Hello from CMA Alaska Lady......

[Bluebabe]

Cool, thanks! Oh, a BMW club, cool. Will have to see if we can get down that way some time....

Thanks again

[badinfluence63]

Bluebabe,

Alaska is the only state I've never made it to. Maybe as my retirement treat for me and my wife we will plan a 2 wheeled trip over the river and through the woods, to includse the Alcan highway to Alaska. Is it paved or gravel rocks? My brother planned his own honey moon agenda and brought back fantatstic pictures. You have eagles like we have pigeons and sea gulls!

[Bluebabe]

Yep, it would be a great trip! We came up it on the Wing last year. Rob (my husband), rode out with a friend on June 4th and ran into unexpected cold weather, 32 degrees and snowing all the way to Whitehorse, but they made it. When they rolled in, their windshields were cakes of ice but they knew if they stopped, they'd be stuck. Went into Seattle, I flew in, then we rode to Sacramento to see our daughter and then back up the highway home. It was awesome and Canada is gorgeous. Yep, just do your homework and you should be fine. Once you get on the Alcan, the gas stations are a little far and in between, so either carry an extra can or make sure of your bike's mileage. More gear on it, more gas. Some of the stations were OUT of gas, which we didn't expect, but the Wing is awesome on it's mileage and we weren't ever in any trouble.

It is paved and usually fine unless you run into construction. Try to come earlier, no later than the middle of June. After that, you will run into more along the way. But, that's everywhere, huh? Can just be a little more on the rough side coming up. When you get into Beaver Creek it is notorious for its' frost heaves, so you need to "adjust" your riding to compensate for the heaves, especially if you are pulling a trailer.

I was talking with slimcolo yesterday about the Dalton Highway once you get up here. Notorious for "chewing up" motorcycles if you don't have the right bike. I ran across a picture that I thought he would enjoy.....the Dalton Highway, otherwise known as the "Haul Road" during the pipeline days, is a transport road for semi's hauling equipment, supplies, etc. to the Pump Stations. It also turns to what we have affectionately learned to call "liquid cement" when it gets wet. Dries hard as a rock on your bike and it just as hard as it sounds to drive in when it's wet. So, let's see if I can use your trick to get this picture on here.



The one in the front is mine with hubby's in the background. End of the pavement runs about 70 or so miles up the Elliott Highway, then it becomes the Dalton Highway which runs another oh, roughly 460 miles or so to the Arctic Ocean. We drove up there once in a cage to see Prudhoe Bay where Rob worked on the pipeline in the '70's and it was like going through 3 different season's at once, summer, fall and winter. Pretty trippy!

So, yes, that would be an AWESOME trip, like I said, just do your homework and I will be happy to help you with that.

[badinfluence63]

Bluebabe,

Hey hey I see you both have Nolans 102's or 104's (I forget if its 102 or 104). I do too. Trying to convince wife to do same. Nice looking machines! I almost bought a 1800 Goldwing. I had strongly considered it.

That was a fun read and thanks for the photo(I see the magic link worked for you too). That would be a dream ride and one that I am sure would take a couple weeks and more then a few issues alonng the way. The bike du jour will be a FLHTCUI w/ sidecar so sounds perfect for extra gas and what nots. I haven't got the #'s yet but I am sure I won't be getting the gas milage as your guy's bike or even just a regular FL because of the sidecar. Its too new for me to have figured out the milage. Hope to do that this mid Novemeber when I will be gone on it for about 2 weeks.

Lucky you to live in Alaska!

[Bluebabe]

Yes, it IS nice to be up here except for the winters, they can be pretty harsh at times.

That's why a lot of people go "south" for the winters like the geese do and then come back in the spring or otherwise known as "snowbirds!"

Glad you enjoyed the pics. My hubby got me that bike for my birthday one year and he bought it on HIS birthday.....yeah, he's a keeper. I kept "whining" that my 600 Honda Shadow kept saying, "I think I can, I think I can" when we would go on our rides together. It was a nice bike, just didn't have the pickup that I wanted.

Be interesting to see the difference with your wife and the sidecar.

The Nolan's are the 102's. Had them for a couple of years now. They are nice, I like the flip up. Thinking about getting mine painted though to match my bike. We also have CB's on both bikes so is nice to talk back and forth. He has the 6 CD player in his bike so can listen to music or an audio book on the longer stretches. Makes it nice for cruising. I cannot listen to music, too distracting for me.

Well, better get, time for work!

[dr_bar]

Gee, as well as the Nolan, it looks like you also have the same J&M radio that I have. I'm running with the Nolan N-Com helmet...

[badinfluence63]

how does that work? I have a Nolan, I guess a 102 w/out the ncom, will that still take a mike setup from HD or will I have to purchase a more adaptable setup? Hate to have to buy another helmet, especially another nolan$$$$ to do so.

[Patrick]

The picture by the hwy is cool but it does look cold. You need to get down here this time of year. This weekend should be in the low 80's and we are already planning a overnighter for the weekend.

Sorry to rub it in!



Patrick

[Bluebabe]

Yeah, that sounds pretty nice.....okay, I'll take the aplogy since there was a flower that came with it!!

Today it is a whopping 18 degrees and we have about 4-6" of snow on the ground. Not bad. Normally it is below zero this time of year.....hmmmmm, must be that global warming thing.....

Well, you BETTER enjoy your ride this weekend for the rest of us that can't!

[Patrick]

You could not even get me out of the house at 18 degrees. Now I am really sorry. At my age, my back and shoulders get all achy in the winter, I cannot imagine 18 degrees this early in the season. Good luck and when you get retired you and your husband get on down here.