June 20 - Sunday

Did 442 miles today. Rode to Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula in southern Alaska. Very scenic area with lots of snow covered mountains and glaciers.

I learned a lot about glaciers too. Stopped at a lodge and had a homemade cinnamon bun on the way.

The lady asked me if I wanted it warmed up with hot butter on it!! Duh, I gave a real quick answer!! Boy was that good with hot coffee. It was chilly the entire day with temps in the upper 50's. Saw a moose cow with her calf in a pond next to the road. Beautiful ride coming out of Anchorage around the inlet to the peninsula.

Everything is BIG in Alaska. It was about 50 miles just around the inlet!!! Even had a train along the way! I stopped in the town of Cooper Landing and got the last room at the Sunrise Inn.

 A really neat place with great food, of course!! For whatever reason I could not get my netbook to connect to their wireless internet. They had a 10 digit hex passcode!! My old handheld palm connected just fine. Go figure!

June 19 - Saturday

What a day!! WOW!! I SAW A GRIZZLY BEAR!!! Ran right across the road in front of me this morning. That was a major highlight of this trip. I wanted to see a grizzly but had doubts that I would. This was a BIG one too. I had been back on the Alaska Highway for only about 20 miles when I saw him. Rest of the day was just beautiful scenery, meeting lots of nice people and riding my motorcycle in the most extreme diverse road conditions I have ever been on!! Did 394 hard miles today. The "frost heaves" in the Yukon were something. The road may drop down a foot and you wouldn't see it until you were right there.

Makes you come off your seat at times. The Ultra handled them as well as could be expected!! Then all the diverse construction (miles and miles of it!) - dusty dirt, muddy dirt, loose thick gravel, rock chips, ruts, etc.! Ran onto the guy from West Virginia a couple more times and we even found ourselves at this same motel in Tok, Alaska this evening, so we had dinner together at the famous Fast Eddies here in Tok.

Nice to have had the company. He is going to Anchorage and flying to Barrows, AK on Tues for four days to take pictures of the wildlife there. I will be on the Fairbanks tomorrow. Plan to still ride the Dalton to the Arctic Circle. May do it tomorrow afternoon/evening. Looks to take at least 7 hours for the round trip. At least I don't have to worry about it getting dark on me!!! For here in Tok, sunset is at 11:48pm and sunrise is 3:18am!! The sun is now up 24 hours a day at the arctic circle north!!

June 18 - Friday

Completed another 451 miles of the Alaska Highway and made it to the Yukon!

I am at Whitehorse, YT tonight. Stopped at Coal River this morning and had coffee and a delicious homemade cinnamon bun!

Caught up with a guy from Montreal at a construction zone. His name was Gil and he was on a BMW heading up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik and then up the Dalton to Prudhoe! He had a Zumo GPS and a SPOT GPS messenger like mine. We met up again at a gas stop and then at the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake. The sign post forest was very interesting.

At least thousands of signs there, This was started by a US soldier back in 1943 when the Alaska Highway was being built. Had to stop for buffalo in the road for about 15 minutes. The Yukon is beautiful. Very vast and great views of the mountains. Met up with a guy from Utah with his motorcycle dog at a gas station. He was heading to Fairbanks. The dog was something with the goggles and helmet!!

Went by Yukon Harley Davidson ad got an oil change (I have ridden over 4,700 miles since I left on June 7). They took me right in at 5:30 and had it done in 20 minutes. They were closing at 6pm! I had to buy a Yukon Harley T shirt! Met a guy riding to Anchorage here at the motel from Buckhannon, WV. That is near my hometown! Did my landry this evening too. Sunset is 11:30pm and sunrise is at 4:30am!! Will be in Alaska tomorrow!!!

June 17 - Thursday

Well, I made it up 456 miles of the Alaska Highway today. What a ride!! Saw 4 black bears, 4 wolves, several deer and a bunch of sheep.

 Did 187 miles between gas stations too. Glad I had my spare tanks. Didn't use them yet, but made me a lot more comfortable! Experienced the gravel patches and frost upheavals on the road. Had about a 45 minute wait on road construction coming thru the Rockies. The nice flaglady let me move to the front of the line. The dust was really bad! I had an "ice road trucker" behind me and he stayed up with me for the most part (I left him on a long up hill later!!)

 I am at The Northern Rockies Lodge tonight on Muncho Lake.

It is a beautiful place.Sunset is around 10:30 pm tonight and sunrise is around 4am in the morning. That is really cool. Hope to get at least 500 miles on up the Highway tomorrow. Will be in the Yukon!

June 16 - Wednesday

Travelled 533 miles today from Lloydminster, Alberta to Dawson Creek, British Columbia. I have now done 3,655 miles since last Monday.

I MADE IT to the zero milepost of the Alaskan Highway.

Had nice weather today. A little cool this morning and around 70 later. Clear to scattered clouds. NO RAIN!! Edmonton is a large city. Passed through around 10 am with no traffic problems. Stopped several times to get gas (I am now in the area where I stop and get gas every time I see a gas station!!) I did pull in and leave a couple since they only sold regular too.

Talked to a trucker from Whitecourt, Alberta at a truck stop for about 30 minutes since he was picking up his new first Harley tomorrow (a 2010 Ultra Limited in red/black).

He was really excited and wanted to talked about all the things I have added to mine. I have already gone by and taken all the customary pictures here of the Alaska Highway signs.

A couple from Nebraska pulled in after me that are on their way to Alaska too. Will be interesting if I see them again over the next 1,400 miles of the journey. Since the sun comes up around 3:30 am tomorrow here I am going to try and get an early start to get about 500 miles done.

June 15 - Tuesday

Did 578 miles today. I am in Lloydminster, Alberta tonight. Joe and I "parted" this morning with him starting his journey back to Richmond and me to Alaska.

I crossed the border at a little crossing on US 85 coming out of the US. The crossing didn't even open until 9 am. There was no one else there the entire time I was there at the crossing. The advantage to one of this little crossings is that yopu do not have to wait in line, the disadvantage is the border officials are bored so they like to run you thru the complete process! Two border guards were totally dedicated to me and the complete searching of my entire bike. All the bags off and looked in! (They even took my rainsuit apart and looked in all the pockets and then asked me to put it back together!) Anyway, I eventually passed and they let me in the country of Canada.

 I think the real driver was when they first asked me where I was headed and I told them Alaska, so they thought I was at least nuts, so they had better check me real close!! I stopped at the Bank of Montreal in the town of Weyburn and got some Canadian dollars to spend! The weather was great in the morning. Started a few sprinkles around Regina, so I put the rainsuit on. Didnt need it as the weather was great all the way, stayed in the 70's too. I am half way to Dawson Creek and the start of the Alaskan Highway. Should make it there tomorrow.

June 14 - Monday

Only did 114 miles today. Had a great breakfast at the Cowboy Cafe in Medora, ND.

Toured the Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Unit. Did some hiking too. Joe and I had dinner at the Outlaw Bar & Grill in Watford City, ND.

Joe is heading for Richmond in the morning and I am heading on toward Alaska. North Dakota folks are really nice!

June 13 - Sunday

Started the morning in Hill City, SD at 45 degrees and still a little rain. The forecast was to be in the upper 40's, so we said good bye to Charlie & Janet at the Lantern Inn and we hit the road.

Had a great breakfast at the Golden Spike restaurant in Hill City. Rode to Sturgis, visited the Harley shop, the Full Throttle Saloon and One Eyed Jack's.

Of all things, there was a Cushman bike rally going on in Sturgis! Should have got a picture of that! Kinda funny! The place really looked different from the first week in August!! We headed to North Dakota with hopes of warmer and dryer air and WE FOUND IT!!

The sun came out and the temps were in the 70's. Made it to Medora, ND and checked into the Badlands Motel.

We rode the 36 mile loop road through Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Not crowded at all and a really beautiful National Park.

Beautiful landscapes and more buffalo. Had dinner at a local restaurant called Boots Bar & Grill. Even though Joe didn't wear his boots, they let him in anyway since I had my boots on!!

We had a great dinner of a double elk burger with french fried sweet potatoes. Had a very good North Dakota brewed beer too. We were good and did NOT have dessert tonight. Medora is a really nice little western town.

There is not a single "chain" anything that we could find. That is very unique!

June 12 - Saturday

Joe got to Hill City around 10:30am today.

After introducing him to Charlie and Janet at the Inn we headed out to Needles Highway, Custer State Park, Iron Mountain Highway, Mt Rushmore and Keystone.

We only did 97 miles but it was all high quality!! Saw lots of buffalo, burros, pronghorn antelope and paririe dogs. The buffalo had lots of little calves with them. They were cute but make us very cautious with the momma buffalo cows!!

 Had no problems, so that was good. We went to dinner at the Alpine Inn and had a great filet mignon dinner. The best part was the dessert of rhubarb crisp made by Barbara the maid from the Lantern Inn. It was delicious! (Keith, you may not believe it, but it was better than the rhubarb pie!!!).

We are heading north tomorrow to North Dakota in hopes of warmer dryer weather. It is raining again tonight and to be in the upper 30's here in Hill City by morning!!

June 11 - Friday

Another great day. This was a R&R day for me. Started off the morning with coffee and muffins with the inn owners, Charlie & Janet. They bought this inn back in 1978 and this is their 32nd year. Now that is an example of real small business sustainability!! After breakfast I washed my bike. Only rode 56 miles today! Went down to Custer for a great piece of rhubarb pie & ice cream for lunch at the Purple Pie Place. Don't laugh, it is THE PLACE in the Black Hills for rhubarb pie (right Keith & Rae?).

Also rode over to Keystone and by Mt Rushmore. Mt Rushmore is such an inspirational place. All Americans should go there and visit at least once! Really amazing.

A real dedicated sculptor, an engineering feat and a national treasure!!!! Rest of the day was spent talking to Charlie & Janet, walking downtown Hill City and sorting/repacking all my "stuff" on my motorcycle. Joe should get here around 9 pm this evening. His flight from Richmond was weather delayed and he missed his connecting flight to Denver, so he is late. He called me at 2:15pm in Denver and was leaving on his bike then. We are now planning to spend Sat night here in Hill City (tour the Black Hills tomorrow) and then head up to North Dakota on Sunday. It is actually warmer north (actually warmer in Alaska right now!!)

June 10 - Thursday

Started the morning in Sioux Falls, SD with lots of rain, lightning & a temp of 58 degrees. Decided to take my time leaving! Went to breakfast at the same restaurant as dinner the night before. Found out that restaurant had been there for 31 years and owned the entire time by the same couple. Another guy walked in at the same time I did. We ended up sitting together and having breakfast. He was from San Diego and had just sold and retired from a limo business he had in Las Vegas (He had driven Michael Douglas around every time he came to Vegas). He was on his way to a family reunion in north east South Dakota. Had an excellent breakfast and nice to have some company.

The rain slacked up enough to leave around 10:30. It stopped completely a few miles out of Sioux Falls and the sun came out later and warmed up to the upper 80s. Crossed the Missouri River for the fourth time on this trip. (Keith, stopped at Cactus Flats and got gas).

Between Wall and Rapid City all the pretty clouds came together and made a giant rain filled black one. Started raining pretty hard about 30 miles from Rapid City, so the rain suit came back on! The air temp dropped back into the 50s too! Made it safely to The Lantern Inn after 379 miles today.

The rain stopped right after I arrived. Just cloudy and cool this evening. Talked to some South Dakota bikers staying here too. (The SD state HOG rally is here this weekend so there are plenty of bikers, although nothing compared to Sturgis week!!!). Walked downtown to The Alpine for the filet mignon special and yes, Keith and Rae, I had the bread pudding too.

It is still made by Barbara Johnson who is the Lantern Inn motel maid along with cleaning the Rapid City convention center every night. She is some lady to be 62 years old!! Another great day. Looking forward to seeing Joe tomorrow and beginning our adventure on Saturday.