LazCrzDaz

I LEFT SISTER DIXIE’S AT 9 AM AND ARRIVED PORT ANGELES FERRY TERMINAL AT 11 AM . THE FERRY RIDE TO VICTORIA IS ONLY 90 MINUTES AND PASSES BY THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS. AS YOU CAN SEE VICTORIA DESERVES IT’S REPUTATION AS ON ONE CANADA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES. I THEN RODE THE 350 SOME MILES OF VANCOUVER ISLAND TO PORT HARDY. PORT HARDY IS THE TERMINAL FOR THE B. C. FERRY TO PRINCE RUPERT. ALONG THE WAY I MET AARON BURNS ON HIS BMW, AARON LIVES IN VICTORIA AND IS TAKING A RIDE THROUGH BRITISH COLUMBIA. I STAYED OVERNIGHT IN A BACKPACKERS HOSTEL, FOR THE VERY EARLY 5 AM GET UP FOR THE FERRY. THE FERRY WILL TAKE ABOUT 16 HOURS THROUGH THE INSIDE PASSAGE TO PRINCE RUPERT. THIS IS A VERY SCENIC ROUTE AND ORCAS ARE OFTEN SEEN. WE JUST SAW A PAIR OF HUMPBACK WHALES BREACHING. NOW, A FEW HOURS LATER AND WE SAW A POD OF 5 ORCAS FEEDING. THE INSIDE PASSAGE WILL TAKE 16 HOURS AND THE FIST COUPLE ARE JUST ABOUT LIKE THE NEXT 14.LOTS OF TREES AND GREEN, WATER TOO. THE PASSAGE IS VERY NARROW, AT TIMES AS LITTLE AS 1400 FT WIDE AND NEVER MORE THAN A MILE WIDE.  THE RIDE IS VERY LONG. I PAID $325 FOR MYSELF AND MOTO. A BERTH WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER $ 90.

NEXT TIME I VOTE FOR RIDING THE MOTO.

AFTER, A 13 HOUR 15 MINUTE RIDE ALONG THE OREGON AND WASHINGTON COAST, I FINALLY ARRIVED IN POULSBO WASHINGTON ON BAINBRIDGE ISLAND. THE WEATHER WAS COOL IF NOT COLD FOR MOST OF THE TRIP, NO RAIN.

I SHALL SPEND SEVERAL DAYS WITH MY SISTER DIXIE AND ALSO VISIT MY NEPHEWS AND NIECES.

I HAVE NOW VISITED ALL MY SIBLINGS ON THIS TRIP EXCEPT BROTHER PAUL, WHO WAS IN TENNESSEE WHEN I LEFT, TOURING IN HIS MOTOR HOME.

I HAD A VERY NICE AND  COOL RIDE FROM SUSANVILLE CALIFORNIA UP TO CRATER LAKE OREGON. DOES NOT LOOK MUCH LIKE JUNE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THE 110 DEGREE HEAT OF PHOENIX. I WILL SPEND THE NIGHT IN ROSEBURG OREGON.

BROTHER GENE LIVES IN NOVATO CALIFORNIA ABOUT 1 HOUR NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO. NO, HE IS NOT GAY.

I HAD A VERY LONG RIDING DAY, 12 HOURS FROM RIALTO TO NAVATO ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST HIWAY, IT WAS COLD AT TIMES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND ALONG THE COAST BUT WARM AND PLEASANT IN NAVATO.

HERE AGAIN, MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK OF MOMMY AND DADDY.

MY BROTHER ALLEN AND HIS WIFE CHARLA HAVE THE CLOSEST AND WARMEST MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSE, BUT ONCE YOU DISCOVER IT IS REAL YOU WARM UP TO AND ADMIRE THEM BOTH.

THEY LIVE IN RIALTO CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN FOR OVER 60 YEARS ONLY BLOCKS FROM WHERE THEY WERE RAISED.

IT WAS JUST A SHORT 45 MINUTE RIDE FOR ME.

GLEN AND JEAN ARE LIVING IN THEIR MOTOR-HOME, PARKED IN THE YARD OF THEIR RECENTLY PURCHASED RE-SALE HOME IN APPLE VALLEY CALIFORNIA. THEY PLAN ON TURNING THE HOUSE OVER FOR SALE IN JUST A FEW MONTHS. THEY DO ALL THE WORK THEMSELVES AND ARE BOTH QUITE  TALENTED.  THEY HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP  ACROSS THE US TO WASHINGTON DC, NEW YORK CITY, BOSTON AND NIAGARA  FALLS.

MY SECOND DAY WAS ANOTHER HOT RIDE VIA PALM SPRINGS, YUCCA VALLEY AND APPLE VALLEY.

FOR YEARS, MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK OF MY FRIENDS “ THE CHRISTIANS” WELL HERE THEY ARE. TED AND BRENDA WERE HIGH-SCHOOL FRIENDS AND IN-SPITE OF OUR DIFFERENCES HAVE MAINTAINED A CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. WE HAVE CHOSEN DIFFERENT PATHS IN LIFE BUT ARE ABLE TO PUT THOSE ASIDE AND ENJOY OR HISTORIES AND SIMILARITIES. THEY NOW LIVE IN PALM DESERT CALIFORNIA AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOME ON A GOLF COURSE AND RESORT.

MY FIRST DAY OF RIDING WAS ONLY 5 WARM HOURS AND A WARM VISIT WITH THEM.

TOMORROW BROTHER GLEN.

I NOW HAVE TOTALLY HEALED FROM MY FALL IN PATAGONIA, PERHAPS A LITTLE SMARTER, AND HAVE BOUGHT A NEW MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE IT EQUIPPED FOR MY NEXT RIDE TO ALASKA. THIS WILL BE MY FORTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR TO ALASKA AND PLAN ON RE-VISITING SOME OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS AND ALSO GET IN SOME GOOD TROUT FISHING. I AM GETTING A BIT OF A LATE START, AS I PREFER JUNE RATHER THAN JULY IN ALASKA, AS IT CAN GET A BIT WARM FOR SLEEPING OUT. I SHALL BE CAMPING OUT FOR THE MOST PART AND AM NOW MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE BEARS, OOPS, PERHAPS NO SMARTER AFTER ALL.

I SHALL BE VISITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY AND WILL RIDE AT A LEISURELY PACE.

THIS YEAR, I WILL GO TO VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND AND RIDE TO PORT HARDY THEN TAKE THE FERRY TO PRINCE RUPERT B.C. THEN RIDE THE CASSIAR HWY TO THE ALASKA HWY TO ANCHORAGE. I SHALL RETURN TO DEADHORSE  ALASKA AND INUVIK N.W.T. I HAVE TRAVELED NEARLY ALL ROADS, SHOWN ON MY MAPS IN ALASKA BUT NOW SEE A FEW TOWNS I HAVE MISSED SO SHALL VISIT THEM, JUST FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS. ON MY WAY HOME I WILL STOP IN WILLIAMS LAKE B.C. TO VISIT MY FRIEND WAYNE ADAMSON, WHO YOU MIGHT REMEMBER I MET ON THE BOAT FROM PANAMA TO CARTAJENA COLOMBIA.

I SHOULD ARRIVE HOME AROUND AUGUST 10 OR SO.

THIS NEW MOTORCYCLE IS A CARBON COPY OF THE ONE I ABANDON IN ARGENTINA, BUT WITH DIFFERENT SIDE CANS AND 40, 000 LESS MILES. I CONSIDERED OTHER BRANDS AND MODELS BUT DETERMINED NO OTHER WOULD MEET MY NEEDS SO WELL.