Just Bobs Alaska 2008

[brasters]

Well guys, finaly made it to a place with Wifi, I am in Walapa Bay Oregon. First day made it to Crescent city, took 101 to 128 and did the reverse of what we normally do when we come back from Ft. Bragg, Its a whole new road, what a blast! Bike handled great, even loaded down and sporting the new Metzlers EXP tires, EXP, FVP, whatever...grin. The ride up 1 to 101 in Oregon was fun, at least the beginning, then toward the north of Oregon, it sucked. If any one tells you they want follow the Oregon coast from Ca. to Wa. tell them to go fly a kite, this was worse then going down to KeyWest in Fl. A Town every five miles with 20 to 35 mile speed limits, and 55 between them, but no one drives 55, cause the cops will give you a ticket for 58. be glad to be in Washinton tomorrow. Will be visiting Touratech tomorrow in Seattle, should be fun, see if there areany farkles I missed to add to the Adventure, I can hear Ted now, "What did you add now, you got too much S%#t on it now...grin.

94 degrees in Tilamook, whew, thought it was supposed to be cool and wet up here, talking even hotter on way to Seattle.

Will see about uploading some video and pictures.

Just Bob.

[Dan-A]

Have fun. Be careful. Wish I was going. At least I am going to the RCB campout! It ain't Alaska, but it's somewhere! :bike:

[RTST]

Bob
Sounds like some great stories are on the way, ride safe and enjoy!
Larry

[LodiHal]

Have fun Bob, can't wait for the pictures and videos... :D

[Dell]

I am following you all the way, vicariously that is. You will probably hit every kind of weather so just try to avoid those "angry clouds" and go for the "happy clouds". Having ridden with Doug I am sure you know what I mean.

[brasters]

Hi Folks, I am now in Lynden Wa. on the Wa. Canada border, will be going through Sumas border crossing in the morning. It's been an eventfull day, stopped at SoundRider, but just found a mailbox, called and found they are virtual, so much for the Rok straps to replace my broken one. Parked next to another BMW, an old airhead. When the guy came out, we got to talking, funny how that happens...grin. Any way he offered to lead me to Seattle BMW, I think he just wanted a reason to ride, guess they have had pretty bad weather till now, never seen so may bikes out since Daytona. The Seattle dealer and folks didn't seem so friendly, no one asked me where I was from or where I was going, Thomas the mature fellow who escorted me, told me the owner was trying to sell the place, hence the attitudes. Stopped by Touratech, was kinda of disappointed, just a front desk, and a showroom with a couple of bikes showing the accesories they sell, did get to do some touchy feely with some product, Score!!! Got some ROK Straps!! also got a waterproof box for my Treo, it has a flexable membrane on top that allows you to use the touchscreen ad itis still sealed.

The ride was great but the bridges ilicited some major pucker factor, they are taller and narrower then the ntioch bridge, might have been just me, don't like heights.

Temps are still too hot, and now there is high humidity, can't seem to dry off.

The KOA campground is packed and everyone seems to know each other, never seen a KOA with a big wine selction in the store, the beer was almost gone....grin. Did I mention they are all Canadians from British Columbia, felt right at home with all the "eh" heard at the end of each sentance...grin.

Never had so many people stop by as I was working on the laptop asking about the bike/ride/me....and where I was going, came from etc.

Here is a link to some pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24415557@N02/sets/72157605099082653/

I have not been taking too may pictures, I have been journeying, not picturing...grin.

Well more tomorrow from Canada.

Just Bob.

[jfredriksson]

Keep the posts coming, Bob; I'm enjoying the ride, as if I'm riding next to you!

[messenger13]

Hey Bob. Glad to hear you're actually going to get that GS off the tarmac for a change. :p Keep us posted, and I wish you all the best. :)

[kdog]

Go, Bob!

Keep the reports coming. http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/lurker.gif

[tlash]

Go, Bob!

Keep the reports coming. http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/lurker.gif
+1. Keep 'em coming.

[brasters]

Is it Saturday, then I must be in Prince George BC. The border crossing at Sumas went very smooth, no hassles at all, might have been cause I am Canadian? He just asked where I was heading, if I was visiting relatives and was I carrying any contraband, told him Alaska, not visting relatives, and have bear pepper spray (Thanks Doug). Told me to have a nice ride, and that was it...grin. I was ready for the third degree from what everyone has been telling me.

First thing I noticed was all the signs are in kilometers, kinda of disconcerting coming into town and the speed limit sign reads 70. Or going into turns that are posted 80 or 90. But then again all the freeways are posted 100, which is just 60 to you Americans. The only thing I gotta say is..60...for freeways? That just won't do...grin. But then I saw the RCMP everywhere, with their little tripod mounted lasers, yes, you can have radar detectors in BC, but not in Alberta per some locals I met along the way. Doug, I let them be the JACKRABBITS...GRIN.

BC is beautiful country, sort of like Colorado, but everything just seems bigger, more impressive, like the rivers, they are wide and the water is realy moving, and there are water falls coming down the cliffsides everywhere along most of the roads as I went along 97. There even was a river going across the freeway where a small landslide had filled in the culvert going under the freeway, so the river just went over it. Hey Ted, did a river crossing already...grin.

The other thing I had forgotten about Canada, is that when you order fries with your food, they ask if you want gravy for them, it is a brown gravy that is a bit peppery. Real good....grin. Don't know if any of you are familiar with St. Hubert sauces, but that will give you an idea of what it is.

http://www.st-hubert.com/en/menu.php#classiques

Weather started out great, but by noon started to cloud up and by three was getting some sprinkels, clouds kept getting darker and darker, but made it to Prince george with no rain. They are predicting rain for tomorrow though, so going to Hyder might be a bit wet, but hey, bring it on....grin. After these 85 degree plus (or should I say 29 celsius) days since I left, this will be most welcome.

Talk to you guys tomorrow.

Wanderlust Bob.

PS: There are some more pictures added to the link on yesterdays post.

[DavidTaylor]

HI Bob! Glad to hear the trip is going well and you're having fun! Wish I could have been around to send you off; still in Arkansas helping out mom (who's doing amazingly well, BTW). Keep us posted on your travels. Have fun!

[Ted Shred]

Looks like yer having a good time eh?:p Just got back myself from the Lake Mendocino ride. Did a few water crossings too:) Keep the pics coming.

[RdcrzR]

Hey Bob,

The pictures are great. Can't wait for your next 'installment.':D

John

[brasters]

Hi folks, sorry didn't post last night, but the Hi-Speed Wifi advertised in Hyder was not so fast, took all night just to upload pics to flickr.

Had a great ride from Prince George to Hyder, stopped in Vanderhoof for a coffee and muffin, as I was going up to pay for said coffee and muffin, I spied these little pies called Butter Tarts, now this triggers something deep in my memory as a kid groing up in Quebec, hmmmm, so I add one to my pile of breakfast. Man was it good, imagine a small pecan pie, minus the nuts, and the suger has been carmilized on top. I am glad I didn't get 2,3,4.....
After I topped off and was back on the road,I was thinking to myself, self, we have not seen any wildlife yet. Carefull what your thinking cause just as I round a turn, not 15-20 ft. from the edge of the road is a big black BEAR. He was digging at a root of a stump, and he looks up just as we are at the closest point, never made eye contact with a bear, I think we were both too surprised too move, Well, I was already moving, I am riding my bike you know, Eh.

Alot of the ride I felt like I was in the Swiss Alps or Germany, the mountains are snow covered and there was a definate Nip in the air. Stopped at Smithers for lunch at an A&W, they have fry's and they have Poutin, which is fries covered in gravy, mmmmmm. As I am leaving Smithers, there is a big Billboard, with pictures of three teenage girls, and a note on the bottom telling folks to educate their kids not to Hitch Hike, Hiway 16 is called the road of tears, I read they have had a serial killer along that road and he has not been caught yet.

Better gas up if you don't hve a big tank at the 16/37 junction, the gas station at Meziadin Lake is now closed, so next gas is either Stewart or Ikus, long way....I made it with 40 miles range left, and I have the adventure tank, 8.7 plus 3/4 gal. more with gas filler tube drilled and doughnut removed.

The pass to Hyder on 37A was an interesting ride, with the year round avalanch warning signs, and the lake at the top of the pass was still frozen solid. There is also a glacier going into it. Hyder is prepping for the Hyder seek bunch showing up in 2 weeks. BTW, you have to go to Stewart for meals, no resteraunt in Hyder. And also you better take your passport, cuz there is a canadian border crossing but not a US one, go figure.

The ride from Hyder to Watson lake, proved to be my entry into the off road world, did about 60 miles of off road since the hiway was torn up due to frost heave, don't know why they call it heave, they are sudden dips! Also saw more wildlife, two black bears, two caribou, a moose, 7-8 Dahl sheep, and a robin poof, bet you are wondering what a robin poof is, well, when you hit one, the feathers go poof all around you....grin. Then there was the Quail, which hoped had gone poof, but when I stopped to take the Yukon sign picture, there arose a mighty stink, got off the bike and looked in front, and there wedged between my exhaust, block and cylinder head, I find what is lweft of a quail. he has burned unto my exhaust, and there are guts all over the cylinder head and block, not to mention my foot! You can see the pictures in my flickr page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24415557@N02/sets/72157605099082653/

Next Stop, Haines Junction !

Just Bob.

[kdog]

Dang, Bob! What an adventure!! http://www.dgrin.com/images/smilies/clap.gif

Great descriptions of things. Really, your writing is very good and takes the reader right along with you. You're killing me with all the wildlife reports. I really wish I was there with you. Ride safe.

-joel

[dougholck]

Sounds like your are having a great time, pics bring back good memories.

Thanks for the Hyder Pass pics, when Del and I went thru last July, it was raining and the cloud cover was so low we could not see the mountain peaks.

Go easy on the wildlife, never thought of using the GS as a BBQ?

[Ted]

...and a robin poof, bet you are wondering what a robin poof is, well, when you hit one, the feathers go poof all around you....grin.

Bob - thanks for the updates - great write-up and stories. Very envious here!

I had a "groundhog poof" a few weeks back. Didn't stop to look but found the attached when I got home.

Ride safe and don't hit anything that will result in "Bob poof". :)

[Dell]

The pictures of the sign post forest at Watson Lake brought back a warm memory. Doug and I posted a sign there commenorating the ride for cancer patient awareness.

Oh, so that's what the area around Hyder looks like! When Doug and I were there I could barely see Doug in front of me. Watch out for the bears and keep having fun.

[ltcommuter]

Thanks for the story and pics. I killed a whole day at work just checking out maps of the Yukon and Alaska!

Cheers!

[cfell]

Oh, geez... I read this heading several times.. always thought it said..
"Just B--bs...." DUH!

Well, the joke's on me!!!!

[K1200KING]

Bob,

Great pictures and great tale. Keep 'em coming!

P.S. Joellen says "Hi!"

[LodiHal]

Nice write ups Bob!

Don't ya' just hate the mess when ya' "poof" something?

Bears? ugh...... Good thing you have "bear spray"...

[missterri]

Well guys, I'm so bummed to be posting this. I just got a phone call from Bob, he had a mishap....he was riding a roundabout in Whitehorse, didn't notice there was a "lip" in the pavement between the lanes and his peg hit it just right and down he went.

He's okay, left ankle most likely broken. There's some wonderful people that he ran across that stopped to help, his bike has been safely stowed and they brought his luggage to him.

He's in Whitehorse General Hospital now, waiting to see what the ortho says. Most likely we'll try and get him home if he needs surgery, he's also thinking if they give him a cast maybe he can rent a truck and drive the bike home. Everythings up in the air right now.

I'm just sick with disappointment for him, I hate getting those calls that start with "Now, don't get excited". HA HA.

I'll keep you guys posted, and I'm sure Bob will too when he gets his computer out of the saddlebag.

Terri

[dougholck]

Thanks for the update Terri.
Glad he is OK.

He is in good hands at Whitehorse General.

If you need a contact person in Whitehorse, try John at Yukon Honda, he is the service tech who helped Del and I with tire changes and gas tank repair and should know who and where to get truck rental and such.

Is the bike damaged? If not I could fly up and ride it home if that helps.
Hey, maybe I have time to make the ferry to Kodiak?

Let me know if there is anything I can do?

I put up a post on ADVrider, Alaska forum for someone to check on him.

[Dell]

Terri, don't worry, of all the places to need medical attention Whitehorse is a fair size city and should be able to handle his needs well.

I am so sorry to hear this news. Bob was at my house last week and he was like a little kid beaming with excitement.

Please keep us informed.

[nelson61]

Sorry to hear the bad news....that really sucks !! If its the left foot he still maybe able to drive a truck home even tho its not the way he wanted to go. :(

[82katana]

What a shame. He was having so much fun!

Terri, If there is anything I can do to help, please call. I have a trailer - a truck - I can hop a flight up and drive Bob home. Just let me know.

[missterri]

Bob was released from the hospital, in fact he said they kind of "rushed him out", didn't present a bill or anything....all he had to pay was the emergency room doctor. I guess they'll send it in the mail. Seems weird.

He was able to get back to the bike, sure enough won't start, makes a weird clunking noise. So he made arrangements to leave it there until he can figure out insurance/shipping, whatever.

I've got him booked on a flight into SFO tomorrow, he'll ship most of his stuff back but hand-carry his electronics, etc.

Two people he met today really came through for him. One guy named Steven from Vancouver he met this morning at a gas station, ended up having coffee and traveling together to Whitehorse. In fact, Bob was showing him the way to the dealership (GPS) when the accident happened. The other person was Anna, who was just pulling out on her Yamaha and they waved to her on the way into town. She was right behind Bob when he went down. Between the two of them, they got him to the hospital, his luggage to him, bike stowed, to the pharmacy, and a place to lay his head for the night. I can't say how grateful I am.

Terri

[nelson61]

Canadians are fine folks Im sure you know that Terri.
Not sure about a bill from the hospital you may never see one.. its the Canadian way !!

[dougholck]

From the ADVrider website:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343746

[brasters]

Well guys, Unfortunately the leg to Haines junction ended in Whitehorse with a get off on a round about in downtown Whitehorse, which led to a broken ankle. So the trip ends here. I will be flying out this afternoon, and will see to the bike later. The bike only has a dent in the left saddle bag and a un-diagnosed starting issue. I have more new friends here in Whitehorse and I could not have asked for better help. A local family took me in, The Murray's, Mom Anna rides and was behind me when I went down, she took this stray home after the hospital and fed me and put me to bed. No smart remarks here...grin. Her son was driving me around to check on the bike and even picked up my prescriptions.

Bummed about the trip ending, but am thankful that it was only an ankle and that will mend. I will be back! in my best governator accent...grin. Made new friends and will be keeping in touch going forward, thanks to all the support Terri and I have received, and the very kind words concerning my trip report...Thank You, will see you all soon.

Just Bob.

[jfredriksson]

I just heard about your "getoff", and I'm very sorry for your disappointment and injury. I know you will finish your adventure and look foward to more stories from Bob "TenBeers" in animal country.

[K1200KING]

Bob,

Sorry to hear about the ankle, heal quickly and I hope you can get back to finish the trip soon.

[RTST]

Bob
Sorry to hear about your detour, it should turn out better on your return trip. Sounds like you met some great people the hard way!
Larry

[RMoore007]

Sorry to hear about your inconvenience Bob. I know it sucks to have just one day of riding ruined let alone an entire trip. You have the right attitude though and will prevail.:thumb: Glad to hear it wasn't worse. And your bike with limited damage also. I had enjoyed reading about your trip as with John and Doug's trip too. I look forward to hearing more about your adventure, before the meds wear off.:D That way, you can deny everything.:p Be well Bob.:)

[kdog]

Ah shoot, Bob. What a disappointment. :(

At least you had a great ride up until then. You will be back, I know. Maybe next time you'll have some company.

Take care and post again soon. I'm missing the stories already.

Your Bud,
-joel

[Dan-A]

Bummer how things can change in the blink of an eye. :mad:

Sorry to hear about this. Here's to a speedy recovery. :)

[hallzee]

Sorry to hear about the get-off, but thankful it wasn't worse! I hope you can be glad for at least the good memories for this trip.

[Ted Shred]

Bummer your trip was cut short Bob. Get healed up quick so you can finish it!!!

[DavidTaylor]

DAMMIT! I hate to hear that Bob. I'm sorry your trip got cut short and that you got hurt in the process, that's just plain sucks. I'm back in San Jose so let me know how I can help. I'll be around all weekend so I can come out to Livermore if needed.

[brasters]

Well folks, just found out I had a bit more damage then they thought, they found an additional fracture in my fibula below the knee, which puts the first injuries into a different light. They will now need to install a screw into both the Fibula and the Tibula to stabilise my ankle. Which means I will be off my feet for the next three months. My goal is to be well enough to still make CCR in Utah.

So no riding for me for the next three months.

I will just have to drive for a while to the HDDC dinners...grin.

Just Bob.

[amarider]

Bob, Bad news about your mishap but good to hear there were some good people around to take care of ya.
Hope you heal up fast and can enjoy the ride to CCR by the end of Summer.

[Ted]

Bob - I'll never say "Bob poof" again....hope you heal fast - and sorry your trip was cut short :(

[Ted Shred]

Well folks, just found out I had a bit more damage then they thought, they found an additional fracture in my fibula below the knee, which puts the first injuries into a different light. They will now need to install a screw into both the Fibula and the Tibula to stabilise my ankle. Which means I will be off my feet for the next three months. My goal is to be well enough to still make CCR in Utah.

So no riding for me for the next three months.

I will just have to drive for a while to the HDDC dinners...grin.

Just Bob.

Well that's not good news:( How did they miss that? They did x-rays in Canada right?

[Dell]

So no riding for me for the next three months.



Bad news on top of bad news. Sorry to hear this Bob.

Take care,

[kdog]

Oh man. :( That's a real drag, Bob. Three months off your feet is a tough sentence. I hope you're not in too much pain. I think the HDDC is going to have to come to you. :D

-joel

[Dan-A]

Oh man. :( That's a real drag, Bob. Three months off your feet is a tough sentence. I hope you're not in too much pain. I think the HDDC is going to have to come to you. :D

-joel

Dinner at BOBS! next Wednesday? Just kidding. Sorry to hear about it. Hope you feel better.

[LodiHal]

Bob, that's terrible, 3 months is a long time. But remember, the HDDC is just a phone call away if you need anything! :D

[RdcrzR]

Hey Bob,

Just got back on the site and read about your get-off. Sorry to hear, but glad to know you had good folks up there to make sure you were well taken care of. Three months is a long time, but don't push the recovery!

John