The end point of yesterdays “tester” dirt ride
Biker Pilot passes the test
Last night it was five star luxury in Alyeska and tonight it is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Swiss Inn, very rudimentary, but spotlessly clean. Similar to my second night on the road, then in Fountain City.
It has been more than a few weeks now and nearly 7000 miles are behind me. That will pass by tomorrow between here and Fairbanks. So we are near the base of Denali, more commonly known as Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America and one of the must do mountains if you are serious climber.
This is also the end stop of the Alaska Railway which runs from Seward which is where we were yesterday through Anchorage to here. It is peak tourist season and the cruise boats dock in Seward. These trusting unsuspecting souls are then put on the train or in busses and brought here. The only thing is you cannot see the mountain. It is covered in clouds and it has rained all day. Nothing unusual here.
Seward with Cruise ship in harbour
On the way back from Seward to Girdwood. Boring!
In fact, when I woke up it was immediately apparent that this was going to be a wet gear day. The rain was streaming down. There was a time when I would never ride in the rain, or play golf, or walk or camp. It is now all old hat. Here as the Beetles sang “Why don’t we do it in the road”, just substitute “rain” for “road” and you have the jist of things.
Our route takes us back through Anchorage, then up to Palmer, lunch at Independence Mine and then an “optional” dirt road over Hatcher Pass to Willow and then on to Talkeetna.
Independence Mine – Lunch before the Mud Slide
Of course, unless you are riding a Harley, two couples are, these are not really optional. So we are all onto the dirt. Just looking at the road I knew it was going to be a nightmare. Wet, dark clay surface and more rain barreling down.
Getting Ready for the Mud
So off we went. As I suspected it was like a wet mirror. Brendan, the tour guide went first, then a married couple with Paula who was a naval officer and is clearly very together going second. I decided to hang back and watch the action. There had to be some action. Oddly enough it came much later than expected. We had all traversed the really difficult stuff, just before the top of the pass and then going down hill. Going downhill, on wet and muddy dirt is never my best. A bit like keeping going post the big O. You are finished but you have to keep moving.
So just after the really messy bit as I came around a corner people were running everywhere and one of the guys, Justin from NYC, a Banker, had slid off the road and into a ditch. I suppose it is what you would expect from “A Justin” and “A banker” to boot.
End of the Bad, No more wet patches or so we thought
Fortunately he was OK, a testament to wearing the proper protective gear. He wears Klim stuff, the best in the West. He is shaken up and a bit sore. A quick check shows everything working. Five of us jump into the mud in the ditch and man handle the bike out. Yuck! The bike is not in such good shape. The whole instrument panel, windscreen and front end is hammered. However it is a BMW and still works, so he has to ride it on until the support vehicle, it has driven on the tar, can assist with temporary repairs. It is a Motoquest owned bike. Justin will only have a big bill to show for his learning curve. Nothing a UBS banker cannot deal with.
Justin does a Simon
This is where he ended up. It is deeper than it looks. About three feet. Remains of Windshield on road
This riding has however, made me very tired. I have to adopt the standing position with Bonnie. She is not quite the right height for me. I need handle bar height extensions as I have to stoop. This is extremely uncomfortable and hurts my back as I have to bend it all the time to keep in the slot.
High heels would help and get her up to the right height for me in this position. As I have previously discussed, standing is the very best position for a difficult ride. It gives one the leverage you need to control and dominate your mount. Ending up with a sore back diminishes the pleasure one gets from doing it this way.
Nevertheless, Bonnie and I make it to the end. Spot in SA is better set up to get down and dirty. She is a bit taller. Longer legs, so to speak and at the right height for me to stand and drive her using my hips and the full force of my upper body. Jayne, in the UK, is the urban lady. Standing up for the rough and ready, is not her thing. Rather take her down Silver Street or on the A 414 to Cambridge. She would have hated today.
I have learnt from the debacle of loosing my “Bankers and the world Economic mess” debacle and this blog is being written in Word, saved on my computer and in the “Cloud” and then will be posted.
Alaska has a very short summer season and everyone has to make hay whilst the sun is shining. So all the tourist related activities are full to brimming. You cannot hire a car, rent a motorbike or find a room. On top of this they only have a four to five month window in which the roads can be repaired or rebuilt. Buildings fixed and new things constructed. So you are held up everywhere.
The group I am riding with is starting to gel, most of us that is. Generally they are a very nice bunch. A few Biker Pilots as well. As with all these things there are always a few Ponces. We only have two. They have to ride faster, talk louder and pump their own egos. I fully expected one of the two to be the person in the ditch. It was not to be and the Justin Banker is actually like the Justin Nephew, a really nice guy!
Tomorrow sees us in Fairbanks. The second biggest city in Alaska and I am meeting up with Stephen and Luanne, who could not believe that I have contacted them, for dinner.
I hope we get to see Denali in all its glory.
Lastly a very happy birthday to Sharry Banner for the 31st.
An Aircraft crossing. Cars get to wait here.
Coffee stop Alaskan Style. Coffee maker from New Zealand. Dog from the First Nations
Till the next blog.
Good Night and Good Luck
bigplatcool 