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What Cops do when not protecting and serving.

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Greetings, I finally got my log in. I want to thank Bill for putting this together. Gave me a chance to send the link to friends & family that have not seen the trip Pics. I also wanted to address the mud slide. I’ve driven in that mud before and slick does not do it justice. The locals describe it as peanut butter spread over a greased cookie sheet. The difference this time was the trailer. I tow a trailer on every trip but Alaska; I just don't or didn't trust the roads. This year was my first attempt. To be honest; it makes the trip a lot easier, including this one. To cut costs, I pack camping gear and 2 meals a day. I do breakfast and dinner at the camp site, lunch on the road. So when you travel 2 up, that’s a lot of gear. I was concerned with some of the construction zones. Bill & I had a heck of a time on the 1998 trip because of construction. It was 2 or 3 miles of thick mud. There was absolutely no steering, just body English and pray. The 2004 trip I built a platform that attached to my trailer hitch. That held my tent and both sleeping bags. There again, you had to pack just right. Everything had a place and it had to be just right. It also shifted some weight to the rear. So this year I thought I would chance the trailer. Except for the mud, it worked wonderfully. Even the 50 or 60 miles of dirt road wasn’t an issue. Coming out of Chicken, I was being very careful not to spill my beer, (sorry, just had to throw that in.. I’m actually a coffee drinker) driving 20 or 25 mph. I came over a small rise in the road, saw a ridge line.. before I could finish my thought.. What the heck is that, BAM ! The wing fished tailed twice and slammed us down on the road. I know the trailer took a small fish tail and turned it into a jackknife, but it also saved it from going over the drop off. I was also concerned my son Aaron would be too jumpy the rest of the trip.. wrong ! He plugged in his MP3 player and was taking a nap before we rolled into TOK.

After getting a new windshield & helmet in Fairbanks.. the Wing ran fine. I rode it the 5000 miles home without a hic-up of any kind. I was shocked when the Georgetown Honda shop said 10,400 dollars to repair it. I was depressed to give up my 2003, well until I rode my 2008 Pearl White wing home. I had only one other trip collision, same son on that one too. It was the first year to wear full protection riding suits. Aaron and I had just arrived in Newfoundland. I stopped in Cornerbrook to get confirmation on a route to the camp site. Pulled back onto the road and a mini van made a left turn in front of me. She was on the phone and I just didn’t register. Aaron and I didn’t get a scratch but my 99 wing needed new forks. Her insurance gave us a nice hotel room & rental car. I had to cut out a side trip to Michicgan with my older brother, but what the heck. Aaron and I rode back to Texas. I also never made another trip with out full riding gear.. lesson learned.

Not that I’m trying to sway anyone on brands, but EVERYTHING I throw at the Wing, it handles. Seriously over loaded, loaded tail rack, heavy *** trailer, even put a bike rack on it in 2006. Loaded my Trek on the back and rode it to Santa Fe for a Century ride with my brother. :rider: It has never left me stranded, short of power when passing or handling on a curve. Ok, Honda commercial is over.
 
:welcome: WR877

Is the whole crew TWT members now? ;-)
Drag ya'll in, kicking and screaming.

But very much enjoying the trip report and pictures. :thumb:
Glad everyone made it home with stories to tell.
 
I too would like to add my appreciation for you taking the time to post such a well presented trip report. It looks like it was a great trip!
 
FJRMike said:
great report and pictures - really though, $3,000 ($100/day avg) is not bad considering you ate out all the time and spent time in motels/hotels.
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I had to think about that for a moment because I really hand't put it together in a daily cost. $100 a day seemed like a lot considering how we tried so hard to conserve spending. Then I realized that $3000 cost included the tires I bought in Fairbanks. That was $600. So I guess all things considered it wasn't too bad. When you travel with Longhaul you will save money.

By the way I want to say thanks to everyone who has responded so positivly about this report. Like I said before I really enjoyed doing this report. For me its nice to be able to share it this way because to tell the story in a conversation just doesn't do the trip justice and just looking through the pics without the story doesn't really do it either. ;-)
 
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FJRMike said:
great report and pictures - really though, $3,000 ($100/day avg) is not bad considering you ate out all the time and spent time in motels/hotels.
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I thought the same thing. Heck, I spend that much on beer on a good vacation. :trust: Really, I don't think I could stay HOME for 3-4 weeks and manage to spend less than a couple grand.
 
Ya and I know you have had one at lunch buddy. Hey Texason. Your Avitar is really cool. How did you do that.
 
:clap: Great ride report, gentlemen! I've begun looking at the trip for summer, 2008, but the prices you mentioned are out of my range. However, I've been told over 100 relatives showed up in Fairbanks for a family reunion, so ya never know where T-dub might show up!
 
KenH said:
:clap: I've begun looking at the trip for summer, 2008, but the prices you mentioned are out of my range.
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Just bite the bullet and do it. Cause the next thing ya know time has run out. Hope it works out for you.
 
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If I can get my career student son to graduate, I could make one of these trips every semester! :eek2: :-(
:lol2:
 
Viejo,

Thanks for the Ride Report... just Great!

A few questions if you don't mind:

Were your AST Jacket & Ranger Pants completely waterproof so you did not have to use a rainsuit on the trip?

What kind of waterproof gloves did you use?

What about waterproof boots?

Thanks in advance,

Rumba
 
Yes the Ranger pants and the AST jacket are totally waterproof. You will not need any other rain pants or coat.

I used Goretex winter gloves on the trip. They will keep you hands dry but the outer shell gets soaked and takes awhile to dry out. It can be a real pain. I would suggest getting something like the Aerostich waterproof glove covers. They cost $47 on their web sight.

442_c2h.jpg


As far as boots go I bought a pair of goretex insulated hunting boots at Cabelas. I got the tall uppers so that the pants wont ride up above the top of the boots.

Staying Warm, Dry, and comfortable is the secret to a going on a long trip like this. Its nice to know that the weather will not make your ride miserable. :sun:
 
Thanks Viejo,

I really appreciate you answers.

I have cold weather gloves with a rain covers so I will use those.

How do you clean the AST Jacket/ Ranger pants? Wash, dryclean? Does it need to be treated after cleaning to maintain the waterproofing?

Rumba
 
I had Tour Master jacket and Olympia pants. The jacket was weather proof but the pants were my summer pants which is a mesh mix. I couldn't find the Tour Master all weather pants I normally wear, found them after the trip in the guess bedroom closet were my wife put them. So I carried rain pants but the Wing has enough weather protection I only used them when it looked a little more serious. I wear Sidi On Road boots, which are weather proof. I also have the areostich glove covers pictured above. They are pricy but worth it when the sky really opens up.

My son was wearing a full set of Joe Rocket all weather jacket and pants. Weather resistant hiking boots.

It not only protected us in, less than perfect, weather.. it saved our butts during the mud slide.
 
Hey Rumba

I threw them into the washing machine. Did ok with the pants but the bright yellow jacket just will not come clean from all the mud that got on it on the Dalton Hwy. I scrubbed it with soap and brush to no avail. Aerostich makes something that you put in the washing machine to help waterproof their garments. probably wouldn't hurt with the Olympia stuff. I just used my pants and coat last week in a hard rain and no leaks.
 
Thanks Viejo and LongHaul,

I think I will get the AST Jacket and Ranger 2 Pants.

I have above the ankle Gortex waterproof boots but maybe a taller boot would be better.

Rumba
 
That is what I use on my stuff. I buy the soap & re-waterproof stuff from Aerostich and follow the instructions.
 
THE TALE OF TWO WINGS; Chap 2

WingHog and I were running a funeral escort today and a little old lady got into the precession from a side street. As WingHog was trying to jump back up to the front, this Little Old Lady turned left in front of him. He caught her left front and went down. He was treated & released with sore hip, shoulder and abrasions. The 93 wing started and I was able to drive it onto the flatbed wrecker but I think it’s going to be totaled. :-(

He may have to change his handle to ????hog until he fines a replacement.
 
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