Saturday, September 3, 2016

Motorcycling Back to Alaska, Again

turnagain arm
Sunset over Turnagain Arm, south of Anchorage, AK
Sash's recent article on her blog mentioned her wanting to return to Kenai Peninsula of Alaska next summer, after having just spent a week and a half there recently.

"I think we should stay there for a few months during the summer", she said to me over the phone. "There's so much business up here for us, and it's so beautiful. I could fly up here, and you could ride your motorcycle."

Oooh, that last part.

You know, riding a motorcycle from San Diego to Kenai is no easy feat. I did it six years ago in fact, and while it was a fun adventure in retrospect, I wasn't sure I wanted to do it again.

Even in the middle of summer, it still pours rain up there, and still gets cold. Not to forget, the 500 to 700 mile riding days. It's a killer.

But yet, there's still that strange little part of me which wants to do it. It's more of the alone time, actually. I like the idea of running away, being alone out in the wide open. I think of Les Stroud, the guy who hosted "Survivorman", who actually was all alone and had to videotape everything himself. Yeah, I want to be that guy.

Honestly, however, it would take at least 3 weeks to get up there. I mean, in 2010 it took me two weeks to get up there, and I was really pushing it. That means 6 weeks of traveling up and traveling back. That leaves only 6 weeks for me to be in the Kenai Peninsula.

Me entering Alaska in 2010

Sash said...

"I heard there are actually a lot of used motorcycles in Anchorage you can buy cheap. You may not have to ride up here. Apparently, a lot of riders ride to Alaska, sell their motorcycle in Anchorage, and fly back home."

What?

What kind of pussy does that?

That's kind of like trailering your motorcycle to Sturgis.

Well, who am I to judge. I suppose I ought to look on Craigslist for cheap bikes in Anchorage. But on the other hand, why the Hell would I fly to Alaska when I consider myself a long distance motorcycle rider? Right? Either you're a rider, or you're just a motorcycle owner.

So if we're actually going to do this, we'd be looking at next June to do this. On the other hand, a lot can happen between then and now, and I'm normally one to just think about the now.

In the meantime, I've been working really hard trying to help us raise income. In other words, I haven't done much riding lately. I guess I'm making the most of my downtime here in San Diego. I mean to ride more, and write more too.

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About Steve

A vagabond who hauls a motorcycle around the country in a toy hauler, earning a living as a website developer. Can often be found where there's free Wi-Fi, craft beer, and/or public nudity. (Read more...)