Greeting from Alaska

[interiorak]

Been surfing here awhile.  6" of snow last night.  So thought i would say hi from the boreal forest of central Alaska.  Going crazy to get out on the road ... but it would be crazy to go out on the road in these conditions.   Maybe by end of month.  I'm an old guy ... but still working full time.  Have a 1970 Triumph Daytona for around town.  I'm the original owner.  Have a 1986 R65 for around the state. It's my passion.   And i'm patiently waiting for delivery of 2008 800 ST for around the continent.  When i retire.  

As you can see i'm not into big bikes.  Ride the road to clear my head.  Canoe down wilderness rivers to clean my heart.  Flyfish and hunt to feed my obsession.  Portrait and landscape photography to capture the light.  Let the games begin.

[Bob_Roller]

Welcome to the asylum, post often, and post pictures of the fantastic scenery of Alaska !

Nice to hear from the 'Great White North'.

If it's any consolation to you , it's 97 F. here in the Phoenix metro at 6 pm today.

As one experienced motorcyclist once stated, you never see a motorcycle parked in front of a therapist's office.

[Justin B.]

Greetings, I took my R100 to Fairbanks when I was stationed up there.  Absolutely beautiful riding during the limited summer...

[Semper Gumby]

WooHoo a new possible destination!  R65 or the dual sport A65 Firebird.  Do you have to have nobbies to ride around Alaska in the Summer?  I guess I could put some dual sport Bridgestones on the R65....

[Ed Miller]

WooHoo a new possible destination!  R65 or the dual sport A65 Firebird.  Do you have to have nobbies to ride around Alaska in the Summer?  I guess I could put some dual sport Bridgestones on the R65....

Really?  Have you found them in the proper size?

[Justin B.]

Bill, Alaska actually has paved roads just like the other states do!  

[not-so-fast-ed]

Bill, What does he mean "6" of snow last night"??  
Is that the white stuff they have in the Winter?  But it's Spring isn't it?
 

Welcome aboard from a used to be Yankee who remembers 40 below nights and 12 foot drifts in another lifetime.

Send pictures when you can.

Very best,
Ed

[tagordon]

A very warm welcome indeed.

[SCJJR65]

A hearty welcome from South Carolina!  One of my dreams is to ride the "Haul Road" for a while, if not all the way to Deadfoot.  One of these days, I WILL make it up there!  

And yeah, we really need to see some pics of your gorgeous state!  (Hopefully, with you in the pics!)

[montmil]

Welcome to the R65 Posse. With all the new television series about Alaska, you may see some additional touristas this spring/summer.

My eldest son and family did the "fly, rail, boat, helo" tour of SW Alaska couple years ago. Unbelievable and beautiful photos.

The good news is that you're not mowing the grass as I have been doing since March! Not much winter here in Texas.

[interiorak]

Just back from the north slope ... still cold and white there ... with more frequent icing events (a climate change impact)  Very hard on grazing wildlife ... and bike riding! When i figure out how ... i'll post photos of most recent Dalton hiway trip.  Spend a fair amount of time working there.  Interesting that most riders are smiling on the way to the Beaufort Sea.  Only BMW and KLR riders are smiling on the way back.  The road seems to eat harley and hondas.  No need for agressive tread in AK.  Most roads are paved.  They do have long constructiuon detours, serious potholes and whoopies (also known as roller coaster frost heaves) ... so street tire won't do.  R65 is perfect for the country i ride.  A few travelers and not alot of 85 mph sweepers when i head north.  Too many tourists, traffic and whales (Winnabagos) so i rarely head south in the summer.  Still ... i wouldn't trade AK for anywhere else in the world.

Only problem is not enough bike time.  Another two inches of snow last night.  Pretty normal for april.  If it continues into may i gonna be pissed.  Anybody ride with studded tires ?  I occasionally see riders in winter here.   Tried it on my mountain bike ... decided i'm not crazy ( or coordinated enough) to try on motorcycle.

[Ed Miller]

Thanks a lot for the snow that's supposedly heading our way from AK this weekend.  At least I got in about 300 miles this week, just commuting as usual.

I can remember snow in April, but I think it's been a while.  

[nhmaf]

Here in New Hampshire we've had some snow early this April, but things are catching up with the spring-time clock pretty quickly now.
Still have ice on our lake in front of the house, but it is melting VERY fast today (sunny and actually hit 70 F this afternoon).   Still have
snowbanks on the side of my road and driveway, but at least the R65 has been out onto the pavement already.

This winter we officially didn't QUITE make state history for the snowiest winter on record - which goes back to around 1847.    Up to this
point, the snowiest winter was 122" total snowfall from November - April as recorded in our capital, Concord, NH - that is actually toward the
southern, warmer part of the state.   This year they make it to 119 or 120 inches, though we received at least 6-12" inches here at our house more than
they did in Concord.   Still, nothing like the snowfall amounts they can get up in B.C or Alaska !

[Danie]

I am fairly new to this forum - and not too sure if it is appropriate for me (at this stage of my membership)  to welcome other new members to the forum - anyway, welcome !

My oldest son find himself in Iowa, and he is dreaming of doing a biking trip to Alaska (both of us) when I do visit him again - probably during July 2009.

Which month during summer would you say is usually "the better" month for a bike tour to Alaska?

[interiorak]

I like mid august/september.  Mosquito and tourists are less numerous ... just travelers looking to tune into the rhythms of nature. Fall colors alive ...crisp morning clear air ( ... if the summer wildfires have burned out.)  Last year in late fall we had a 260000 acre wildfire in the north slope tundra ... first time in recorded history.  If you still believe climate is not changing i've got an mint R25 with 100 miles on the odometer that i'll sell for $99 ... just send me a money order. And no ... i'm a lifelong republican.  

Take black ice in the morning around the shady north facing corners very seriously (don't ask).  Oh yeah ... and the silvers salmon are in ... with giant rainbow trout finning just below them waiting for the spawn.

June/July is spectacular ... just take a deep cleansing breathe and look past the motorhome crowd.  You'll find me on a wilderness river more likely than the Parks Hiway that time of year.

May is a secret ... so i'm not telling ... other than roadsides ditches melt first because dark road dust holds heat better than white snow (albedo) ... leaving you up close and personal with a diverse selection of wildlife set the great white Alaskan backdrop (... if you pick the right road.) Just bring appropriate cloths and be willing to adjust and adapt. I'm old enough to not laugh at heated grips and plug in clothes anymore.  Oh Oh ... my right hand is rolling the throttle forward .. got stop think bout the snow outside.