Jacqueline Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Views of Homer: A watchful eye: Shops on the Spit: The oldest building in Homer... the only building left standing after the big earth quake. Landscapes: Another perfect day..... in heaven! Link to comment
BFish Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Jacqueline...that's enuff...you're having way too much fun one person. go ahead and stay another few months or until the tropics cool down. Link to comment
tallman Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Jacqueline, It was great to hear your voice today. See you soon. Link to comment
EffBee Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Your chain adjuster parts were FedEx'd to our dealership overnight from BMW and have just arrived. They'll ship by UPS 2-Day Air early next week and you'll have them in no time. Sending them to your attention c/o Alaska Leather, just like you asked. Glad to help. Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 Your chain adjuster parts were FedEx'd to our dealership overnight from BMW and have just arrived. They'll ship by UPS 2-Day Air early next week and you'll have them in no time. Sending them to your attention c/o Alaska Leather, just like you asked. Glad to help. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! And Tim (Tallman), THANK YOU! It's great to know and to be part of such a WONDERFUL community of wonderful people . I couldn't do any of this without you all. Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 My son wanted to see a Premier Iditarod Kennel so we went to Dream a Dream Dog Farm (www.vernhalter.com) in Willow “The Heart of Mushing Country”. Vern Halter and his wife Susan Whiton are the owners of Dream a Dream Dog Farm and both are accomplished mushers. Susan is also a Veterinarian which has to help when you own 70 dogs. . What interesting people, what wonderful dogs. Snack time.... whole fish Vern gave a very informative presentation which gave us a good understanding of the dogs, their lives, what is involved to be in an Iditarod. Puppies..... and time to take them for a walk....... Vern and Susan happen to live alone the Iditarod Trail.... Hats off to the dogs, the mushers, and all involved in the Iditarod. Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 Next, a ten mile hike at the Eagle River Nature Center in search of Moose….. looks like a moose went through here... hope we can find her! Sticks and stones to make their home…… Beavers ……. They have been very busy animals…. nice work He tells me he's not leaving until he has seen a moose...... I asked if a bear would do.... he replied.... "YES, if it's eating a MOOSE!" Because of all the dams the Beavers have built, parts of the trail were under water..... ICE COLD water!! You can see we removed our socks and shoes. We’re looking for Moose, but I’m hoping to see a bear also. I saw plenty of bears in Hyder, but have yet to get a picture of one. A bear print..... I placed a key next to the print to give a perspective on how BIG this print (and the bear) is…….. We found a nest high in the trees... a big nest! I could not tell, but it may be an Eagles nest. Mr. Moose are you down here..... We stopped to view some hard work done by the beavers.... (but we didn't see any...guess they were on vacation ) looking up after checking out all the work the beavers had done... we see a Moose ...... (middle of pic) The hike is not over..... The forest has many varieties of mushrooms…… a very pretty mushroom... As we sat on a log to rest we enjoyed these little bees hard at work……. One area had many Woodpeckers.... working hard to get they lunch…… Farther down the trail we came to another sign of bear…….. and I have to say, after seeing this I was happy not to see a bear . EVERYTHING is so vast up here that it is very hard to get a feel for the true size of things…. See what I mean? After a few GREAT days together, my son is now headed home and I'm busy getting the bike ready for the long road ahead!!!! I called Ride West BMW in Settle to schedule a service on my bike when I pass through there and they asked if I would like a “Loaner” bike while my bike was being serviced; A “LOANER”, what a great shop to deal with. They were wonderful to me on my way up and that is why I’m making sure I deal with them again on my return. Next weekend I will start my month long journey back to Florida... New roads, new landscapes, new people to meet . Link to comment
motorman587 Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Will you come by Dusty's on your trip home?? Link to comment
Highway41 Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Great pics of a wonderful place. My level of jealousy continues to increase. Bill Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 Jacqueline, Let us know your plan for your route coming home if you can.........Rich Will you come by Dusty's on your trip home?? I have my route through Canada planned out…. 3k miles, which puts me in Seattle on Aug.21st for the scheduled service on my bike. I’m still looking at the map for my route that will take me across the upper 48 into Niagara Falls and through my hometown in Upstate New York. I have the last part of route planned out where I will leave from Charlottesville, VA (9/13) take the Blue Ridge Parkway (in total) and pick up 441 and just below Pearson, GA pick up 122 into Thomasville, GA pick up 319 into Tallahassee (9/18) with at stop at Dusty’s, 90 to Jacksonville (9/18), and pick up 17 into (9/18)DeLand. Link to comment
motorman587 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Jacqueline, Let us know your plan for your route coming home if you can.........Rich Will you come by Dusty's on your trip home?? I have my route through Canada planned out…. 3k miles, which puts me in Seattle on Aug.21st for the scheduled service on my bike. I’m still looking at the map for my route that will take me across the upper 48 into Niagara Falls and through my hometown in Upstate New York. I have the last part of route planned out where I will leave from Charlottesville, VA (9/13) take the Blue Ridge Parkway (in total) and pick up 441 and just below Pearson, GA pick up 122 into Thomasville, GA pick up 319 into Tallahassee (9/18) with at stop at Dusty’s, 90 to Jacksonville (9/18), and pick up 17 into (9/18)DeLand. Call me and the motor unit will give you a police escort to Dusty's from the city limits. Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 9, 2007 Author Share Posted August 9, 2007 I rode out to Talkeetna again….. this time to see Whip, Mrs. Whip, and Chris who had arrived in Talkeetna a couple of days earlier in the rain. They were staying at a cabin along the Susitna River and when I arrived this BEAUTIFUL view caught my eye…….. I just love this picture. We watched as a small plane seems to be practicing it’s landings along the river bank. The four of us were going on a plane ride. We went up in a DHC-3 DeHavilland Otter, where we all had window seats and personal headsets to hear everything the pilot was saying. (Mrs. Whip) (Whip) (Chris) We flew over the longest glacier in Denali National Park, the 45 mile long Kahiltna glacier and between McKinley’s two sister peaks: Mt. Hunter at 14,500 and Mt. Foraker at 17,400. We flew over jagged peaks that have never felt the press of a human foot and we actually landed on a glacier… WOW! From our spot on the glacier we could hear far off in the distance avalanches occurring, yet they were to far way for us to actually see. The landscapes were vast and I felt so small.....again my photos can not capture the true vastness of this remarkable place.... Alaska. After the plane ride we were off to the local Bar and Hotel..... cheers.... Whip after a couple of cheers and he wasn't alone . we sat around having a great time... and watch some of the local come in and out..... She was a REAL SWEETHEART!!! A plane ride over the Alaska Range is a MUST for anyone coming to Alaska! The day was not over yet…. As I rode back to Anchorage and into Wasilla I look in my mirror to see two sets of blue and red lights! I was being pulled over of the first time ever on a bike . The kind officer asked if I had seen the temporary speed sign back a ways that said reduce speed, work zone, 35 miles an hour and I told him NO, I didn’t . He then said it had two flags on it. My answer was still no , I had not seen it. It appears I was going 49 (the normal speed is 50). I received a ticket with a double fine . When the officer handed me the ticket he said “I hope this doesn’t ruin your trip” . The man had no clue…..there is no way a ticket could ruin my trip or even my mood . Now there is legal proof that I was actually here . Here in Alaska! Link to comment
Calvin (no socks) Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Just add "speeding in Alaska" to your Hooning classification! Is there a sticker for that? Deland will never be the same upon your return. Great pictures.... Keep 'em coming... Link to comment
tallman Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 So you took a perfectly good airplane and made it stop flying and land on a glacier? Looks like a great time with fine companions. Link to comment
roadscholar Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Great stuff Jacqueline! Link to comment
SageRider Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Beautiful!!!!! Thanks again for sharing your adventure with us! Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 NOW I am jealous! I've landed on a glacier, but never on an Alaskan one !!! Great photos and story as always Jacqueline. And good to see our friends the Whip Family made it safely to Talkeetna! Not sure if those whisky's are good for him though.... Link to comment
Misterlogan Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Jacqueline, Thanks for all the great posts and photos. You win first prize by a long shot. I live in Alaska and have not done all the fun stuff you have due to that pesky work thing gets in the way most of the time. Anyway, are you planning a stop in Skagway on your trip south? Let me know if you do and we can get you on some fun activities here such as train rides, helicopter rides, garden tours and great hikes. I can get you a backstage pass and show you the good stuff at a bargin. Oh yea, and the road into this town is a great stretch along lakes and mountains. If you do make it here you have to brace yourself for a ton of people.....we are a tourist town and lots of folks visit us. That is where we make our living. Perhaps we will see you. Mr. Logan Link to comment
azkaisr Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... I am NOT jealous I am NOT there.......... You guys could have called <Kicks dirt> Wonderful pics though. Tom Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Simply awe inspiring and awesome!!!! Thanks!!! Link to comment
Whip Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Hey J Getting to see ya was great!!! The plane ride was okay too. Great pix!!! See ya around 1pm Saturday at Barbs.(Time to head south) Whip Link to comment
Lets_Play_Two Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 I have really loved taking this trip with you!!! That will be one awesome slide show you will have for those future hot August nights. There will probably be a waiting list of BMW clubs wanting to sign up a viewing. Link to comment
wsearl Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Wonderful experience, with photos to match. Link to comment
KrazyHorse Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Wow, wow and wow! I've been enjoying your pics and storties all long, but the picks from the Otter trip are just fantastic! Can't wait for the opportunity to shake your hand and buy you a beer when you are back in FL. Btw, someone mentioned clubs in FL are going to want you for talks of your trip. Can I call dibs and request you to visit one of our Women in the Wind meetings in Melbourne? It sure would be an honor. I'm sure we could come up with travel expenses. Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 10, 2007 Author Share Posted August 10, 2007 Wow, wow and wow! I've been enjoying your pics and storties all long, but the picks from the Otter trip are just fantastic! Can't wait for the opportunity to shake your hand and buy you a beer when you are back in FL. Btw, someone mentioned clubs in FL are going to want you for talks of your trip. Can I call dibs and request you to visit one of our Women in the Wind meetings in Melbourne? It sure would be an honor. I'm sure we could come up with travel expenses. Patti, I have sent you a PM . J- Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Down to my last days in Anchorage…. and time to get the bike ready for the long journey home. I was planning on going in and working for Barb at Alaska Leather on Thursday, but that morning my bike would not start. My new battery was not even three weeks old and the bike would not start ! I phoned the BMW Dealer in town explained my situation and the fact that I planned on riding out of town in two days. I was told I could bring the bike in and they would squeeze me in for some diagnosis. If it was the alternator, they did not have one in stock and it would take a couple of days to get one. Shortly after 10 am I plugged the battery tender to my bike in hopes to get the bike going in a few hours and into the shop. By 3 pm the bike still would not start, and I started to worry that I had a real problem on my hands. There was no way I could get the bike to the Dealership before the close of business that day. Don arrived home about 4:30 pm and I explained to him my situation. Don looked at the battery tender and saw that it was not charging the battery (I should have seen that… I guess it’s that blonde thing again). Pulled the seat and the plastic off the bike to get to the battery, and found a blown fuse in the line for the quick hook-up for the battery tender. Changed it out and within an hour the bike was running. Kept the bike plugged in all night and was at the BMW Dealer 15 minutes before they opened. They took me right in…. after an hour, from my view point (right outside the shop door) I could tell the alternator was not the problem and they had thrown into my bike…. checking every wire and connection. By 5:00 pm they were finished, every connection cleaned, tighten, sealed and my battery replaced with another new battery. No definite problem was found but they did their very best to eliminate any. The Motorcycle Shop was great to deal with (worth a second chance). Friday evening I took my last ride down Turnagain Arm and to Girdwood. It was a perfect ride… . Don was riding with me (a wonderful guy who had opened his home to me for weeks now ) and a young rider that I had just met at Barb’s an hour earlier (Alaska is a perfect place to meet riders from all over the world and it’s like you have known them for a very long time )…. Turnagain Arm was BEAUTIFUL as always, a Dell sheep stood high above the road on a cliff looking picturesque, and I cried as I rode . This ride (along Turnagain Arm) is my all time favorite and I am going to miss it. The three of us had dinner at Chair 5 in Girdwood and enjoyed each others company. On the ride back to Anchorage a Black Bear ran across the road just in front of us, the sun was getting close to setting casting beautiful rays on the water and over the mountains. Oh how I’m going to miss it. Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Sat. I met Whip, Mrs. Whip, and Chris at Barb’s as we all were getting new tires before I headed out of Anchorage with them. I was determined to take off and put back on, my own tires (I have seen it done enough, I should be able to do it by now)! Doug would put the new tires on the rims! My biggest challenge was getting the bike on the center stand; which I did was Barb’s help (I got there before the others)! And yes, I now have spare tubes with me (note the blue box in the picture). Whip and Chris working on Chris's bike. Whip working on his bike..... Whip, Mrs Whip, Chris and Barb! I'm off to Valdez with Whip, Mrs. Whip, and Chris for a couple of days before heading out of Alaska on my own... This is the third time now since the begining of my adventure that the Whips have crossed my path... (in Texas, in Torrey, now Alaska)...should I be worried? Link to comment
BULLman Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Can't believe its getting time for you to come home Really enjoyed your posts, pics, and reports - you've done a excellent job Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 This is the third time now since the begining of my adventure that the Whips have crossed my path... (in Texas, in Torrey, now Alaska)...should I be worried? At least he hasn't knocked you over, right? Be careful coming back, can't wait for Biketurkeyfest to see you again and hear more of the stories! Link to comment
azkaisr Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 This is the third time now since the begining of my adventure that the Whips have crossed my path... (in Texas, in Torrey, now Alaska)...should I be worried? At least he hasn't knocked you over, right? Be careful coming back, can't wait for Biketurkeyfest to see you again and hear more of the stories! I knew Whip was the man behind "the push" Tom Link to comment
tallman Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Jacqueline, Glad you didn't end up with Whip lash. Safe trip. Hope to see you for the party on the 15th. Link to comment
Whip Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Our intrepid Ms. J has flown the coop. Alaska will never be the same. Ride safe and have fun. Whip Link to comment
RichEdwards Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Florida awaits you, Jacqueline. We've kept it nice and warm for you. Link to comment
BFish Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 she may hit the border, gas up and turn around. wouldn't blame her one bit! Jacqueline you are ow a bonafide wanderer, adventure seeker and soon to be national geograpic explorer. your story and pics have been absolutely wonderful. Link to comment
Bill_Walker Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 After the plane ride we were off to the local Bar and Hotel..... cheers.... This picture gives me a strange sense of deja vu! Is it just me? Great pics, Jacqueline. Wish I could have gone on this trip. Link to comment
Whip Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Hey J Your PM box is full. Whip Link to comment
azkaisr Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 And I just answered your mail. Tom Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 21, 2007 Author Share Posted August 21, 2007 Today I arrived back in the "Lower 48" . I will update my ride tale tomorrow while my bike is being serviced. Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Today I arrived back in the "Lower 48" . I will update my ride tale tomorrow while my bike is being serviced. AND Followed by My hat is off to you. Congrats on your conquest to date. Here's looking forward to (as Paul Harvey would put it) the rest of the story. Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Haven't posted much here (been busy too), but this has been an increasingly amazing 'thread' and ride, Jacqueline. Hats off to you and wishing you a great ride home....... !! Francois Link to comment
azkaisr Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Today I arrived back in the "Lower 48" . I will update my ride tale tomorrow while my bike is being serviced. You forgot the "I will also answer my phone" part Glad you are safe. Oh did you get the PM I sent you? Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 21, 2007 Author Share Posted August 21, 2007 Let’s see, after the tire change it was off to Valdez with Whip, Mrs. Whip, and Chris. Valdez is just as beautiful as I had heard it is. Valdez is located at the end or beginning of the Richardson Highway surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, the tallest coastal mountains in North America. The mountains rise to 7,000 feet and are the most heavily glaciated mountains in the Northwest. Valdez is quit the place with a mix of tidewater glaciers, mountains, and even rain forests. For this small city of about 4,100, Valdez has seen some major historic events from the Gold Rush Stampede in 1898, a 9.2 earthquake that lasted 5 minutes (and completed ruined the city) in 1964, Construction of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline and Marine Terminal (the southernmost end of the 800 mile pipeline) in the 1970’s, and the unforgettable Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Our first morning in Valdez we were out to find breakfast….. we found a place that we thought would be nice…it did have a nice view of the waterfront… . Whip was greeted right away by this bear when we entered….. they seem to be giving each other the same look . Breakfast was a disaster…. Service was slow or nonexistence, lack of clean dishes seemed to be an issue according to Peggy (your server) . Chris had raw bacon, Louise had under cook pancakes and Whip, I’m not sure what was wrong with his breakfast… but it didn’t look to good to me. I played it safe and had only hot tea . Tom, Peggy could have used your help! Peggy tried hard to makeup for all the short comings by trying to be entertaining….. We enjoyed views of Valdez…. Little bunnies down by the waterfront…… so cute! We rode back through Keystone Canyon to enjoy views of the many waterfalls…… Rode to the old town site…… not much left to look at….. But Whip did do some fishing as we stood on the spit. He showed us how a Real Man fishes! With his bare hands! Yes the fish was alive! Barely! I enjoyed my time in Valdez with my three friends and on Tuesday morning 8/14 we parted ways . ……On my way out of Alaska I stopped at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park where the Chugach, Wrangell, and St. Elias mountain ranges converge (and Tom, I had my Passport Stamped). It is the largest National Park in the US and includes 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the US. Because of the high country is covered year round with snow there are extensive ice fields and glaciers. What a beautiful Park. Views along the Richardson Highway...... Off to Canada…….. Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Good show, loved it..... happy ridin'! Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted August 21, 2007 Author Share Posted August 21, 2007 Riding through Yukon and British Columbia now were very different from my ride just a few months earlier. It’s a different season, the roads are better, the wildlife are out! Wildlife….. I came upon my first herd of Buffalo!!!! (I saw several) WOW!!!! Part of the herd started to cross the road… and I started to worry…. I had no idea how Buffalo react to a motorcycle….. So I pulled over and decided to wait it out. Didn’t have to wait long before a vehicle came along, they stopped and asked if I minded if they went ahead. I told them no not at all, that I would prefer it as I was concerned how the Buffalo would react. The vehicle went ahead and I followed, without anything to worry about. The Buffalo were great… it was their place… and they were not going to be rattled by me on my bike. I had the pleasure to camp at Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park…..in the early times the Kaska First Nations People lived and hunted the area, later trappers and prospectors discovered the hotpools and in 1835, the Hudson Bay Company recorded their presents. In 1942 during the Alaska Highway construction the first boardway was built. Canadian Geese... one of my favorite fowls. They had already flown south, out of Alaska by the time I left. It was nice to see some still hanging in BC. Beautiful, peaceful……… In the morning I walked to the Park Entrance to take a picture of this sign……… Only to look beyond it to see…… One HUGE fellow! WOW!!! One rule I have for riding in the Great White North…. if I have ridden close to a 100 miles and there is gas available stop and get gas! Well I had a blonde moment and forgot my own rule when I rode through Teslin. Fifty miles out of Teslin I realized what I had done or should I say, had not done. I pulled off into a rest area to look at my map to see if I should turn around and go back 50 miles to get gas. Charlene and Hap where at the rest stop (they had been come up from Tenn. to do some fishing in Alaska) and stopped to ask me if everything was okay. When I explained my screw up they told me not to go back to Telsin they had space gas and would be more then happy to give me a couple of gallons. Hap refused to let me pay him. What wonderful people! My days riding through British Columbia were unreal. The beauty of the Rockies and countless wildlife….. Missing are pictures of Foxes, Mouse, and Deer…. That I also saw… I thought this was a VERY INTERESTING mountain... look at the various directions the layers of stone take. There must have been some very, very powerful engery taking place to form this! WOW!!! I'm in awe.... pure awe.... I need to come back to the Rockies and spend more time . Link to comment
bakerzdosen Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Well, I've just been lurking in this thread (because my "+1" posts would get tiresome), but those pics definitely seem beautiful. I'm glad that things are going well thus far. And yes, it's good to know that there are good people out there. (Lots of 'em IMHO). Enjoy the balance of your trip. Link to comment
azkaisr Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 You are only allowed back into the Rockies up there if I get to come with you! Those pictures are so beautiful. Good job! Tom Link to comment
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