Alaska 2019

[Rednaxs60]

Have started planning rides for this year. I had a tentative trip down under planned for my 65th, but life has gotten in the way, lots going on and have had to rejig my plans a bit, sorry Tony. Australia is not forgotten, but will be pushed out to the right.

Mentioned a few trips, one to the Yukon on the Alaska highway with my friend Dave and his Triumph RIII to Sonya and she mentioned that she too would like to travel the Alaska highway even knowing it will be on the bike. On went the light, anytime the other half will ride with me is a good thing.

So planning has started, Sonya has a tentative route already planned with stops and such. Will get a pic of the route and post. We have 4 weeks blocked for this trip, and Sonya's planning has taken up some 21 to 25 days so far. Have been reading the various forum threads regarding a trip north and following new threads as well such as https://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/5- ... 020-a.html

Met a fellow, Richard Corman yesterday in town and he has been and is going again this year up north on his new Beemer 1250. Lovely bike. He has a web site chronicling his trips: Mototrip.ca Great pics and adds to the info we are collecting.

We will be stopping in Watson Lake with our sign to put on the "Signpost". Started way back in '42 by a homesick GI who was working on the Alaska highway. My parents hung one back in the late '70s and Sonya's sister and brother-in-law put one up in the early '80s. We will be looking for these, but there is now over 72,000 signs, going to be a challenge to find these.

Other places of interest are Hyder Alaska, Skagway, Dawson City, Salmon Glacier outside Stewart BC, Barkerville, and others. Going to be a great trip.

Sonya wants us to have some spare gas with us so I have ordered a 3 litre gas can:

3 litres of gas is about 3 lbs so it should not put too much strain on the rear. Mounting bracket comes with it.

Picking up some hiking/camping equipment so that we can stop have coffee, soup, etc en route. Picked up a Jetboil unit. Sonya's brother and niece's husband have these. Sonya's brother demoed his for me and it has and does everything I want it to do.

Will not be tenting it, not Sonya's thing.

Will be ordering the Milepost for additional info: https://www.themilepost.com/

Lots of planning to do, my travel consultant will be updating me on a regular basis. We will be taking the 1200, not the 1500. It's proven to be a good two up touring bike and with the engine refurb, should be trouble free motoring. Trip will be approximately 6000 Kms, a bit longer than solo/two up LA trip of 5200 Kms in the fall of 2017. These 1200s are very reliable touring bikes.

More to follow as the trip firms up so to speak.

Cheers

 

[Rednaxs60]

Have the tentative route planned as per:

Going to leave Victoria, cross the strait to Tsawwassen, on to Clearwater for the night that is on the way to Hinton Alberta. Hinton Second night, then on to Dawson Creek to start the Alaska highway. Leaving there it's up to Watson Lake, then on to Dawson City. Have a more detailed itinerary for the ride up, but this is a start.

Taking the route down through Prince George, passing Hyder, Stewart BC, Barkerville, Pemberton, Whistler, then probably across to Nanaimo from Horseshoe Bay.

Looks like the total distance is approximately 6500 Kms, nice ride. 4 weeks should be a good number of days to do this in. We will be stopping along the way so where we will be each night is going to be a surprise. Realize that the roads and weather will also dictate our travels.

Cheers

 

[Winger 82]

Sounds like a good trip, enjoy :hi: :hi: :hi:

 

[Ohara]

Looks like a good ride. Which bike are you taking?

 

[Rednaxs60]

Ohara » Today, 2:05 am[/url]":ec1qkzyt]
Looks like a good ride. Which bike are you taking?

Mentioned in my first post that we'll be taking the 1200. Have been on several trips with it, the longest was the LA trip in the fall of 2017 at about 5200 Kms solo and two up. Have 4 trips around BC of approximately 2200 Kms solo and two up as well. After my trip across Canada last June, some 6500 Kms, with the '85 LTD that I put on the road in Ontario, I have lots of confidence in these older 1200s. My '85 1200 has also had the seat custom fitted for Sonya and I that makes a huge difference.

I have installed several items to make our touring more enjoyable. I just put a USB connection on the rear trunk in case Sonya's communicator needs power. Also thinking that a GPS for her to use while on the trip would be useful. Going to look for a 7 inch screen one. She likes to be involved in the trip for planning, routing and such, sort of like rally driving.

Will have the Garmin as well as the cell phone up front. The cell phone is not so much for calling, but has a GPS app that works off line. Have to test the CB. Have read where there are cell phone dead spots, and a CB will come in handy for emergencies.

I've also read where air shocks can take a beating on the roads we will encounter. My 1200 has Progressive series 412 non air shocks that will stand up to the rigors of this trip. Only have 45,000 Kms on these shocks - installed these when I bought the bike back in October 2015.

Once you have these bikes mechanically road worthy and the electrics working well, no reason not to get on them and go.

Cheers

 

[julimike54]

If you wish to look at another adventure to Alaska

https://www.alaskapade.com/

 

[Rednaxs60]

julimike54 » 13 minutes ago[/url]":2kglm91s]
If you wish to look at another adventure to Alaska

https://www.alaskapade.com/

There is never enough info to read. I take notes on the prep time and what was used.

Started to read the blog. Good story. Just after I started I got to the section "How long am I to keep saying "One of these days, I'm gonna do that..." and still believe it?" This can't be more true. Too late to say should've, would've, could've. We often say he who has the most toys wins, but my Father corrected me, he who has the least regrets wins.

Looking into getting a Spot satellite tracker. Used one on a 50 foot Maple Leaf motor sailor that I brought up from Puerto Vallarta back in 2012. Worked a treat. Spot now has month to month plans so you can pay for the time required.

Cheers

 

[joedrum]

yep Oldwings can travel with anything out really if bought up to par ....

 

[Rednaxs60]

Mine had better work well after the TLC I've been giving it.

 

[julimike54]

Spot has been used by several that I've read about going to Alaska, seems to be the ticket.

 

[wilcoy02]

Spot uses the satellites which gives more coverage. Unlike cell phones which uses towers with less coverage.
They spot is water tight but still use a baggie to make sure it keeps dry. Mine quit working after a very heavy rain.

 

[Ansimp]

Ernest, I wish I could be heading up there for a trip with you. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like I will be in the Northern Hemisphere for at least a couple of more years.

 

[Tom_Charlton]

3 liters of gasoline weighs about 6 lbs.

 

[Rednaxs60]

Have looked at the weight of the extra gas, shouldn't be an issue. Will be looking at all aspects regarding weight. may have to have a tank bag and move some weight forward.

Doing research and comparing the Spot Gen 3 against the In Reach units. There's a fellow here that uses/has used both and will be chatting with him in a couple of weeks.

 

[Rednaxs60]

Prep and planning going well. Sonya has the trip itinerary flushed out. It has accommodations identified as well as where fuel is along the route. I expect the Milestone will give more information.

Accommodations in the north could be an issue so we have been looking into and accumulating some additional camping gear. Have the small Jetboil for coffee/tea, dried foods. Sleeping bags for both, Sonya gets the one I bought for the Big Sur trip, it was a little small for me. The one I bought has a rating of 0 deg C. I tested the fit at the store. Laid it out on a chaise type lounge and crawled into it. Liked the fit and the price - 30% off regular price.

Found a 3 person tent, Big Agnes make, last years model - on sale for $100.00 CDN off. Purchased it at Mountain Equipment Co-op. Had the staff set the tent up in the store, checked it for fit and I think it will do the job nicely. The walls are more straight then a lot of others and there is a lot of headroom. Has two doors, one each side so you don't have to crawl over the other person to get out. Comes in at just over 5 lbs. There is a price to pay for the weight, but everything I have read and people I have talked to indicated that a good quality tent will last and meet your expectations. There are less expensive models on the market for sale, but there are concessions to be made. The issue of a "footprint" came up - had no idea what this meant, thought it was the size of the tent floor, but it is a separate tarp style floor you put down and the tent on top. Protects the tent floor. My tent does not have a "footprint", but there was a fellow there who mentioned that a piece of Tyvex cut to suit is a good option and used by many backpackers. - less expensive as well.

Looked into the dried foods. There is a distributor out of Montreal that sells AlpineAire dried foods. On sale right now so intend to order up a few and try them. Dried foods are not inexpensive so will be looking for deals wherever.

Cheers

 

[dan filipi]

Some good planning k:

 

[Rednaxs60]

Have been busy with the 1200, and a trip to Ontario, but still working on provisioning for the Yukon/Alaska trip this summer. Sonya is busy doing the logistics. She has the route planned with gas stations identified for each day, where the campgrounds and accommodations are. We received the Milepost and it has a lot of detailed information.

Have found that there is a direct correlation between weight and cost for camping/hiking gear. The lighter the equipment the more the cost, and there have been a lot of changes since I was last camping even the one night in Big Sur 1 1/2 years ago.

Picked up what I think will be the last piece of camping gear needed, a sleeping mattress for myself. It's a Nemo brand unit:

Regular 194.00 CDN but found it for $96.00 CDN on another site. I had tried various pads in the stores and this one was the best and one of the lightest.

Have purchased a sat tracker, a Delorme Explorer:

Precursor to the Garmin Explorer plus. Garmin purchased Delorme back in 2016/2017. It was new in the box and $200.00 CDN less than the Garmin product. Spent some time last night setting it up, fairly easy and intuitive. Had to purchase a monthly subscription along with the activation to do the setup, but can suspend the monthly subscription at any time and reinstate as required. Only negative issue with this unit is that there have been inadvertent SOS calls because of where the button is and with enough pressure against the SOS button even when it is locked, an SOS can be sent. Knowing this will safeguard against doing this. Lots of no cell coverage areas where we are going and on Vancouver Island as well when we do day trips and such. I also travel by myself and this will give Sonya peace of mind on both counts.

Expect a lot more to do.

Cheers

 

[Ansimp]

:good: Nice!

 

[Rednaxs60]

Now I have to learn how to use the Explorer.

 

[EdwardKar]

Is Explorer complicated to get used to btw?