The End Of The Road

It has been a great trip! I arrived back to Austin just in time for Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. Boy was it hot on the upper deck! I have seen some of the most awsome secenery and some of the longest roads. This ride took me through plains and valleys, by lakes and over rivers, and over majestic mountains. I rode 9,885 miles in 29 days. My turn point was the Arctic Circle! If you were ask me what impressed me the most, it would be the vastness of both the US and Canada. It had to be most daunting for the pioneers to cross the rivers, plaines and mountains. It is a real change to be back into he home routine. The bike is clean and ready to go to the shop for tires, oil change, and a couple of light bulbs. Until next time, thanks for following along with me. Mike

Back in Hot Texas

The last two days have really brought me back to summer. Yesterday started in Estes Park, Colorado. I rode through Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. The speed limit was 35 - I got up to it once or twice. Great vistas!!! A lot of wind. Traffic was stopping for the elk heard that bedded down by the road. I gave my camera to a passenger on another motorcycle. She shot the elk picture for me. I got the camera back at the next stop. The stream was just off my balcony in Estes Park. The ride will be over in a couple of days. It has been fantistic!!!! Here are a few of the unique or interesting names I have spotted along the way. Red River, White River, Blue River, Powder River, Milk River, Old Man River,Tok river, Swift River, Smart River, Rock Creek, Flat Rock Creek, Red Rock Creek, Fish Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Wrong Way lane, Travel at your Own Risk, Rd, Bad River Rd. I should have kept a note pad for the ones I have already forgotten.

Back in the USA

I and a great big thunder storm are in Casper, Wy tonight. I hope it passes overnight. I will spend a couple of days in Colorada even if I don't get to climb Mt. Elbert. We will see! The bikes are all the same model - mine from Texas - the other two from Vancouver. The cattle guard sign calls it a "Texas Gate". Just click on the picture to enlarge it.

Headed Home

Feeling good and making goot time. The Buffalo were interested in me - cut my time short. The Bear had two cubs with her. The Goats were licking salt off the highway surface.

The Arctic Circle In 14 Days

Two hundred miles north of Fairbanks is the Arctic Circle. One hundred of those miles are gravel! I made the round trip to the circle today - only a little over 12 hours. I met people from Michigan, Florida, Arkansas and South Dakota. The ride was dusty and a little exciting on some loose gravel curves. Yesterday I had some M&R done on the bike. The shop pictures are of Trails End BMW - for real!!!!!

ALASKA AT LAST

I was rained on only twice today. I did have a good bit of road construction. At one point they were watering the the road so much that it was a mud bath. I am less than 100 miles from Fairbanks. The bike is scheduled for M&R tomorrow. A few things have shaken loose. It is amaizing that no parts have shaken off the boy yet.

Tonight I am in Watson Lake, Yukon. This day had all types of conditions. Sun, rain, heavy dust, cold and great roads. Two more days should get me to Fairbanks, Alaska. I rode with a college student for part of today. He was taking the summer off before his graduation next year. I meet three guys about my age in the hotel parking lot. They were on dirt bike. They had trailered the bikes up and were riding dirt and gravel roads. One of them was from Weatherford, Tx.

Alaskan Highway

Starting the Alaskan Highway at Dawson Creek

Cold picture

of one of the glaciers

Today was by far the coldest and wettest of the trip. It rained on and off for 200 miles. The route was through the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen. I saw glacier after glacier. The mountain tops were obscured by clouds.

This is one great big country. This picture is fron Northern Montana.

Photo test

Canada at last

Five days on the road finds me in Lethbridge, Alberta. This was my best day so far. I followed the Yellowstone river through its canyon. Good roads and great curves. Besides the canyons, I had great vista of snow capped mountains and vast fields of grain. I visited with three guys in White Sulpher Springs. One was a UT grad. Tomorrow I should pass my half way point.

Here is the picture.

Three days on the road and I have seen sunny skies and skies that dumped buckets of rain. I stopped in Amarillo and replaced my trusted - but leaky- rain gear. Life got better. It has been a great ride!!!!!!!!!!! The picture is the send off from the Westlake Rotary Club. I am just over a quarter of the way to Fairbanks. Tonight finds me in Douglas, Wy. Oops! I seem to be having trouble with the picture.

Alaska Trip Begins

The plan is - 9,000 miles of blacktop puncuated with patches of gravel. Sounds like Alaska. This will be my 50th state to ride. So far 48 have been done from my driveway in Austin - Hawaii was on a rented bike. The bike is loaded. I will leave from the Westlake Rotary Club's breakfast meeting tomorrow - June 19th at about 8:30 AM. I will post 2 or 3 times per week.

Ready To Roll

The picture is from a trip a couple of years ago. It was a 4000 mile trip to the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore and Canada. This shows the bike loaded. I do travel light.