Alaska 2-Wheel Adventure 2012
Ok, I finally pulled the trigger and am going to cross one more thing off the ole bucket list. I plan to traverse our great 49th state via motorcycle! I will depart NC on July 12. My friend Blake has been gracious enough to let me spend the night with him and his wife that night. He is also dropping me off at the HD dealer on his way to work to pick up the bike.
I plan to be on the road early and take full advantage of this gorgeous state. Will have the camera and the video going to take all it’s beauty in!
Day 1
Today’s ride will include stops at Portage Glacier:
After refueling on the beauty of the glacier, back on the bike and on to Seward, AK!
Should be lunch time by the time I hit Seward. I am thinking I will hit the Smoke Shack. Some of the locals refer to the restaurant as “The Train Wreck”, but its real name is the Smoke Shack. It’s actually a very small restaurant built inside one train car, and the food is just outstanding. They’re only open from 7am to 3pm.
OK, full stomach and full tank of gas…off to Homer and the Spit Sisters and a few brewskis at the world famous Salty Dog Saloon!
OK, that takes care of Day 1!
Day 2 – July 14th
TODAY IS A SHORT ONE AS FAR AS RIDING GOES. I WILL DEPART HOMER AND JUST RIDE UP TO KENAI AND MEET MY FRIEND BLAKE. HE HAS A REMOTE CABIN ON THE KENIA RIVER. I PLAN TO BE THERE NLT 1200 HOURS. LEAVE THE BIKE AND JUMP IN THE BOAT AND GO TO HIS CABIN FOR THE NIGHT.
YEA, I TAUGHT BLAKE EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT FLY FISHING!
Day 3 – July 15th
I WILL BE DEPARTING BLAKES FAIRLY EARLY AND RIDING TO TALKEETNA.
Yes, it is a lot like it was depicted on TV’s Northern Exposure. Most of the town’s female inhabitants are featured in the “Women of Talkeetna” calendar, for sale at better establishments all over town. They do have a radio station. Unlike the show, DJ responsibility is shared among volunteers. From what I understand, one simply shows up at the station with whatever music that they want to play.
There are a lot more men then women. Some say that it’s a 10:1 ratio.
Some typical sayings related to this imbalance are, for the ladies: “the odds are good, but the goods are odd” and for the men, “you don’t lose your girlfriend; you just lose your turn”.
TONIGHT I WILL BE STAYING AT THE DENALI FIRESIDE CABINS & SUITES
I WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER THAT THE BEST FOOD IN TOWN IS RIGHT NOW THE STREET:
(AMAZING…I DIDN’T KNOW IT HAD A BAR! LUCKY ME!)
Day 4 – July 16th
I WILL BE DEPARTING TALKEETNA FOR FAIRBANKS. FIRST STOP WILL BE DANALI PARK
Sunset Over Mt McKinley 
Aurora Borealis Over Mt McKinley
I WILL EVENTUALLY WORK MYSELF UP TO FAIRBANKS AND STAY AT THE WESTMARK FAIRBANKS HOTEL
Day 5 – July 17th
FROM FAIRBANKS I WILL RIDE DOWN THE RICHARDSON HWY (A-4) TO GLENELLEN. STAYING AT THE TOLSONA LAKE RESORT
Tolson Lake Resort Dock 
Tolson Lake Resort Bar
Day 6 – July 18th
I WILL DO A ROUND TRIP RIDE FROM GLENELLEN DOWN TO VALDEZ AND BACK TO THE TOLSONA LAKE RESORT. I AM GUESSING AFTER ONE NIGHT, THEY WILL WANT ME BACK. THEY DO HAVE KAROKE AND I AM A GREAT SINGER AFTER A FEW BEERS! (AND SKINNY, AND GOOD LOOKING, AND FUNNY!)
HOPEFULY THE SNOW WILL BE GONE BY JULY!
I WILL RETURN FOR ONE MORE NIGHT AT THE TOLSONA LAKE RESORT
Day 7 – July 19th
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END…GLENELLEN BACK TO ANCHORAGE TO TURN THE BIKE IN AND FLY HOME THAT NIGHT