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Month: July 2017

THE SCORE

THE SCORE

All is well, that ends well.
Total mileage 8648 my odometer showed 9200 but is 6% off.
I rode a total of 27 days with two off for a honeymoon break.
Rode 20 days straight without a break. Typically rode 400 miles per day, 10 to 12 hours. Typically rode 100 miles between breaks for water and pee. 
My butt got sore the last hour, 9 or 12 hours makes no difference, just that last hour.
4400 miles going and 4250 returning. Took just emergency camping gear and thank you, never had to use it.
My first trip to Alaska that I never once fell, nor even dropped the moto. Of course I did not ride all that much gravel, except the scary construction zones.
Motorcycle performed perfectly. Oiled the chain daily, adjusted just once. Did not wash. It’s still dirty.
Meet some good people along the way. Many Colombians and Brazilian riders.
Most Alaska riders are riding the big BMW’s or KTM ‘s
Many of them riding double.
The Vstrom is about as close as you can get to a balance of ability to highway cruise 70 mph, and rugged off road use. No motorcycle will do it all well.
I had a mirror loosen, tightened it, and I lost a screw from my chain guard, that’s it.
As for me, I never even broke a fingernail.
Did not ride any new roads.
Did not gain or loss weight. Did not eat healthy food.
Had at least one stiff cocktail, immediately after getting to the hotel. Amazing what that will do for you.
Rode only twice in the dark, once for 15 miles and the other for 3 hours to beat the heat coming from California to home.
Will sell the moto now, and perhaps give up riding, just don’t enjoy it as I once did.
Alcira is happy about that decision.
What i have learned
Solo traveling is for solo people.
When u have someone
at home who cares it’s totally different, your always thinking of them
It’s not nice nor right to leave your wife alone, even if she says it ok.
Now When I travel outside of the US, even Canada, I feel less secure, can’t call AAA. Any legal or medical issue would be complicated.
Bears seem to hear better than deer. The deer never seem to hear a moto coming bears always do.
Rain is little impediment to riding, wind is.
Neglecting to take your GPS is stupid, even when you have driven the same roads before.
The old adage of taking 1/2 the cloths and twice the money is very wise.
After a long day in the saddle, a good stiff drink makes all better.
Knowing yourself is the most important tool for a safe ride.
Thanks to all of you for following along.

Day of rest

Day of rest

Had a very nice day of rest with my grandchildren and family. Adrianna, Captain of the ship, Ivan a Naval Academy graduate, now a major, soon To be a LC, and V22 Osprey pilot, hence the Tiger Cruise, Sofía 8, and Victoria 3.
Left in the afternoon, rode to San Bernardino for dinner with brother Allen and Charla, then after the sun set, rode the 3 hours to Blythe to beat the heat, took a room and will continue another 3 hours to home. Yeh.

Ivan Adrianna Victoria Sofia
Abuelo y mis nietos
Preciosa, parece exactamente como mi cuñada Chris
San Marcos, CA

San Marcos, CA

260 miles today, my shortest ride yet. Clear skies, moderate temps and crowned LA freeways.
By far the most dangerous thing I have done on this trip is California Lane-Sharing an adventurer in itself, saves tons of time but a very dangerous. adventure. I have no idea why it is legal.
Now in San Marcos visiting grandkids.

Santa Maria

Santa Maria

Another 11 hour ride today, down the very scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Cannot imaging a more beautiful coastline anywhere. Clear sky’s but cool. After the large mud slides of last year there were many bridges under repair and detours, making progress slow. The same mudslides also closed the PCH from Big Sur to Cambria, therefore after crossing the Golden Gate, I rode through the city and continued down the 101 to Santa Maria.

Beautiful Mendocino
Oceanside Inn

Oceanside Inn

Left Newport continuing down route 101, quite cool in the am and never really warmed. The Oregon coast is very beautiful and scenic. Lots of little sea-side towns and lots of traffic, also saw quite a few people in the water, WHY ? air temp 61 and water temp 56, Crazy.
Crossed into California and took a little drive through the Redwoods, made a nice video, but all that came out was this single shot.

Oregon Coast

Redwood forest. California

Newport, Oregon

Newport, Oregon

I left Poulsbo at 8 am via route 101 for the pacific coast. If you like trees you will love Washington, me not so much, there are just too many and they are too green. I like country a little more open. The weather was clear but cool, I had on 5 layers of clothes and left them on all day. I crossed the Colombia River at Astoria and continued down the Oregon coast. Oregon has dozen of attractive coastal towns, unlike Washington, which has few, might be due to all those damn trees. Rode 10 hours to Newport. The weather remained clear but got colder the further south I rode. Arrive at 7pm at 57 degrees.

Washed up barge on the Colombia river Washington
Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market

Hello Seattle on a summer day, clear and 75 degrees.
Off tomorrow for coastal ride of Washington, Oregon and California to San Diego.

USA USA USA

USA USA USA

Got to bed at 12.30 am in Port Hardy, alarm at 5am, for the 290 ride to Victoria. Cold and wet for the first 1 1/2 hours then just cool and cloudy, until close to Victoria.
Did see a small Black Bear that had been hit and killed on the road.
Had to leave early in order to catch the 3 pm ferry to Port Angeles Washington. Arrived USA at 5 pm, then road another 1 1/2 hours to Poulsbo, to spend the night with Caelin and Neinah. Fly out tomorrow.
I’m not a city man, but Victoria is about as good and pretty as they get.

Victoria Harbor
Parliament building Vancouver
Port Angeles Washington USA
Ferry Ride

Ferry Ride

My ride to Prince Rupert was short and pretty, no rain. Got a good nights rest.
Stood standby for the ferry, it was booked full, but they always seem to have space for motorcycles. $330.
Got on, and sailed to Port Hardy Vancouver Island. 16 hours, arriving at 11.30 PM 
Fires still raging in central BC.
My friend Wayne from Williams Lake was visiting family in Alberta and can’t get home, as all roads to Williams Lake are closed and it has been evacuated.
As I was sitting reading my book, in the narrowest section of the inside passage with about a 100 foot or less cloud layer, here comes a Beaver, on floats, flying past. The Beaver is a favorite aircraft for bush-pilots.
Clouds and rain, for the first half, then just cloudy for the remainder, the water became very still and the scenery beautiful, not the ideal weather for seeing nor photographing the Inside Passage. However a good time to read. I have been trying for months to read “A Man Called Ove” finally got it read, yes, it’s a wonderful read.
Tomorrow I will ride the 290 miles to Victoria, take another ferry to Port Angeles Washington. Then I will visit my nephew in in Bainbridge Island, then fly home for a little break.

https://www.facebook.com/100000169527188/videos/1794288440586789/

https://www.facebook.com/100000169527188/videos/1794288457253454/

From: Hotel Grand Pacific