Peter's Voyages

Yesterday evening the last four members of the group arrived. Now we are ten.

Today Symon (a 53 year old Scot who has his own boat building business) and I went for a little run to make sure our bikes were OK. We went inland and discovered both beautiful roads up and down quite steep hills/mountains (i.e. ‘twisties’) and a lovely lake where we stopped for a coke (see photo album).

Also got to try out my new head cam (see below). It works well?

The rest of the day was spent just packing all the gear ready for setting off tomorrow and then going up to the group leader’s cousin’s house for a BBQ.

It’s now 10.30pm and my room mates asleep and I’m about to go to bed: Slightly nervous because there’s no turning back now and the stories we heard about Canada and Alaska at the BBQ tonight both exited you and made you a little apprehensive. Not about motorbike riding but about the wildlife we’ll see on route and the mosquitos we’ll encounter!.

Picked the bike up this morning. Started first thing and with a couple of others picked up some petrol and got a few miles under our belts. Probably the biggest thing that hits you are the scarcity of road signs, rules, arbitrary speed limits and steady ques of cars going slowly. Driving on the right comes fairly naturally as I’ve driven on the Continent a lot – plus on a bike you’re not sitting on the wrong side when driving. So, not tempting providence I hope, it was a lot more relaxing than driving in Ipswich – which isn’t that stressful itself.

Most of the rest of today and tomorrow will be spent chilling and getting everything ready for Saturday. Then it’s doing some long hauls for real, though everybody whose driven/ridden here before says a hundred miles in the states feels like fifty in Europe. Have also checked and the temperature in British Columbia and Alaska is mid teens and low teens respectively – and getting warmer. So that’s OK then.

Well I was impressed with Heath Row airport and United Airlines. This was my first long haul flight and everything was very painless. I’d also pre-booked my plane seat in economy and had done well – I was facing the middle bulkhead on the 777 I flew on and could stretch my legs fully out and recline. The downside was that just as I got comfortable a woman and her baby came and sat next to me. Say no more!

Got through American immigration very quickly and walked out of the airport to see the coach to Santa Rosa just about to leave with another guy from the tour on it. We then crawled past the crowd coming from the American Open golf championship – which is being held in SF this week. Next onto the Golden Gate bridge and past Alcatraz! After a 30 mile ride through Californian countryside we arrived at Santa Rosa and caught a taxi to the hotel where we were met by three other group members and had a cold beer. As it was now 5am UK time bed was high on the agenda – though I must admit I haven’t slept that well as I think jet lag coupled to thinking about the challenge ahead has impacted a bit.

Will pick the bike up after breakfast and start discovering what riding in America is like!

For all those who are reading this blog the attached is the itinerary we’ll be riding to!

Alaska Adventure 2012 mileage and highlights

Here’s the motel we are staying in for the first few days. It’s in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County just a few miles from SF. After arriving on the evening of the 13th I’m hoping to pick the bike up on the 14th and just do a few miles locally to acclimatise before starting the trip proper on Saturday the 16th. I plan to ride with a few others down to the Golden Gate Bridge on the 15th ………. but more on that after I arrive.

Just been told the bike – or rather the container it’s in – has arrived at SF and has cleared customs ……………

I’ve also got everything organised to go: So roll on next Wednesday when, in the early evening, I should be enjoying a steak and beer in Santa Rosa, California!