You get a little goofy after a month alone...

I can’t believe that I have been on the road for about a month. I am currently in Edmonton Alberta. Today I reached a milestone in my motorcycle riding career. Up until now my longest ride had been 7,200 miles which I did back in 2002. Today I have gone beyond that and I am loving every click of the odometer as I continue down this road of enlightenment and discovery. Tonight I find myself reflecting back over the highs and lows that I have experienced during this initial sector of my fund raising adventure. Some of more vivid memories and impressions include the following:

1. The People - No doubt my biggest surprise has been the incredible people I have met along the way. Although I have never seemed to have a problem meeting people, I have been blown away by the number of people wanting to engage me in conversation about what I am doing, the Cruising for the Cure cause, and asking question about Titan Sports Media (my sponsor). Even more amazing is the fact that some people approach me and hand me, a total stranger, money to help find a cure for breast cancer. With only one exception, these people have not appeared to be wealthy. They are just nice, down to earth, caring folks with a heart the size of a watermelon. These acts of kindness are so refreshing in a world that seems to be filled more and more with negativity and cynicism. I must say that I am much more optimistic today than I was just a month ago about the kind of world our children and their children will experience during the coming years. These contributions have ranged from $1 to $100 and I find myself in total awe of the $1 contributors just as much as I do the ones who donate $100. I think there is a lesson here for us all in these jesters of wanting to help others!

One funny story is about a contributor (who will remain nameless). The guy was a total classic. I was in Fort St. John yesterday in BC. I was riding around town looking for a hotel, the visitor’s bureau, and trying to find a gas station. I noticed during this hour long ride through town that I saw a guy on various streets about 4 or 5 different times driving his hot red Mustang. Sometimes he would be going in the opposite direction as me, sometimes, perpendicular to me, and sometimes in my same direction. He was about 35 years years old and looking at my Captain America every chance he could get. Next thing I know he comes into the gas station that I am in. He pulls up right next to me and asks me what I am riding for and then I tell him. Without hesitation, he hands me $2.50 Canadian and says he would have given me a $20 if he had it on him. He went on to explain that he is an oil field worker and was born and raised in the area. What happened next almost knocked my socks off. No doubt I am looking a little scruffy at the end of the day after riding hard for 8 hours and being on the road for a month. He looks at me as he opens his glove box and pulls out a sandwich bag packed full of pot. I mean it looked like a Thanksgiving turkey crammed full of stuffing! He next offers me some by saying, “It will take the edge off after a long ride”. I just started laughing out loud and quickly said “no thanks”. I felt I could easily be staring on either Candid Camera or COPS and neither one had any great appeal to me. He was really a nice guy and I am sure he would have made a “special contribution” had my answer been different, but no way for this biker dude! Shortly thereafter, he peals out of the gas station with a smile on his face.

2. Weather – Today I finally had my first really warm day. High pressure is now building and I should have hot summer kind of days for the next 4 or 5 days anyway. It was in the low 90’s (31 or 32 Celsius) and should stay that way for the next few days. With the exception of Alaska where it was partly clear on some days, the weather up until now has been very cold, rainy, and pretty miserable. June is supposed to be the best month up in the northern BC, the Yukon, and in Alaska. Keep in mind, you take cold weather, then throw in a 70 to 75 mile per hour motorcycle ride for 8-11 hours and it does not take a genius to figure you that often you can be freezing your tail off. So, no doubt you are asking what have I been wearing each day for the better part of the last three plus weeks? Long underwear, jeans, and chaps below the waist and then above the waist the typical day would include long underwear, three short sleeve tee shirts, two long sleeve tee shirts, a long sleeve turtle neck, a canvas long sleeve shirt, an electric vest turned on high, my heavy leather jacket, and rain gear. No wonder I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy in most all the photos.

People who know me know that I love hot weather and am longing for the days of 100 to 110 degrees that I hope to hit in the lower 48. The only issue with that will be where to store all the cloths that I have been wearing to keep warm. The space where I would ordinarily store these items is now taken up by the spare helmet and video camera that I purchased along the way.

3. The Scenery - Although I have ridden to British Columbia on my bike in the past, the beauty of BC, the Yukon, Alaska, and now Alberta has far exceeded all of my expectations. Not just the scenic mountains, rivers, and steams, but the farmland is nothing short of breathtaking. Even with very difficult weather in some locations, these places have been worth making the effort to visit. The variety of terrain, the wild life, and the great locals have been something that I will never forget.

4. Travelling Alone – It forces one to be more outgoing than one would usually be. I know some of you are saying, “How is that possible with Dave?” I have found myself often engaged in “Seinfeld” kind of conversations with total strangers. It has been a total kick getting to know the locals as well as the bikers and motor home folks. Most people are really interesting and fun to talk to assuming you only give them half a chance.

5. Cost of Fuel - Everyone is complaining about the cost of petrol. Most merchants are expecting fewer visitors this year than over past several years due to the current cost of fuel. The exception is that they feel that motorcycle traffic is definitely on the increase. I am seeing a ton of “Motorcycle Friendly” signs out in front of hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. I can’t tell you the number of people who have said to me while I am paying for my gas, “I wish my fill up was that cheap”. By the way, so far I am getting about 51 miles to the gallon. Gas prices have been running about US$4.25 to $4.75 per gallon and my fill ups are now costing me just north of $20.

6. My Harley – Although I have always been a long distance rider, this trip has caused me to begin to rethink my equipment. I am going to give serious consideration to moving to a new road touring bike for my next major trip. Riding a modern version of a Captain America chopper is fun, but it is obviously not built for the incredibly harsh riding conditions of parts of BC, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska. The thin front tire makes riding in sand, DG, deep water, over pot holes and in hail that much more difficult versus a bike with special suspension and a wide front tire. I smell a new bike coming on as soon as this trip is wrapped up... assuming this one makes it to the finish line!

7. Family – I can’t tell you enough how much fun it was seeing my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and all their kids, etc. in Anchorage. A real treat. Also, I am really looking forward to heading on into Saskatoon in Saskatchewan later this week. Why am I going to Saskatoon you ask? Because I like the name of the town!

A real bonus comes a week from yesterday when I pick up Doreen at the airport in Bozeman Montana. As mentioned, we are renting a great house on the Gallatin River (where they filmed the Brad Pitt movie called A River Runs Through It) and we are having our kids (Brendon and Kelly) come up with their significant others. In addition, no doubt we will spend a lot of quality time with my cool cousin Sharon and her great husband (Jon) along with their family during the following two weeks. Can’t wait!

My friends, that’s about it from here at this point. The trip has been a total blast so far. You sure meet some characters when travelling alone on a motorcycle, but that is no doubt what some of them, if not all of them, are saying about me!

I hope you all have a super week and for those of you living in Canada enjoy your Canada Day on the 1st of July and for those in America, enjoy your 4th of July.

Until next time, I will try to keep the rubber down and the paint up (a motorcycle saying). Ride on my friends, ride on!

Smiley

Dog of the Week - 30 June 2008

I can’t believe it is Dog of the Week time again already.

In another close contest last week, Nimo lost becoming the Champ by only one vote. It can’t get much closer than that! This obviously means that Sophie (aka Precious) retains her crown for at least another week.

Before I introduce this week’s Contender, I must address a complaint that was forwarded to me by my blog’s Complaint Department. Donna from Carlsbad apparently feels that I am ignoring all the wonderful male dogs that I have come in contact with during my journey. This week I purposely set out to prove Donna wrong and I am pleased to announce that this week’s Contender is none other than a 2-year old male French Bull Dog named Charlie.

I met Charlie in Alaska at a wonderful bed and breakfast boutique historic property in the small town of Cooper Center on the way to Valdez. First, I must say that I wanted to make absolutely sure that this week contender was a male. You can see from my second “money shot” of this adventure (the first one being the mother moose and her calf at the lake) that Charlie is “all male”. I have to tell you that this pooch was hung like a chipmunk! If you don’t believe me, check out the picture that I took of his "hind quarter panel". No one will be asking “Where’s the beef?

Charlie was a true classic. He followed me everywhere I went on the property including into the restaurant to watch me eat my breakfast. Since I went the extra mile to find Charlie, I now expect all of you male dog lovers out there to support Charlie’s bid to become our new Champion. It is now time for you to cast your vote and then I will report the results next week once PwC tabulates the votes. Good luck Charlie!

Good evening from Fairbanks, Alaska!

A one-room school in rural Alaska

The last few days have been packed with nothing but great things on my journey. First, by total coincidence my sister and brother-in-law and their entire family were in Anchorage while I was there. They were preparing to embark on a week long cruise back to Bellingham Washington. We had a chance to get together for drinks and dinner two nights in a row. It was really fun for me to see them all and to spend some quality time with family. We ended up eating at the same incredible restaurant both nights. A place called Humpy’s and if you ever make it to this part of the world we would all recommend it highly… especially the crab. Just be prepared for a crazy local spot that is busy all the time. No reservations taken.

After dinner, on the second night, while I was walking home I heard a huge commotion across the street and as I looked over I saw two restaurant security guards chasing a guy who allegedly pulled a “Smoky Tennis Shoe” (ran up a US$300 bill in their restaurant and bolted for the door without paying). As you can see, I am also now a member of the Anchorage CSI unit based on the photos I took. The police asked for my name and contact details so they could contact me if necessary. Of course, I handed them one of my Cruising for the Cure cards. I was not sure how they were going to react when I started playing Jimmy Olsen, but thought I would give it a shot. They were actually appreciative because I recorded everything and they felt this would counter the guy yelling “police brutality”.

In Anchorage I decided to go ahead and have a 5,000 mile service done on my bike. While there I met some great guys at the Harley dealer. There is something about motorcycles and the fraternity of people who are drawn into this sport. You meet people on the road and it does not matter the brand of bike, their city, state, country of origin, what the person does or used to do for a living. There is an immediate common bond and understanding as you talking to most of them as if they are old friends. It is truly amazing and a total kick to be accepted into this fraternity.

At the Harley dealer while waiting for my bike service to be completed, another guy and I wondered over to a motorcycle touring company that was located next door. The very experienced guy working there highly recommended that we take Hwy 7 east and then Hwy 4 south to Valdez. His comment was that “If you were only going to make one ride in Alaska, the Valdez run may be the one, but weather can by iffy at best”. That is all it took for me to change my plans… I canned Denali and headed for Valdez the first thing the next morning. He was spot on with his assessment of the beauty of this experience. Even better was the fact that I hit perfect weather both going and coming. Sunny and warm most of the both days.

The touring company guy also recommended that I take Hwy 4 north to Delta Junction which also was a great ride. From there I headed into Fairbanks just in time for the Summer Solstice Festival that was held last night. It was a giant street fair with bands, food stands, and junk for sale from hot tubs to jewellery and tee shirts. I finally called it off and went to bed at 1:00AM with it still light outside. What a trip it is trying to go to sleep when it is still totally light outside!

The festival brings out all type of individuals!

Today I hung around the hotel all day and did some work, some wash, and made some phone calls to Asia and to the Middle East.

Tomorrow I head to the Harley dealer here in Fairbanks due to a potential clutch cable problem that developed late yesterday. I would rather take care of it now than be in the middle of nowhere and find out that I have a real bad problem. I am cautiously optimistic that it is only a minor adjustment that I need. Will keep you posted.

That is about it from here for now. I will be going into a dead zone again over the next few days as I start heading toward Alberta and Saskatchewan and then on into Montana for the 4th of July. I am really excited that Doreen will meet me in Montana for a couple of weeks starting on the 5th of July. We have rented a house on the Gallatin River just outside of Big Sky. Our kids and their significant others will be joining us for part of the time and it will also give us a chance to visit with my cousin Sharon and her husband John who live close by.

The trip continues to meet and exceed all of my expectations. Saying good bye to Alaska in a couple of days will be difficult to say the least. No doubt I will come back to see more of this incredibly beautify state with all its colourful people. As one Alaskan resident told me when we were talking about the large number of men in comparison to the much smaller number of women living in this part of the world, “The women feel that the odds are good, but the goods are odd up here in the land of the midnight sun!”

Travelling alone and with Cruising for the Cure as my cause, I have had the opportunity to experience things that I never would have imagined had I done it any other way. I guess that is why they call it an adventure.

Enjoy your day and be good to one another. I will resurface when I can.

Dave

Alaska!

A glacier in retreat
Everyone up here has a cause
Guess what they do up here during the winter?

Alaska Baby, Alaska!

Yep, I made it! Yesterday I left Beaver Creek in the Yukon at 8:00AM in the morning and rode all the way to Anchorage Alaska. The journey covered about 450 miles when it was all said and done. Ride time totalled about 11 hours. This was in large part due to multiple road construction delays, but that being said, the ride could not have been more enjoyable.

First, the weather was perfect. It was sunny almost all day and during the afternoon the temp hit about 70 degrees (21 C). Second, the scenery was everything I thought it would be and much more. I found the wide open spaces, incredible vistas, and a multitude on “one horse towns” (meant in the most positive way)… What could be neater than that? Third, wildlife encounters continue to be incredible. Check out my “money shot” of the mother moose and her calf at the lake. Ansel Adams would have loved to have snapped this one! And last, but by no means least, the people of Alaska could not be any nicer. No question that this is the land of the "individualists". I have already met some really great people up here.

Dinners tend to start late here due to the long summer days. At 11:00PM the sun is still not yet set and it seems so strange to go to bed when it is still sunny outside. I am really excited about being up here for Summer Solstice.

My reaction to my ride yesterday... We have all had those special days in our lives that we will cherish and remember forever. Well folks, yesterday was one of those days for me.

After Twin Falls Idaho, my bike now continues to run like a champ although it looked like it was about 40 years old after the last couple of days on the road with the accumulation of Yukon and Alaska road dust and dirt. To show you how bad it was, it took me three washes at the do it yourself car wash to get it looking good again. Notice I did not say great.

Tomorrow I take Captain America to the Harley dealer for a 5,000 mile service and to make sure my new tires are not old after the trip up here. I also want them to go over the bike with a fine tooth comb to make sure that every bolt is tight and that pieces are not ready to fall off…again!

Also, tomorrow I am going to be interviewed by KTUU TV here in Anchorage (NBC affiliate) about my Cruising for the Cure adventure. Should be fun! Thanks to the great folks at Interval and at Susan G. Komen for setting this up. We are now also working on several more interviews that hopefully will take place over the next couple of days

Although there is a HOG (Harley Owners Group) rally here in Anchorage this weekend that would be a kick, I think I am going to leave on Friday afternoon. A big weather front is due in over the weekend and I want to get to Denali National Park before the skies open up again. I have had my fill of rain, but so be it if it comes. My rain gear is also working like a charm.

That’s about it from here my friends. I can’t wait to see more of this amazing state and to meet more of the locals. Alaska is something everyone should experience in their life time and there is no better way to do it than straddling a 650 pound Harley Davidson. Whether or not you do it on a bike, as Nike says, "Just do It. I suggest that you put this destination on your “Bucket List” and scratch a line through it sooner versus later. After all, “these are the gold old days”!

Ride on my friends, ride on!

Dog of the Week - 19 June 2008

Sophie (aka "Precious") and still The Champ

Nimo.... The Current Contender

In a very close contest, Sophie beat out the contender last week in my Dog of the Week contest. This week we have a new “contender” and this one is no “pretender”. Her name is Nimo and she is half Lapso Opso and half Basset Hound. She is about 2 years old and lives in Kalispell Montana with a great family. I met her in Bellingham Washington at my hotel. Nimo and her entire family were in Washington due to the Mom's need to undergo cancer treatment (not breast cancer). The family was very upbeat on the day that I met them because they had just gotten a very good prognosis just hours before regarding the Mom's condition.

Nimo told me that she loves being a dog, being hyper, playing with kids, and going to the parlor to get those curls refreshed. She had a coat the color of a light chocolate Milky Way and a personality that was equally as appealing! I would have adopted Nimo in a split second if I could have. Just a great pooch and one of my new friends that I have met on my journey!

HWY 37 is behind me! Someone's graffiti describes it all!

I have now logged over 4,000 miles (6,437 km) since leaving San Diego. I am happy to report that Captain America is running like a champ. Dirty, but running like a champ. I try to clean her up when I can because riding a clean bike is much more fun for me… don’t ask me why, but it is.

I entered Canada 6 days ago at the Abbotsford crossing in Washington. For the most part, I continue to be living in rain and cold weather gear. I am really glad that I decided to get to Alaska on the frontend of the trip versus the backend. I am currently in Whitehorse (Yukon Territory) and will not even hit Alaska for another 2 or 3 days assuming the weather cooperates.

As I get farther North, the days are getting much longer. Last night I hit the rack at about 11:30pm after putting in 375 miles (604 km) of the most difficult motorcycle riding I have ever done in my life. The sun was still up… and I mean up at 11:00pm when I last checked. Now for the last 2 days of riding and why they were so difficult.

As you plan for a trip like this, you try to predict the unpredictable. The route I chose from when I left Prince George, BC was to take Hwy 16 to Hwy 37 North. The map of Hwy 37 North looked fine and as a motorcyclist you always ask locals advice about road conditions before you embark on roads that you don’t really know too much about. Several people told me “a little rough, but OK”. Well, I did both of these things and guess what? I had no idea of what I would be getting into on Hwy 37 North. First, why did I take this route? Scenic, rivers, wildlife, light traffic, and I wanted to take an alternate route on my return trip back to the US from Alaska… blah, blah, blah!

Little did I know what was in store for me on this 430 mile (692 km) stretch of journey. The weather was difficult at best. Rain and wind much of the journey, but that could happen on any route so that was not a big deal in of itself. Next let’s talk remote. Often I would ride for 30 to 60 minutes without seeing another car, truck or human being. Next up, I had over 30 miles (48 km) of dirt and gravel roads. Throw in some rain and you have very difficult riding conditions especially on a Harley loaded to the gills. These bikes do not have the suspension, etc. for that kind of riding. It was the most nerve racking 30 + miles of my riding career. I am really proud that I never dropped the bike because at times I felt like I was back on a Slip 'n Slide like when I was a kid.

I no sooner got beyond the dirt and the gravel “roads” and back onto pavement when the pavement pothole problems surfaced. This lasted for over 20 miles (32 km). They were about every 300 or 400 meters (328-437 yards) and many were the size of a basketball or bigger with many being 6 to 8 inches deep. Of course, there was never just one and no telling when more would appear. Hit one of these and you will drop the bike! The only choice I had was to reduce speed and ride the last 25 (40 km) miles or so like it was a slalom ski course. All of a sudden, looking for wildlife running in front of your bike was no longer top priority!

The next issue during the Hwy 37 North portion of the trip was that several gas stations that were supposed to be along this route were closed (two for lack of business and the third burned to the ground). Now running out of gas in a remote area like this is not high on my list. By the time I finally got gas at one station, I was on fumes and I mean fumes. I had enough to go another 50 miles (80 km) max (1 gal) and there was not way to tell when the next gas station was going to be open for business. Not a great feeling any time, but out here in the middle of nowhere is no picnic my friends!

Take all of the above and throw in two hail storms yesterday and constant on and off rain squalls and my adventure yesterday was just that. Seriously, I don’t want to have many more days like that on this trip!

That being said, now let’s talk the good. The scenery has been unbelievable as was the wildlife. I have now seen three bald eagles (two flew right over me – one at about 50 feet (15 m) above my head... so beautiful), two bears, a moose, deer, etc. Also, the people I have met have been truly incredible. It seems like every time I am in a gas station I meet some great folks. I continue to pass out by Cruising for the Cure business cards like crazy. I have had two more donations made in gas stations while filling up over the last several days and I have heard some amazing cancer stories over the last several days. Late yesterday I also met three motorcycle cops from Los Angeles who were just great guys. They had been in Alaska for over two weeks doing what? Riding motorcycles, what else! They experienced a difficult trip weather wise, but also had a great time. They really appreciated the Cruising for the Cure concept because one of their wives is a survivor.

A huge surprise for me on this trip has been how beautiful the Yukon Territory really is. I knew BC would be great because I have ridden parts of it before, but I had heard that the Yukon was so very empty and remote and I was expecting it to be much more like barren tundra that it is. In my opinion, it is stunning, simply stunning!

The people living in the Yukon are real individualists as you can imagine. A gas attendant/café worker was telling me yesterday that in the winter they don’t do much due to the cold temps and because it only starts getting light at about 11:00AM and dark again at about 1:00 to 1:30PM. During the summer and fall they hunt, fish, and do some hiking while during the winter they stay inside due to the extremely harsh weather.

So, all in all how is the trip going? I continue to have a great time, but I am really glad the last two days are behind me. The weather today looks very good for a change, but one minute it is sunny and the next you are in the middle of a driving rain squall. Now that I am on the Alaska Hwy things appear to be easier and much safer.

By the way, current gas prices appear to have the tourists in their motor homes and SUV’s staying away. Now that I am on Hwy 1 (Alaska Hwy) I am seeing more motorcycles than I thought I would. I have met people from all over the world. See, I must not be the only crazy guy in the world attracted to an Alaskan adventure on a bike.

I should make it to Anchorage within the next several days. Even though it is sunny at the moment the weather can turn in minutes so no doubt more rain gear is in order again.

As it turns out, my packing for the trip was spot on. I brought all the right stuff to deal with the elements. I must say though that I will be real glad to hit some short sleeve weather when I get back to the lower 48 states.

All for now my friends,

Smiley

Special moments and friends in British Columbia...

Sunset in Smithers, BC at 9:30pm

DJ McKay, great bartender & outdoorsman in Cache Creek, BC

Alpenhorn - The best restaurant & crew in Smithers, BC!

Riding in BC on a rare sunny moment

What a trip so far! First, I have now been on the road for two weeks already, but leaving VG’s Donuts in Cardiff by the Sea seems like a year ago. I have now travelled over 3,000 miles (about 5,000 km) with many more to go!

Oregon and the Cascade Mountains

Let’s get the bad out of the way first. First, let talk challenges - the bike… 5 mechanical problems within the first 1,000 miles. Do you know the difference between a mechanical problem and a breakdown? A mechanical problem is a pain in the ass, but you can ride it to the dealer to get it repaired. A breakdown - you tow it! The mechanical problems included the following:

Speedometer stopped working
Right hand turn signals stopped working
Rear break light stopped working
Deer alert alarm vibrated loose
Cover for entire electrical systems blew off while riding

Three Harley dealerships later (Reno Nevada, Lindon Utah, and Twin Falls Idaho) all but the speedometer is back operational. The dealers did not have one in stock, but the good news the speedometer is now back working most of the time (who knows why?). Second, the weather. It went south most days after I hit Tahoe with the exception of my great ride from Bend Oregon to Seattle. I have gotten to know my rain gear and my cold weather gear real well over the past week.

How does 51 degrees fahrenheit (10 C) and 30 mile an hour winds sounds to you as you are sticking your head out the window of your car as you are doing 70 mph sound to you? I thought so!

Now for the good. Please don’t misunderstand me because I am having a total blast! Hopefully the pictures will help convey why I like this sport so much. It offers me a sense of freedom, the ability to gain a better appreciation for all that nature has to offer, the opportunity to meet some amazing people and it gives me a real sense of adventure. All of that, coupled with my Cruising for the Cure cause, what more can anyone want out of life?

Shaniko Oregon City Hall, the mayor was in Sunday morning
Probably the most surprising and amazing part of my journey so far has been the outpouring of kindness and generosity of people I have met along the way. In a very small town in Oregon called Madras I had two of the most amazing gestures of generosity while stopping in a McDonalds for coffee one morning. They both totally blew me away. A man and a woman separately approached me and handed me donation in support of Cruising for the Cure. I could tell that both of these kind people were not flush with cash, but they wanted to help the cause. The first took me so much by surprise that I did not to know what to say or do. When the women approached me, I was on the phone to Dubai and was once again blown away based upon her deed versus her own needs. In addition, while in Bellingham Washington, I received two more donations. I met a man named Ron at the hotel and a woman named Karen at AAA while getting maps. Ron is a life couch and Karen works at AAA. Both heard what I was doing and reached into their pockets to donate. To all of these great people all I can say is “Thank you” with a big tear in my eye and a huge lump in my throat… just ask Karen who is also a survivor! This trip is really restoring my faith in humanity!

What is next? Unfortunately, more bad weather, a lot more miles, a half frozen man, hopefully much more out pouring of generosity, and no doubt a ton more smiles from “Smiley”!

Until next week, “Ride On”!

Crossing the border from Washington to British Columbia

Dog of the Week - 3 June 2008

The Current Champ

The Challenger
(2-year old Silky Terrier named?)

I apologize for not getting more details on this week's challenger. The name was something like Briana and it was really cute as was the little girl who owned her. I met them at the Harley dealer in Reno. Note the pink leash harness.....wonder why she become The Challenger this week? What do you think?

Photos Taken May 30th, 31st and June 1st

The first picture was taken just north of Bishop California looking at the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The second picture was taken a little later in the ride as I was headed toward Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Both of these shots were taken while travelling at about 65 miles an hour using my new camera mounted on the handlebars of my bike. The next two shots were taken of my friend's house in Squaw Valley California along the Truckee River. And the last shot I took while stopping for a cup of coffee at Lake Tahoe. Hope you enjoy!

Note to self……I am already having a blast! It is now Monday June 3rd and I can’t believe that the journey is underway. So far I have travelled about 1200 miles since leaving San Diego last Thursday. I am now in Lindon, Utah. Why Lindon you ask? I will come back to that in a minute or two, but first things first.

Last Wednesday was brutal trying to get all the last minute things ready for the trip. The day was consumed by finishing packing, picking up my Cruising for the Cure banner for the launch and getting my fundraising business cards along with trying to accommodate the journalist from the San Diego Union and their photographer.

Although I consider myself an experienced long haul motorcycle rider, the packing for this trip was a bit more different than usual due to its length, the purpose of the trip, and having to bring some work stuff along for the ride. I figured that out when at 9:00PM on Wed night my bike was loaded to the gills and I still had about a foot and a half square pile of “junk” on the floor of my garage that I wanted to take. At that point I decided to call it an evening figuring that I would get up at 5:00 AM and finish the job by jettising some things while adding those additional must have items. As it turns out I woke up at 3:30 AM so excited that this day had finally come.

The morning was perfect… sunny and warm for this time of year in San Diego. In addition, the front page of the North Country Section of the San Diego Union Tribune carried the story about the trip along with pictures on its front page.

At about 7:00 AM I started my bike and headed down to VG’s Donuts with a neighbour on his Harley while my family followed in the Jeep. When we arrived people were already there. It turned out to be a great send off as you can see from the pictures. Everyone was so supportive and it was like one big party. Joe the owner of VG’s even provided the coffee and donuts….what a guy! My family, a number of friends, the great ladies from Susan G, Komen for the Cure, and some general well wishers were there to offer words of encouragement and to send me on my way. After about an hour of great conversation, I said, “I guess talking about the adventure is now finished (along with the BS) and now I have to do it!” With that I said my goodbyes and climbed on board Captain America and headed out.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I thought to myself about my great family and the fact that I had no idea what lies ahead of me over the next several months, but here I go... the journey has finally started.

I said I would describe the good, bad, and the ugly about the journey. Well, I was not into the trip but about 4 hours when I noticed that my speedometer stopped working as did my right hand turn signals and right side break light. And yes, I had the bike totally checked out before the trip so there is no need to ask that question. Mechanical problems and breakdowns are something that motorcycle riders are always dreading. By buddy Bill and I over the years have determined that these things are kind of like death and taxes…… they are inevitable at some point. Getting through a long distance trip without them is the exception versus the norm, but I did feel that day one was a bit much! That being said, I will take a mechanical issue versus a breakdown any day of the week. I figured that I would sort these issues out when I get to Reno.

My route was to ride to Victorville, Calif. and then head toward Bishop and stay on old Hwy 395 along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as I headed toward north toward Nevada.
My first night was spent in Bishop (about a 350 mile ride) and then on into Reno on day two. The Harley dealer fixed what they could based on available parts and the time they had to work on Captain America. They did introduce me via phone to another dealer located in Lindon, Utah that would be able to help with the items that Reno could not deal with on Friday. Thus, that is why I am now in Lindon.

I spent Friday night with two of my old college roommates (John Baker and Jim Dawers) at John’s home in Squaw Valley California (home of the 1960 Winter Olympics). John has a beautiful home on the Truckee River just one mile from the entrance to Squaw. It was just great to mosey up to a bottle of Grey Goose with two of my oldest and dearest friends. We laughed and stayed up until 2:30AM talking about the old days at San Jose State and what we have all been doing since we last saw one another about 6 years ago. It was truly a special night, but my head did hurt a bit the next day! I have attached a picture of John’s home which is truly breathtaking. I wish I could stay in places like that every night of this trip, but no such luck.

On Sat I rode around Lake Tahoe and then Sunday visited my brother Steve and his family at their new home in Truckee California which was also terrific. It was an all around great weekend. Sunday about mid day, I headed to Elko Nevada and then arrived in Lindon, Utah yesterday. Overall the weather has been dry, but quite a bit colder than I had hoped for at this time of the year. Just wait until I get farther north. I am sure it will warm up by the time I get to BC or Alaska! Yeah, right!!!

My bike repairs should now be finished and I hope to hit the road tomorrow morning, but a big storm is due in later tonight so we will see how it goes. Next stop, Boise Idaho then Sun River, Oregon and on into Seattle by next Monday… assuming everything goes according to my current plan. With any luck I am going to try to be in BC by Tuesday or Wed of next week as I start moving toward Alaska.

So far so good, but now I have to really start moving out and I now anticipate longer riding days and, unfortunately, more bad weather looks certain. I just hope my mechanical problems are behind me for a bit and that I don’t hit a snag with any kind of breakdowns… knock on wood!

I have been handing out my Cruising for the Cure business cards and encouraging people to visit the blog and to make sure that getting regular breast exams is put high on the to do list for all women. People have been great and really interested in the ride and the cause. In addition, they all seem to want to find out about my sponsor - Titan Sports Media Group which is also fun to talk about. I have already heard some amazing stories regarding people’s experiences with this terrible disease. I have also had multiple “thumbs up” from motorists and other bikers while riding or stopped for gas or food.

So far the trip has exceeded my expectations even with the minor hassle or two along the way. So, its time to ride on my friends… ride on!