Alaska or bust!

[Charles Scappaticci via GPZList]

Yup, I made it home last night safe and sound.  The old GPZ and I made the
trip in one piece. 5,939 miles on the bike in 13 days and another 1,670 in
the truck as I towed to Chick Driscolls house in Helena Montana to avoid
Wyoming and southern Montana.  456 miles per day average on the bike,
including 734 in one day riding from Anchorage AK to White Horse in the
Yukon Territories and two days at 625 miles.  I probably rode 1,000 miles
in the rain during the trip. Way too much seat time, my butt and hands
still hurt.

I did make it to Fairbanks AK and down to Anchorage AK, which was my goal.
Prudhoe Bay is still on the list for someday.  Lots of unbelievable
scenery, really bad roads in the Yukon, and obviously lots of miles.  I'll
write more of a trip report when time allows, but it's good to be sleeping
in my own bed again.

I've got lots to do to the bike when I get time, valve and cam chain
adjustment, new plugs, going to change out all the wheel bearings and
steering head bearings after all the water and pounding they took. Need to
have the Corbin seat freshened up as the foam has gotten hard after 17
years and all the rubber bumpers have split. Also have to figure out why
the throttle is hanging as well. I'm very impressed with the Michelin Pilot
Road 2's that did nearly 7K miles, all of it heavily loaded down, I'll be
replacing them with the same tires.  I'm sure I'll find a few more things
to do as I go through it.

I've decided this will likely be the last big adventure for the old gal.
It's never let me down and is still in decent shape, but the bigger problem
is parts availability "should" something happen. This struck home when I
found out the cam chain tensioner is no longer available. What else is NLA?
 I've carried a spare throttle cable on trips for years, just in case, but
I can't carry everything I might need, I was already over loaded as it is.
I think for now I'll stick to in state trips with it and save the next trip
for a newer bike, though I've got to get through two more years of child
support and college first.

A few observations, rants and questions:

1. Why are the speed limits so slow in Canada?
2. Does anyone actually go the speed limit in Canada? Every time I rode
anywhere near the speed limits I'd get passed like I was standing still. By
cars, motor homes, and by the hordes of BMW GS's. Several locals laughed
and said everyone ignores the speed limits.
3. If there is a 40% or greater chance of rain, it will.
4. Why does it stop raining when you put on your rain gear, but start when
you take it off?
5. Why are there large patches of dirt roads in the Yukon? You're cruising
blissfully along at 70 on decent asphalt when suddenly the pavement turns
to mud/gravel/dirt? 100 yards later it's pavement again? The last 100 miles
before the Alaska border is 40% dirt! I almost went down several times and
I think my forearms took a worse beating than when I go dirt biking.
6. Anyone else notice that when you hit a puddle of water, the the GPZ
efficiently directs that water right onto the top of your riding boots
soaking your feet?
7. Canada is extremely efficient in the placement of rest stops with
restrooms, placing them seemingly every 2 kilometers. Unless, you really
really have to go, then the next one is 32 kilometers. Don't ask me how I
know this.
8. Why are there lots of shiny new government placed road signs informing
you that "Bob's Gas, Grub, and Lodging" is just two kilometers ahead but
then you get there it's clear "Bob" must have died in the 90's and the
place has been closed for years? This seems to most often happen when you
are running on reserve and praying for a gas station to magically appear.
9. Why is it the farther north you ride, the fewer teeth the population
have?
10. Along both 37 North and the Alaska highway, it seems every store, gas
station, lodge, etc, has a pot of coffee going, many times giving it away
free. I'm not a coffee lover, but was grateful for a hot cup many times
when I was tired, cold and wet. My eternal thanks to these hardy
individuals.

Charles S. and his tired GPZ 1100
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