.0 (have to get these in yet)

Gearing – 16 tooth sprocket

GPS – Garmin ETrax Legend C (my old hiking GPS)

-Ram handle bar mount

SPOT – location and tracking device (to let the wife know where I am)

Luggage – Jesse Odyssey (the original)

Tool kit – not what I use in the garage, but what I can get by with when I have to.

Liquids – 1 qt of oil

- 1 gallon of gasoline

- 1 can of chain lube

Items wear :

1- Scorpion 900 transformer helmet

1- Tourmaster air intake 3 jacket

1- Fieldsheer 4 season over pants

1- gortex rain suit “Bass Pro Qualifier”

1- rain over gloves

1- winter Gloves

1- summer Gloves

1- Fleece coat

2- Wicking shirts (Cabelas)

1- long sleeve shirt

3- Wicking underwear (Cabelas Silver Tech)

2- pair socks medium weight

1- pair socks heavy weight (Bass Pro)

1- pair boots “Danner Ft Lewis”

1- base layer medium weight

1 – pair of jeans

Camping Items:

1- minus 20F sleeping bag long “Cabelas Diamond Peak”

1- sleeping pad “Browning Northstar”

1 – light blanket

1- 2 person tent w/ground cover “Big Agnes”

1- mesh kit from hiking gear

1- stove “Jetboil Flash”

1- water filter system “MSR Sweetwater”

1- bug repellent “Thermocell”

1- towel and wash cloth

1 – 55 L Ascend Dry Bag (Bass Pro)

1 – 40 L Dry Bag (Walmart)

6 – small dry bags (Walmart)

Other Items:

1 – hydration pack

1- Netbook

1- guide book (MILEPOST)

1- first aid kit (homemade)

1 – Cell phone

1- Nikon D70 (my old faithful) camera and lenses

1 – passport and copy of passport

1 – motorcycle insurance card and copy of insurance card

1 – medical insurance card and copy of insurance card

1 – drivers license and copy of drivers license

1- toiletry kit –soap, razor, toothbrush, deodorant, comb, etc

[coachchuck]

June 15, 2012

Well the trip started today.

I made if from Freeman MO to Lake Poinsett State Rec Area out side Arlington SD. I stayed on I-29 most of the way. The rode is good, but the scenery is flat farm land. It was heavy clouds most of the way. I had rain for Cedar Rapids to Souix City IA. After Souix Falls SD the clouds broke and it was sunny. I traveled 513 miles today.

I got gas 4 times, I didn’t start with a full tank. And I did let it get below 2 bars, since I didn’t know where the next gas station is.

I stopped to look at a wind farm on the hills overlooking the Missouri river valley. Those things are big. I saw several windmill props being moved down the highway. One is longer than 2 semis with trailers.

windmill1.jpgwindmill2.jpg
WindMiill Farm

The most unusual thing I saw was a dead peacock. I am used to seeing dead deer or raccoon or squirrel or many wild animals that have been hit by a car. But I don’t ever remember seeing a peacock on the highway before.

I found a nice state park campground. Cost $14 with day permit. It has showers, although they are a ways from my tent site. It is right on the lake. People are out night fishing right now. It is very family oriented or at least that is who is here tonight. I am setting looking out over the lake, watching the lights of the fishing boats move over the water.
campsite 1.jpgcampsite 2.jpg

Of course, I did forget something. I forgot my toiletry kit; the toothbrush, soap, razor, toothpaste, etc. I guess I will have to stop tomorrow and pick them up.

[coachchuck]

This will be a long post since it is several days journal

June 16, 2012

I slept under a Sycamore tree last night. It was hot when I went to bed. Near 90 degree F. It nice this morning. It is 18.4 degree C. I have a thermometer on the motorcycle, but it only gives the temperature in Celsius.

dsc_0010.jpgI woke up to early like normal. There was only one person fishing on the lake. I talked with him over breakfast. Found out he is a misplaced Texan. I got a late start since it decided to shower a little and got the tent wet.

I followed the rain most of the way, never getting anything other than sprinkles, but I was on the back side of the rain front. The road was wet with puddles for 5 hours of trip.dsc_0011.jpg

I run into a dairy farming area in northern South Dakota. The land is rather flat. Both North and South Dakota has a lot of water. There is ponds and lakes everywhere. So there are ducks, geese, sea gulls and other water birds all over the place. No real hills, more like mounds and water between the mounds. At least in the parts of the state I travelled thru. The scenery is fields and crops along with the water. It seemed strange that the pile rocks in the field when they clear them. I would think they would put the rocks at the edge.dsc_0013.jpg

Before I got into North Dakota, I started getting wind from the Northwest. It stayed with me all day. It was rather strong and really dropped my gas mileage and range on a tank. I have traveled 1000 miles now on this journey.

dsc_0015.jpgI saw several abandon buildings along the way. So did not look all the bad of shape, others did.

I set up my tent at the campground in Surrey (just east of Minot) North Dakota. It is a small campground in the city park. It has water on site. The electrical is 30 or 50 amp for RVs, so you can’t just plug a normal cord into it. The toilet and showers are across the baseball field from the campground. The price is $5 a night for tents.
dsc_0031.jpg
There is a biker bar in town. I decided not to go to it, since I was looking for food. 14 Harleys and 3 very drunk people outside. Someone was doing burnouts inside, the smoke and noise was just pouring out the open door. The other bar served edible food, and I talked to several of the patrons. Most were here for the oil boom. In fact, 4 of the RV and 1 tent had people working around the oil boom jobs. The guy in the tent has been looking for a place to rent for 2 months now.

I think I may change my route after taking with several travelers. Each recommended a different route. All said they would not enter Canada where I thought.

I will probably put on some warmer clothes tomorrow. I was a bit chilled today. I thought about stopping to put a liner in my jacket, but never got quite chilly enough to do that. The current temp is 17.4 C. The wind had died down some, so it is not too bad.

I will use the shower tonight since I stopped and got my toiletries.

June 17, 2012

Today I travelled 497 miles. I am camping at the GlenDale Regional Park outside of Maymont, Saskatchewan. It has flush toilets, but no showers. It is on the Saskatchewan river. It is wet. Everywhere it wet. It has been raining or showers most all day. I had probably a total of 1 hour dry riding between each shower or storm. You can easily see them coming. The horizon turns dark from the land to as far up as you can see if it is a heavy one coming. If it is a shower, you can see it, but it will be lighter to the sides. There are still heavy clouds and looks like it will rain again. I saw plenty of abandon houses and barns that could be camped (boon docking) in, but it is too muddy to get the bike over to them without getting it stuck. So it is a public campground tonight, because the road though muddy does have gravel under the mud.
camp3.jpg
I saw several things I would have liked to take pictures of, but did get many because of the rain. I would have like to take a picture of the moose crossing sign (I am use to deer crossing), of several fields with rock piles in them, and of scenery from some of the high points along the way. There was one spot that was just wonderful, you started down the hill and rounded the curve on the hill and it opened up to the road which is just barely above the water level crossing a lake bounded by the hills. I think I was on Hwy 39 at the time. I did get some of the water birds at one lake crossing. I got a picture of a drag line bucket. I saw some hugh, I mean really big cranes that were working on strip mining coal. I could not get close enough to get a picture that would give them any justice.
bucket.jpg
Gas is not as high as I thought it would be. It has been running about $1.25/liter. I filled 3 times today. I lost my water jug somewhere along the way. I went to get a drink and it was gone. So I picked up a 6 pk of water bottles for $3.00.

I spend some time at the border crossing. Getting through was not a problem. Give the patrol my passport, and answer some simple questions. There is an information both just inside Canada. I spent a while talking in there to find the best way. He didn’t think the route I was taking was the best. So we discussed it and I changed my route a little. The time changed in Saskatchewan to 1 hour earlier than North Dakota.
birds.jpg
The temperature started the day at 16.4 C, but when I hit the rain it dropped to 14.2 C and it is not 11.5 C. I will have to get a converter out to find out what that is that I can understand. But right now, I have no WIFI, and no cell coverage. So I can’t text or call anyone. I hope the “I’m Here for the Night” signal went out OK.
geese.jpg
June 18, 2012

Last night got cold enough to sleep in the sleeping bag. But not with it zipped up. It still wasn’t that cold.

1.jpgWell it started out wet. I broke camp in the rain. It continued to rain for about 70 miles. Then I stopped for breakfast, and to pick up a gas can. I ran the bike down to ¼ gallon of gas left before I found a place to fill up.

I continued on Yellowhead highway into Alberta. The scenery slowly changed from rolling crop land to rolling cropland with trees. I stopped at McDonalds in Edmonton to use the WIFI, but theirs was not working. So couldn’t upload any journal updates or pictures. My cell phone is in Roaming, so I am not using it. The price of gas in less in Alberta by 10 to 12 cents per liter.

I turned on to hwy 43 and started toward Dawson. Along this route I saw bison in the timber, several deer in open meadows, geese with goslings, but no moose. But there were a lot of moose crossing signs posted. It rained off and on. Once again the wind was coming from the northwest and I am traveling northwest. The gas mileage suffered.

This part of the country is having oil boom also. So all the motels, hotels, and campgrounds are full. I found a place to stay between Valleyview and Little Smokey called Popular Ridge. It is a small place. It is also full, but I could put my tent up if I wanted. They did warn me that a mountain lion is in the area, but they hadn’t seen a bear recently. This is a nice family campground with swing set, jungle gym, sand box, and horse shoes. It is raining of course. I talk with lady owner, and she suggests I pitch my tent in the big gazebo, which I do since it will give the tent a little chance to dry. It cost $16, there is warm showers, laundry facility, but no WIFI. She is very interesting; a native aborigines of this area. Lived in the bush most of her life and only got electricity 13 years ago. I also met Tim who is an oil line working, moves from job site to job site in his travel trailer, his family join him some in the summer.

[coachchuck]

June 19, 2012

Today was a slow start. I waited for the heavy rain to stop. The campground owner invited me into their house to watch the weather on TV. We set around and talked about politics and the youth of today. Of how the oil pipe line is changing everything. They are saying it will be another 17 years of work in that area. Once the majority of the rain had gone through, I took off. I didn’t have as much rain today. Just the occasional storm and shower.
9.jpg
The scenery is changing. I am getting into taller hills and lots of trees. Evergreens and Birch. I saw my first bear, elk, and moose. They were all dead in the ditch. They had been hit by something bigger than a car I figure, because there was no car around. The semi tractors have heavy duty grill guards on them. I also saw some live elk at a couple of different ranches. The fencing is tall.
10.jpg
I loved the smell. It lightly smells like pine-sol. It is so refreshing.
11.jpg
I stopped in Dawson Creek, The beginning of the Alaska highway. There is a good information place there. I picked up maps for British Columbia and Yukon Territory. I met a couple that is traveling around the world. They are from Czech Republic. They started with an expedition to Mongolia. But continued on. They think it will take about 3 ½ years. You can see where they have traveled by the map on the hood of their car. They are now headed for South America. He has to stop every 3 months to go back to Czech to work for 1 month.
12.jpg
I stopped for supper tonight at the Shepherds Inn at Mile Marker 72. I have Potato Cheese Soup and ½ a loaf of homemade bread. It tasted great, just wish it was less than $12. Everything is a little higher up here and with the gas boom in the area, they can charge whatever they want.
13.jpg
The Natural gas boom has made open campsites show up for the workers. They are a lot like a tent town. Only they are portable trailers that have 3 to 5 doors like a motel would have. Portable shower houses, and portable kitchens. All the campsites are taken for 100s of miles around. If I was in an RV I would have a place to stay, but since I am in a small tent, The campground found me a spot that is not really a camp spot. But it is level and not to muddy. The moss forest floor is so soft, it is like have a pillow top mattress under you tent. However, the mosquitoes are getting much worse. They are starting to bother me even if someone else is around. This camping spot is $16 for the night and showers are $1 for every 4 minutes. The water has to be hauled in and they have a 85KW generator powering the campground. It is not raining right now, but has been for about a week I am told. They don’t really have gravel so the roads at the campground are a mess. It is very muddy, but the gas working are wearing muck boots so it seems normal.
14.jpg
It got up to 17 C at one point today, it is suppose to get down to 8 C tonight.

Well I am ready to turn in. The sun is still out, but I am tired. It is 10pm here and midnight at home.

[coachchuck]

Today started dry. It was a wonderful change. It got up to 20.4 C today. Only a few short showers all day long.
20.jpg21.jpg
I hit the mountains today. The scenery is great. Today was worth all the seat time. It was like a mix of Tetons and Yellowstone without the traffic. There were animals that are not tame like the ones around Yellowstone. If you stop to look, they disappear into the forest. I saw 5 moose, 9 bears, 10 bison, 3 herds of mountain sheep, and one caribou. I was unable to get a picture of the caribou.

Went to some turns off and saw a big waterfall.
22.jpg23.jpg
It is incredibly beautiful. Hard to put it in words.

I am camping at Watson Lake. I had a walk through the sign forest. It is interesting. Look it up on the web.
24.jpg25.jpg
I couldn’t find a campground that would take a tenter, only RVs, so I talked with a local (Garman-Wilson) who offered his back yard for tent space. He told me the tent campground in town was run by the government and flooded earlier so they will not be using it this year. So I camping in his yard. Just prior to meeting Garman-Wilson, I met 3 guys from Iowa and now they are camping there also. Garman-Wilson game me a flag of the Yukon Territory and would not accept payment for staying at his place. He opened up the house for use of the bathroom and shower if we wanted. And of course a hot shower is nice after a long days ride. Interest fact: the whole Yukon has less than 50,000 people in it. But has 150,000 moose.

I had MREs for supper, it was pretty good. I ate that because the local restaurant and store both closed at 8pm and it was about 9pm by the time I got camp set. So I had to eat what I brought.
26.jpg27.jpg
I stayed up late into the night enjoying the comradely. At midnight the sun was still up. You can easily loss track of time here with so much daylight.

Hopefully this link will work it is to all the pictures today. https://plus.google.com/photos/11168...16470222111777

[coachchuck]

June 21, 2012

Today was another wonderful day. The scenery was fabulous again. It was dry most of the day I got an early start, but stopped at the café in Watsons Lake. Had a 3 egg ham and cheese omelet with coffee of just under $10. A real reasonable price for up here and it was good.
31.jpg32.jpg
At breakfast I talked with Chip and Linn from Chicago, who were riding the Alaska highway put doing less than 300 miles a day. Meet up with them later at Tesslin. Also met up with Steve again, he is from Colorado. We partnered up to ride together since we are both headed to Deadhorse. He rides a VStrom also, but the 1000.

I saw more mountains, trees and wilderness, and now at a higher altitude, there is snow still here.
33.jpg
Came across a couple of grizzly bears. Actually saw 3 grizzlies and 1 black bear today. Not many other animals.
34.jpg35.jpg
We were following a rain storm so the road was wet and muddy where they were repairing it. Decided to push on to camp, but found it closed and had to go even further. This put me in the rain storm for about 150 kilometers.


That ain’t wet asphalt. That is mud where they are making repairs.
36.jpg37.jpg
We end up stopping at Beaver Creek and staying at a motel. I am splitting the cost of a room with Steve. The warm shower felt good after driving in the cold mountain rain storm for so long.

This is the summer Solaris, the longest day of the year. I know the sun was up at 3:30am and it is still up at 1:15am. I am not sure how long the day is.