Alaska...

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 03:52 PM

...bowing to many requests, here is the AK thread.

After having planned this thing for about 6 months now... involving lots of reading, talking to people who have done it and a lifelong dream, Thursday morning will be the day I'll finally embark on this, my trip of a life time.

Going through the gear and stuff I will take along many-a-times, I am quite confident that I finally have what I need to make it through 3 months and 14000 miles of adventure without all to many short comings. There have been surprises (both positive and negative) a learning curve and lots of help from friends and total strangers alike...

I have gotten many email, inviting me to places and I intend to take people up on that as far as it does not go to far out of the way in terms of the route I have planned.

Many suggestions have been made, lots of which I have put to good use... some that made me laugh (not because they were useless or ridiculous but because they were so obvious and yet funny) and some that made me cringe because I had neglected to think in that direction.

I am expecting crashes, rain and mishaps... but I am hoping that I can avoid anything serious... yet, I am prepared if it does happen... my SPOT will hopefully help get me out of tight spots.

At some point, Roger (AZKiwi) was very serious about coming along (a thought that made me happy and feel a bit better about this)... but as it stands, he could not swing 3 months of time taken off... so, I'll embark by me lonesome.

Here is a "pictorial" of what I am taking along and how it is packed:
The steed will look something like this... but with two tires instead of one... TKC's no less.

My Fieldsheer pants... two 2-way full length zipper on the side, vent zippers and a full sized quilted liner... also with CE armor on the knees and hips.

The Firstgear riding jacket... same deal... full quilted liner, good quality and many vented zippers... CE armor in the back, shoulders and elbows.

The contents of the left case:
Spare parts, tools and some cold weather clothing and the insulated liners for the jacket and the pants. There is also a case liner with Shorts, contertible pants, swim trunks, mosquito nets, travel towels, fishing gear, books and dried food

The right case:
I use the Eagle Creek Packing system to store (and keep nice looking) a pair of jeans and a nice shirt as well as a Polo Shirt... to organize my socks, t-shirts and underwear. I also carry a 18" inner tube, a dicing knife, a ratchet tie-down, the milepost, lithium batteries (for the SPOT) a flag of the Island in Germany where I lived (a MUST), a surgical field kit with scalpell, clamps, scissors and pre-threaded half-round needles... and a woolen beanie, a fleece neck wrap and a balaclava. Also all the chargers will be in there.

In the self made tank panniers (two $7 back packs from Wally-World) I carry the cover for the bike, my one-piece rain suit, rain over boots and gloves, my cold weather gloves and the hippo hands I made as well as a rain cover for the tnak bag and rain-ex.

My camping bag contains a back packer air mattress and hand pump, an outpost tent, sleeping bag, fleese blanket, flip-flops, hatchet, hiking boots, a winch (5:1), stove, gas and cooking gear as well as two tarps.

There is also a little carrying case that contains the tri-pod and fishing pole and there will be two 1 gallon gas cans and said tires... then there is the tank bag for the miscelaneous stuff...

more to follow!

Jeff Williams · 05-26-2009, 05:28 PM

Ralf,
wow, many good thoughts my friend, I will not be able to see you when you come thru on Thursday,(business in another town).
Good luck and keep in contact.
jeff

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 07:06 PM

To bad Jeffie... but there will be another TC ride

SergioK · 05-26-2009, 07:26 PM

CAAKCA (pronunciation: \ˈkä-ˌkä\ ) is what I say!

Safe travels from CA to AK and back!

stage1scott · 05-26-2009, 07:56 PM

have a great, safe trip and return with all those life experiences and memories!! looking forward to hearing about it!

txmxrider · 05-26-2009, 07:59 PM

Thanks for providing the detailed list and photos. I always wondered what folks carried on a long trip like that. Do all of us wannbe adventurers a favor and when you get back be sure to let us know what you wish you'd brought and/or not brought.

Best of luck to you man. Be safe and take lots of pictures!

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 08:04 PM

Yeah, I am sure I'll be finding out some stuff I ned and some I don't... for now I feel ok... there is also Murphy's Law... if you don't take something,,, YOU WILL NEED IT!

SergioK · 05-26-2009, 08:07 PM

Just let us know what you forgot and we'll overnight it to you.

(or someone could just ride up and take it to you too)

Bob Hancock · 05-26-2009, 08:31 PM

Ralf, when ya get that rascal all loaded up would you be so kind as to weigh it? Just curious.

throttlemeister · throttlemeister's Garage

Granted, it doesn't need much space, but what in the world do you need a bike cover for on a trip like that?

I wish I could join you; would love to do a trip like that. But alas, I have to settle for a 3 week similarly northerly trip, (but a lot less challenging) to the North Cape. 12 more workdays to go.

Bob Hancock · 05-26-2009, 08:36 PM

[QUOTE=throttlemeister;4686030]Granted, it doesn't need much space, but what in the world do you need a bike cover for on a trip like that?
QUOTE]
Hide from bears?

chewie · chewie's Garage

nice one Ralf! the pictorial answered most of my questions.

what are the tk tyres, are they the knobbies?

what about a stun gun, isn't Alaska full of bears? don't they just walk the streets these days, wouldn't be surprised if the damn things have learnt to drive and order coffee etc...I'm worried about the bear thing. The other positive about the stun gun is that if you find yourself in pain or there's too many bears surrounding you for you to stun, you can just stun yourself instead and look the other way

Jokes aside, a trip of a lifetime indeed, I am jealous!

Trust your instincts and keep in touch with them, if something don't feel right, well you know - that is my only advice

IvanTT · IvanTT's Garage

Pleasant journey and drive radically!

I will be around on Thursday and have a place for you to crash for the night if you wish.

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanTT

Pleasant journey and drive radically!

I will be around on Thursday and have a place for you to crash for the night if you wish.

I am planing on it, your place is my first stop! How about getting a few of the yehoos together for dinner?

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Hancock

Ralf, when ya get that rascal all loaded up would you be so kind as to weigh it? Just curious.

Bike is around 480 filled up, Bob... all the gear (including the cases and the mounting hardware) weighs in at about 180 pounds... set of tires 25 pounds... leave about 230 for me in gear... SCARY!

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throttlemeister

Granted, it doesn't need much space, but what in the world do you need a bike cover for on a trip like that?

I wish I could join you; would love to do a trip like that. But alas, I have to settle for a 3 week similarly northerly trip, (but a lot less challenging) to the North Cape. 12 more workdays to go.

Any time, Gijs...

...as for the cover... you'd find out quickly after a night of rain that has turned into ice... or even just a damp morning with moisture getting the seat all slippery and the ass all wet... it weighs less than a pound and fits nicely into the tank pannier...

I have also found that people are less inclined to touch your bike or take something if it is covered... let alone it's protected from the sun if I go hiking or take an off-day...

IT'S COMING ALONG!

DeltaNu1142 · 05-26-2009, 09:05 PM

No duck tape?!?!?

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewie

nice one Ralf! the pictorial answered most of my questions.

what are the tk tyres, are they the knobbies?

what about a stun gun, isn't Alaska full of bears? don't they just walk the streets these days, wouldn't be surprised if the damn things have learnt to drive and order coffee etc...I'm worried about the bear thing. The other positive about the stun gun is that if you find yourself in pain or there's too many bears surrounding you for you to stun, you can just stun yourself instead and look the other way

Jokes aside, a trip of a lifetime indeed, I am jealous!

Trust your instincts and keep in touch with them, if something don't feel right, well you know - that is my only advice

Whaddaya mean Driving Bears? In Yosemite they warn you of SPEEDING Bears...

I'd really want to see what a Bear does after it's done laughing from the tickle of a stun gun?

Thanks, Jon... I'll keep you guys posted...

signit98 · 05-26-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaNu1142

No duck tape?!?!?

You kidding?... of course... who'd leave the house without the swiss army knife of tapes?

AZ-Twin · 05-26-2009, 09:13 PM

Good show Ralf, I am looking forward to your stories, pictures, etc. Looks like you got the stuff you need. I'm with Bob, I would like to see that bad boy on the scales before you leave. I look forward to going on a trip like this some day. Have fun and enjoy the trip.