Rathdrum to Burns Lake (July 17-20)

Apologies for the delays in posting, but wifi is scarce in a campground, so I'll update as I can...

I departed Spokane on Thursday morning for the short (1 hr) drive to Rathdrum.  Thursday and Friday were spent relaxing at my friend Scott's house and Saturday morning we set out for Alaska!

Scott 'working it' on his BBQ!

Bikes cleaned, prepped, and ready to go!

Obligatory departure pic for posterity...

About an hour and a half later we are at the Canadian border.  

After convincing the border guard that we are harmless, old, retired guys...we are in British Columbia!

Our destination was Toad Rock Motorcycle Campground, north of Nelson, BC.  Both Scott and I had read about Toad Rock on the Adventure Rider forums and it was a 'must do' item on our trip.  It did not disappoint!  Eclectic doesn't do it justice.

Here's a few pics to give you an idea of the atmosphere...

Our campsite...a normal campsite, but that where 'normal' ends...

The outdoor 'community' kitchen and me fixing us some brats for dinner...

And now for a cursory walk about the grounds...here's a Mash Unit...yes someone lives in there!

Or here's a more permanent housing unit...

If you are passing thru and don't have a tent, no problem...you can rent one of the many vehicles on the property...

Here's one that they are getting ready for a rental unit!  And no, it's not in any water.  It's beached!

It's impossible to capture true ambiance in pictures and I'm not really sure how to explain it, but there is a cast of characters, that are both permanent and transient.  There are a number of small 'gathering' spots, but the main one is complete with a bar, on the'honor' system (they have no alcohol license).  So you can bring your own, or replace what you consume, or 'donate' bier money, in the bier money jar.  There is a pool table and enough cool junk to keep you 'looking' around in amazement for literally hours!

Here's a collection of pics...one other thing, this is all 'open air', it's got a roof, but that's it...oh, and there is no 'closing time'.

Scott taking it all in...

Me at the 'honor cooler'...

The 'bier money' jar...

Some 'horseplay'...

Dave and Kady..he's been there for 3 weeks and is staying another 3 weeks!

This is Mary, the founder.  She built and opened Toad Rock 41 years ago! Grant is her live-in and what a character he is...I mean who drinks bier out a can with a straw!?!  Fun people everyone we met!

And be forewarned, if you're still working and being drug tested, the air can get

pretty 'thick' here at times...I think this guy's had enough...

This is a must do if you are riding thru on a bike!  Scott and I had a blast!

At night's end, the lighting will help u find your way 'home'...

The next morning we set out early for

points north.  I say points north, because we have no set daily destination.  We know we have a reservation in Wiseman, north of the Arctic Circle, on July 29th, but that's it.  So we travel north and stop when it seems right.  For those that 'do' this Alaskan 'thing', planning is, IMHO, wasting opportunities.  So many things can effect a schedule on a trip like this, planning/reserving can kill your trip.  This is best done 'on the fly'...period.

So we are on the road, northbound, as that's where we will find The Arctic Circle.  We have taken ferries across lakes, seen incredible scenery, and met some Royal Canadian Mounted Police (mounted in a big pickup truck, not on horses).

Ferryport at Galena Bay...

Lined up and ready to board...

While waiting for our 'ride', I wandered down to the beach and found these Cairn formations...pretty cool!

Here comes our 'ride'...

Smooth sailing across Upper Arrow Lake...

Cool name for a lake ;-))

You meet the nicest people in a Tim

Horton's!  Royal Canadian Mounted Police...some BIG boys.  The guy to the left was easily 6'10"!!!  Told them it was nice to meet them, but hoped not to see them again!

Presently we are holed up in a motel, in Burns Lake, staying dry, as the rain has been coming down sporadically, and we know the coming days we will be riding in the rain. So tonight we stay dry, catch up on laundry, and mentally prepare for some adverse weather...we knew it wasn't going to be easy.  Stay tuned for more...

Departure (July 13-16)

Getting packed for this trip was a lot easier compared to last year.  

Reason:  Experience...I learned last year you won't wear half the clothes you pack and I streamlined my camping gear.

With the exception of my sleeping bag, the camping gear is all packed in my Wolfman bag and strapped to my passenger seat, on top of a Rotopax spare gas container (parts of Alaska gas is scarce).  My sleeping bag is in one pannier, the other is empty.  My rear top box is a third full, holding 2 pairs of jeans, 4 T-shirts, some underwear and socks, a pair of hiking shoes, and toiletries.  Lastly an iPad and Pay Day candy bars.  That's it for up to 6 weeks!  

Monday morning is here and here's the obligatory departure pic...déjà vu from last year...

So it was off to Paradise, CA to stay with an old friend, who I worked with for about 20 years, until he retired in 2003.

We had a great night BBQing and solving all the world's woes over Guinness and Scott's homemade Syrah wine (very good!). Tuesday morning it was up and off to meet my CouchSurfing hookup 'JJ' in Bend, OR...

CouchSurfing is an awesome setup.  Online site, whereby people connect and either host travelers in their home or are hosted by other 'surfers'.  I was hosted last year, while on my trip, in Victoria, British Columbia.  Patty and I have hosted people from France and Denmark.  All of the hosting is 'gratis', which really cuts down on your travel expenses!  It's also a great way to meet and make new friends!

It's a pretty ride thru NorCal on my way to Bend, OR.  Here's a view of Mt. Shasta peeking out of the clouds!

So, I arrive at my host's (JJ) home in Bend, OR, we get acquainted, then we are off for Happy Hour bier and wine tasting...

After visiting Bend Brewing Co.  It was some wine tasting at The Naked Winery, then to JJ's country club for a final 'round'...

Here's a view of the course (looks like Scotland!)...

In the morning it was 'up and at em' and off to meet Mike, who I worked with at LA Center, and recently transferred to Spokane, WA.  

On the way to Spokane, out in the middle of nowhere, I spotted this and had to pull in for a photo op...God Bless America!

Mike was hosting me for the evening and after meeting his family and a great outdoor meal (thank you Jenny!), it was off to sample some of Spokane's craft biers, at Manito Tap House...

Mike's family dog, Max, took a liking to me and slept with me all night...

In the morning it was out on the road again and off to Rathdrum, ID to meet up with Scott, my partner for the next number of weeks, as we head up north of The Arctic Circle, in Alaska!  Stay tuned...

Show Time!

Well it's July and as promised, it's about time to get this show on the road...literally.

Monday morning is my scheduled departure, for what I hope to be, an adventurous, but safe trip to Alaska.  I've scheduled 6 weeks, but that's 'flexible', so give or take 6 weeks.  Mileage will most likely be between 10K - 12K miles.

I purchased a new iPhone 6 Plus and will be using this as my camera and for blog posting, supplemented with an iPad 

(This post is being done with the iPhone as a test).  No dedicated camera being taken.  Other electronics I added are to the cockpit.  

My son, David, bought me a Go Pro last year for my retirement and I have attached that to the handlebars, to be used for videos.  An Escort Radar Detector has also been mounted. Additionally, the iPhone is mounted to the handlebars and will piggyback my Garmin for route guidance, provide music entertainment, allow intercom connectivity with my riding mate (Scott Boyle), and allow for the making and taking of phone calls in my helmet.

Below is a pic of Ikran, my Ducati Multistrada GT, all serviced and suited up, ready to hit the road.

I will do my best to keep the blog up to date, however, that will also depend on connectivity in the remote regions of Alberta, British Columbia, The Yukon Territories, and of course, Alaska.

So stay tuned for 'The Adventures of Dave and Scott' and feel free to ride along with us and please post your comments.

Doing final prep on Ikran while listening to a bit of 'old school' vinyl ;-)

Teaser...Coming July 2015

Day 29 (The Longest Day...Eureka to Valencia...14 1/2 hrs!)

After an incredible breakfast, 2nd day in a row, it was time to hit the road.  My plan for the day, was to ride Mattole Road/The Lost Coast, Ave of the Giants, visit The Drive Thru Tree, and make my way into San Francisco.  I've ridden this a few times before and it is one of my favorite rides in Northern California.  

Here are my hosts, Gil and Becky, as they see me off.  The two days spent with them were relaxing and fun.  Thank you again Gil and Becky!

 

I arrived in Fortuna to a deep marine layer, in addition to a steady mist.  If it was that bad in Fortuna, I reasoned that the ride along The Lost Coast might not be worth the 2+ hours invested.  I decided to forgo The Lost Coast and head for my other pre-planned stops.  First up, was The Avenue of the Giants.  I have always loved riding thru twisty roads with big trees.  It doesn't get any better than The Avenue of the Giants!

Pics can never do this area justice.  The coolness, the smells, and the ride, can't be experienced in a picture, but here are a couple pics anyway...

 

Because I did not ride The Lost Coast, I did get the opportunity to ride all of The Avenue of the Giants, starting in Pepperwood..

 

Had to stop here :-))

 

Bigfoot looking a bit sad that he can't take IKRAN for a ride...

 

Stopped here for a few minutes.  Patty and I stopped here on our ride, a few years ago, and we purchased a 'mini' Bigfoot for our backyard.  He guards our Koi Pond.

 

Here is my other destination.  I needed to update the cover pic for my blog. New bike, new pic...

 

 

After the drive thru tree in Leggett, it was time for the Hwy 1 run from Leggett to Fort Bragg.  Motorcycle riders will argue 'best roads', this portion of Hwy 1 is always in the conversation.  

Earlier in this blog I mentioned that a couple runs, specifically Hwy 4, between Port Alberni and Tofino, on Vancouver Island, just might be my new favorite.  It had been a few years since I'd taken the Leggett to Fort Bragg run.  There are no pics, there is no time.  It is technical, it is fun, it is still the best motorcycle road I've ever been on.  Period.

Eventually Hwy 1 dumps you out on the coast.  It was still mired in a deep marine layer, cool, and misty.  Here's a pic of the Cali coastline in the fog...

 

I stuck along the coast for awhile and rode thru a series of canopied areas that were pretty cool!

Pretty neat riding through tree tunnels...I didn't honk my horn though...

 

Tiring of the mist, fog, and cool temps, I came to Hwy 128.  I had heard good things about the road, but had never ridden it.  I decided to try something new...Hwy 128.  It did not disappoint.  It reminded me of riding in California's Gold Rush areas, like Sutter Creek and Amador.  Within 10 miles after turning inland, the temps climbed into the 80's, and the hills were littered with oak trees.  

Then came the vineyards!

I'm in wine country now...

 

 

Vines and tasting rooms galore!

 

Wish I had time to stop, but none the less, grape country is cool!

 

I came across a lumber mill, was fascinated by the amount of cut trees that were stacked.  I was reminded of the ugliness of the land that I witnessed in Oregon...

 

This was just one side of the mill...

 

Hundreds of thousands of redwood trees...kind of sad :-((

 

Ok, no more pics.  My goal was to head thru San Francisco, get the obligatory Golden Gate Bridge pic, and ride Lombard Street.  However, if I take away anything learned on this trip, it is DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RIDE THE BAY AREA ON A SUNDAY!  It is impossible.

I ran into traffic, stopped traffic at Rohnert Park, at Petaluma I gave up.  The bike's temps were in the 215 range, I was hot as well, with temps in the 90 degree range, I was roasting as I sat there in my KLIM jacket.  

Time to improvise again...headed east on the 16 to Napa/Sonoma, then a series of Hwy's/Interstate's that allowed me to go around the east side of the Bay Area.  Finally dumping me out on the 5.  Once on the 5, I decided to make a run for it...all the way home to Valencia!  

I knew if I hoteled it that night, that the temps on the 5 the next day would be in the 100's.  I did not want to mess with that again.  So 14 1/2 hrs after leaving Gil and Becky's place, in Eureka, Wally and I arrived home just after midnight, on the 30th day, having spent 29 days on the road! 

 

Life Is Good!

The end.