Prologue:
Well, like all good stories this one starts in the middle... not the middle of this ride, mind you. Not in the middle of my life (hopefully). Not in the middle of a divorce (she might have because of this - but i haven't married her yet --> Win). But, in the middle of the summer in Texas when you just want to head north towards cooler weather.
After riding 48 States in 10 Days last September, I decided to do the only logical thing there was left to do... open my very own combination oil change/manicure/hair salon place in South Austin... Ok, maybe not. But, the place is weird enough for it to work...
Where was I? ... Oh yeah, I decided to ride to Alaska.
I started reading books, stories, ride reports and watching youtube videos of people's experiences while traveling through the Yukon and beyond. That'll get ya hooked quick.
This is an amazing series of videos that 2 guys shot riding from Nebraska to Deadhorse in 2011. If that doesn't make you want to go do it for yourself... I'm not sure what will. I watched the whole series through and bought a v-strom a week later.... this was going to happen.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kBWfegUhmk&list=PLA8KfE_jrc9mHGxg72RenkQDnKIt63wcp"]This[/ame]
The Plan:
Iron Butt pace out of Austin making a B-Line north. Ride across Canada and get lost in the mountains of Canada and Alaska for a week or so. Camp along the way/Hotel if needed, Tire Change in Fairbanks, Do magic and make 1/2 my seat disappear from clenching while i ride the Dalton. Check out the sights. Then B-line back home.
A. Nuthin'
B. Nuthin' Eh?
3. Moose avoidance training
q. 1000 miles of "Come to Jesus" moments
R. Recalibration as to how beautiful this world really is
&. Avoid Yogi and the boys while camping
7. Tap the rockies (coors light) - National parks, $1M highway
F. Back home through the Hairdryer-like texas heat in the summer.
Work is pretty tough to get more than a few days off at a time, but I managed to get 2 full weeks off + July 4th. So that gives me 17.5 days of riding time to get this done. I'll trim some of the stops off, I'm sure, as i go - depending on the progress i'm making, but i'm counting on a minimum of 10 hours in the saddle/day with 1 or 2 "easy" days built in.
My office for the trip:
A. Spot Tracker - The "Come quick and bring the heli-chopters button" also lets loved ones and stalkers know where i'm at.
B. Garmin GPS - Utilizes multiple geosynchronous orbiting satellites and some flavor of witch-craft called "Triangulation" to route me in the wrong direction 50% of the time.
3. Gopro - My Early Warning Device. Based on previous experience - This will record the miles of dull, un-interesting portion of the trip and then the batteries will die moments before something beautiful/dangerous/fun comes into view. Just watch for the light to go out and get ready to hold on.
D. Sped-O-Meter - No, I spelled that right. Not a speedometer. It tells me A speed. It's not my speed, the bike's speed or the crazy blue-haired ladies speed that happens to be driving next to me at the moment. The Japanese were able to make an engine that only needs a valve-shim adjustment every ice age... but they couldn't figure out to measure how fast it was going.
F. Fuel Gauge/Temp gauge/Idiot lights - The fuel gauge is full when there is 1 bar missing and the instant it clicks to 1 bar remaining, you have precisely enough time to mutter curse words under your breath and pull over as the engine dies.
I can only assume the temp gauge works because it heats up and cools down proportionally to me.
The idiot lights are all off, which worries me because it should know that i'm driving it and respond appropriately.
$. Tach - Works... spends lots of time above 6K
W. Bark-busters - for those trees I plan to hit.
T. Aux Light switch - Connected to legal(debatable) aux lights that are bright as ****.... good thing i'm heading to a place that gets 19 hours of light each day.
7. Phone - Uses the stuff I make at work to connect me (magically) to the rest of the world on a whim. Except when theres no coverage (Canada/Alaska) and where i don't want to pay for international roaming charges (Canada).... So, it's going to play music for me instead.
g. Throttle lock - The lazy button. Useful for letting you take pictures, eat something, take a drink, adjust "stuff" with your right hand and many more not-quite safe things while riding.
Z: Random parts I forgot to re-install (there's always extras) and tools (mostly hammers) that I haven't picked up yet after giving the bike a once-over
Absent from Pic:
1. Heated grip switch - 2 settings: Off and Burn
2. Powerlett outlet - Powers Camera and Gopro battery charger in my tank bag - This way, when the gopro dies and I see something interesting, I can put another one in thats charged already... and as soon as it dies, I can see something interesting again.
3. 2 Cig Outlets - Powers Phone and GPS
4. Battery LED - Lets me know when its getting close to pushing time.
5. Coax Cable - For heated vest/gloves
The bike is ready, Panniers are packed, gear is prepped... and now we play the waiting game....
The Trip kicks off July 3rd after a half-day at work.
Spotwalla
Well, like all good stories this one starts in the middle... not the middle of this ride, mind you. Not in the middle of my life (hopefully). Not in the middle of a divorce (she might have because of this - but i haven't married her yet --> Win). But, in the middle of the summer in Texas when you just want to head north towards cooler weather.
After riding 48 States in 10 Days last September, I decided to do the only logical thing there was left to do... open my very own combination oil change/manicure/hair salon place in South Austin... Ok, maybe not. But, the place is weird enough for it to work...
Where was I? ... Oh yeah, I decided to ride to Alaska.
I started reading books, stories, ride reports and watching youtube videos of people's experiences while traveling through the Yukon and beyond. That'll get ya hooked quick.
This is an amazing series of videos that 2 guys shot riding from Nebraska to Deadhorse in 2011. If that doesn't make you want to go do it for yourself... I'm not sure what will. I watched the whole series through and bought a v-strom a week later.... this was going to happen.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kBWfegUhmk&list=PLA8KfE_jrc9mHGxg72RenkQDnKIt63wcp"]This[/ame]
The Plan:
Iron Butt pace out of Austin making a B-Line north. Ride across Canada and get lost in the mountains of Canada and Alaska for a week or so. Camp along the way/Hotel if needed, Tire Change in Fairbanks, Do magic and make 1/2 my seat disappear from clenching while i ride the Dalton. Check out the sights. Then B-line back home.
A. Nuthin'
B. Nuthin' Eh?
3. Moose avoidance training
q. 1000 miles of "Come to Jesus" moments
R. Recalibration as to how beautiful this world really is
&. Avoid Yogi and the boys while camping
7. Tap the rockies (coors light) - National parks, $1M highway
F. Back home through the Hairdryer-like texas heat in the summer.
Work is pretty tough to get more than a few days off at a time, but I managed to get 2 full weeks off + July 4th. So that gives me 17.5 days of riding time to get this done. I'll trim some of the stops off, I'm sure, as i go - depending on the progress i'm making, but i'm counting on a minimum of 10 hours in the saddle/day with 1 or 2 "easy" days built in.
My office for the trip:
A. Spot Tracker - The "Come quick and bring the heli-chopters button" also lets loved ones and stalkers know where i'm at.
B. Garmin GPS - Utilizes multiple geosynchronous orbiting satellites and some flavor of witch-craft called "Triangulation" to route me in the wrong direction 50% of the time.
3. Gopro - My Early Warning Device. Based on previous experience - This will record the miles of dull, un-interesting portion of the trip and then the batteries will die moments before something beautiful/dangerous/fun comes into view. Just watch for the light to go out and get ready to hold on.
D. Sped-O-Meter - No, I spelled that right. Not a speedometer. It tells me A speed. It's not my speed, the bike's speed or the crazy blue-haired ladies speed that happens to be driving next to me at the moment. The Japanese were able to make an engine that only needs a valve-shim adjustment every ice age... but they couldn't figure out to measure how fast it was going.
F. Fuel Gauge/Temp gauge/Idiot lights - The fuel gauge is full when there is 1 bar missing and the instant it clicks to 1 bar remaining, you have precisely enough time to mutter curse words under your breath and pull over as the engine dies.
I can only assume the temp gauge works because it heats up and cools down proportionally to me.
The idiot lights are all off, which worries me because it should know that i'm driving it and respond appropriately.
$. Tach - Works... spends lots of time above 6K
W. Bark-busters - for those trees I plan to hit.
T. Aux Light switch - Connected to legal(debatable) aux lights that are bright as ****.... good thing i'm heading to a place that gets 19 hours of light each day.
7. Phone - Uses the stuff I make at work to connect me (magically) to the rest of the world on a whim. Except when theres no coverage (Canada/Alaska) and where i don't want to pay for international roaming charges (Canada).... So, it's going to play music for me instead.
g. Throttle lock - The lazy button. Useful for letting you take pictures, eat something, take a drink, adjust "stuff" with your right hand and many more not-quite safe things while riding.
Z: Random parts I forgot to re-install (there's always extras) and tools (mostly hammers) that I haven't picked up yet after giving the bike a once-over
Absent from Pic:
1. Heated grip switch - 2 settings: Off and Burn
2. Powerlett outlet - Powers Camera and Gopro battery charger in my tank bag - This way, when the gopro dies and I see something interesting, I can put another one in thats charged already... and as soon as it dies, I can see something interesting again.
3. 2 Cig Outlets - Powers Phone and GPS
4. Battery LED - Lets me know when its getting close to pushing time.
5. Coax Cable - For heated vest/gloves
The bike is ready, Panniers are packed, gear is prepped... and now we play the waiting game....
The Trip kicks off July 3rd after a half-day at work.
Spotwalla