Day 15 – June 20, 2008
We started Friday morning with another breakfast at the White Spot Cafe before leaving Anchorage, where their motto is, “What do you want with your Fries?” Their menu also lists some simple rules for patrons:
1. Know what you want, don’t ask a bunch of questions.
2. Order for yourself, don’t speak for anyone else.
3. Don’t attempt to challenge the cook’s protocol.
4. No choice on toast – wheat.
Leaving Anchorage we backtracked 40 miles north to Palmer, AK., where the Alaska State Harley Owners Group (HOG) was having their annual HOG Rally. The Rally site was the city fairgrounds where several campers where set up, but few bikes were present. We found that most of the participants were out on rides throughout the area. So, we departed Palmer and headed back Tok, the first city you encounter upon entering Alaska from the south on the Alaska Highway.
Coincidentally, about ten miles down the Glenn Hwy., or Tok Cut Off as the locals call it, we inadvertently joined about 50 riders from one of the HOG group rides and accompanied them for about fifty miles. We were told that they were doing “a pie run.” I don’t know what a pie run is, but I assume they were riding somewhere for pie.
The Glenn Hwy. meanders through a wide river gorge with a breathtaking backdrop of snow capped mountains and glaciers. Then, it levels out and runs across a long plateau with dozens of placid lakes and ponds. At the risk of overusing the adjactive, it’s another beautiful ride. After riding the through the District of Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and the State of Alaska, it’s going to be difficult to satisfied riding anywhere else. It’s like riding through Yellowstone Park for weeks at a time.
We arrived in Tok about 1730 and booked another night at the Golden Bear Hotel, where we stayed on our way to Fairbanks a few days prior. We spent the evening doing laundry, talking to a fellow Harley rider, “Ken,” riding around Alaska solo from Ontario, Canada, for a month. In the process of having a serious discussion about riding in Alaska with a kindrid spirit, we also managed to kill a fifth of Jack Daniels and a few errant mosquitoes. Ken is a fireman, who is going to retire in August, ’08. The four of us reflected on how fortunate we are to be riding Alaska together as friends; it makes a more interesting and satisfying journey.
We rode 328 miles today. The morning was clear and warm at about 76 degrees: however, the afternoon thunderstorms kicked up about 1500 hours, as usual, and did their best to drench us. Fortunately, we anticipated the drenching and donned our rain suits ten minutes prior. We’re learning a lot about riding in Alaska weather.
Tomorrow, were headed for Haines, AK, where we’ll spend two nights and take the fast ferry to Skagway for a day, sans the motorcycles, for a little sighseeing and shopping, tourist style. On Monday, June 23rd, we’ll catch the Alaskan Ferry for Bellingham, WA., and enjoy four days of rest and relaxation through the Alaskan Inside Passage, saving us 1,500 miles of riding on the way home.
We started Friday morning with another breakfast at the White Spot Cafe before leaving Anchorage, where their motto is, “What do you want with your Fries?” Their menu also lists some simple rules for patrons:
1. Know what you want, don’t ask a bunch of questions.
2. Order for yourself, don’t speak for anyone else.
3. Don’t attempt to challenge the cook’s protocol.
4. No choice on toast – wheat.
Leaving Anchorage we backtracked 40 miles north to Palmer, AK., where the Alaska State Harley Owners Group (HOG) was having their annual HOG Rally. The Rally site was the city fairgrounds where several campers where set up, but few bikes were present. We found that most of the participants were out on rides throughout the area. So, we departed Palmer and headed back Tok, the first city you encounter upon entering Alaska from the south on the Alaska Highway.
Coincidentally, about ten miles down the Glenn Hwy., or Tok Cut Off as the locals call it, we inadvertently joined about 50 riders from one of the HOG group rides and accompanied them for about fifty miles. We were told that they were doing “a pie run.” I don’t know what a pie run is, but I assume they were riding somewhere for pie.
The Glenn Hwy. meanders through a wide river gorge with a breathtaking backdrop of snow capped mountains and glaciers. Then, it levels out and runs across a long plateau with dozens of placid lakes and ponds. At the risk of overusing the adjactive, it’s another beautiful ride. After riding the through the District of Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and the State of Alaska, it’s going to be difficult to satisfied riding anywhere else. It’s like riding through Yellowstone Park for weeks at a time.
We arrived in Tok about 1730 and booked another night at the Golden Bear Hotel, where we stayed on our way to Fairbanks a few days prior. We spent the evening doing laundry, talking to a fellow Harley rider, “Ken,” riding around Alaska solo from Ontario, Canada, for a month. In the process of having a serious discussion about riding in Alaska with a kindrid spirit, we also managed to kill a fifth of Jack Daniels and a few errant mosquitoes. Ken is a fireman, who is going to retire in August, ’08. The four of us reflected on how fortunate we are to be riding Alaska together as friends; it makes a more interesting and satisfying journey.
We rode 328 miles today. The morning was clear and warm at about 76 degrees: however, the afternoon thunderstorms kicked up about 1500 hours, as usual, and did their best to drench us. Fortunately, we anticipated the drenching and donned our rain suits ten minutes prior. We’re learning a lot about riding in Alaska weather.
Tomorrow, were headed for Haines, AK, where we’ll spend two nights and take the fast ferry to Skagway for a day, sans the motorcycles, for a little sighseeing and shopping, tourist style. On Monday, June 23rd, we’ll catch the Alaskan Ferry for Bellingham, WA., and enjoy four days of rest and relaxation through the Alaskan Inside Passage, saving us 1,500 miles of riding on the way home.
1 comment:
Lookin good LDG. Bring home a moose with ya!
Hope you're having fun and looking forward to hearing all about it on the 4th.
Travel safe.
dc
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