Alaska... - Page 28

tm1100s · 08-24-2009, 08:32 AM

Ralf, get a blu-ray burner. 50 gigs and easy to store permanent multiple copies of all the pics.

Bob Hancock · 08-24-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by signit98

I have now written over 150000 words and 230 pages, no worries... there is a lot more to read than was written here... and, who knows whether it'll ever be published to begin with. The reason I have started writing was for myself. The book will cover my youth and the beginnings as well as some TC rides and the Trip...

In the end, I am happy...

Maybe you have heard of William Least-Heat Moon, author of "Blue Highways" and "River Horse"? Highly recommended as reference for one way....and an excellent way imho, to "do it".

signit98 · 08-24-2009, 08:41 AM

Nope, have not, but I'll definitely look into that, Bob... thank you.

But it's way to far into the game to re-write anything. I have been writing for over 9 month now. Not sure I'd want to change anything to begin with.

Bob Hancock · 08-24-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by signit98

Nope, have not, but I'll definitely look into that, Bob... thank you.

But it's way to far into the game to re-write anything. I have been writing for over 9 month now. Not sure I'd want to change anything to begin with.

Least-Heat Moon is enjoyable reading and you learn something....double benefit. You can do the same thing in your own voice, Ralf. I want a signed copy.

kjazz · 08-24-2009, 09:53 AM

So Ralf, when are you leaving for another big adventure?

signit98 · 08-24-2009, 10:12 AM

In about a week or so, Kerry... Ushuaia is calling!

SergioK · 08-24-2009, 04:55 PM

Ralf, I've got a copy of "Blue Highways" you can borrow.

EZ-RIDER · 08-24-2009, 05:26 PM

Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
by Neil Peart

This should be on your must read list!!!

SergioK · 08-24-2009, 05:32 PM

Yep, he already borrowed that one from me.

signit98 · 08-24-2009, 06:47 PM

Yes, please. Sergio... I'd like to read it... with Bob's endorsement and you actually having it in your collection, that's more than good enough for me to read it...

EZ, I was tracking some of the roads Neil traveled on, during my trip... being able to relate in some ways, but I camped most of the time, I don't quite have his budget...

I also targeted the towns with less than 500 in population... or some that once used to have a population...

agypsy · 08-24-2009, 10:27 PM

inspiring stuff ralf!
great pics...once in a lifetime stuff. my fav's were the eagles and the bear.
AND you made it back in one piece and lost a good amount of weight to boot.
hope to ride with you again one of these days...

bradzdotcom · bradzdotcom's Garage

all you gotta do is call it a diet book and it'll sell like...well...hotcakes.

signit98 · 08-25-2009, 08:49 AM

Brilliant, Brad...

The AlCan-Diet...

...the world definitely needs more people like you! I have told you a gazillion times that you ought to write at least one book... better yet, we'll put your name on my book!

bill pierce · 08-25-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by signit98

...last leg, I should be home tonight. After 3 months and about 16000 miles, .

Happy you made it back safe. Welcome back, and thanks a bunch for taking us all with you Ralph.

signit98 · 08-25-2009, 07:33 PM

No worries, Bill... it was a pleasure meeting you guys and fun riding with you... until you chased me into the woods, that was...

Chisca · 08-26-2009, 11:28 AM

How well do you think a R1100S would have handled the roads you rode?

Dr. Curve · 08-26-2009, 11:38 AM

I would thing that a change to wider bars on the S would do it going up the big road..........of course if you get in sand and such or any roads that are not well packed it would be more trouble. Plenty of people go to Alaska on a S........going on to Inuvik is another story.

Just Curious Ralf, did you run the road from the town of "Chicken" all the way over to the town of "Eagle" on the River? I was always taken with that section.

signit98 · 08-26-2009, 01:25 PM

Jim, the Town of Eagle has been almost entirely wiped out by an Ice Slide earlier this year... as much as I wanted to see it initially, it did not feel right to me to go there and gawk at people's misery, while they are trying to recover or rebuilt what's left of their lives... so no, I did not go there.

Chisca, I have had my 11S on fire roads and even in dirt several times, but not for such a period of time as the Dempster or the Dalton would present. The issue is not whether the bike can do these roads, the issue is the condition of said roads at the time you are going to ride them...

The dirt roads in CA and AK change daily... weather is the deciding factor... a road that is dry, smooth and allows you to go 60 or 70mph one day, can turn into a sliding mudfest just hours later, if it rains, snows or hails down on you...

Up in the NWT, on the way to Inuvik, there is not one month in the calendar year, that hey have not seen snow...

Let's just say it this way... I would NOT do this ride on anything other than a dual-sport bike, just because I know better now. Sure, people do these trips on all kinds of bikes, but that does not make it the right choice.

I saw 40% BMW's (650 - 800 - 1200GS), 35% KLR's and the rest was made up from HD's, DRZ'z, V-Stroms and other popular bikes. I saw one Elephant, 2 Africa Twins, one Tenere, 2 Urals and then some other exotic bikes...

It was not as busy as I would have thought it to be, but busier than I would have liked it to be...

2wheelmike · 08-26-2009, 02:11 PM

Ralf,
Many thanks for sharing it all with us. It makes me think getting laid off might not be that bad.

It's been way too long since I had an adventure anything close to what you've done. It reminds me just how important it is to force oneself to do it (adventure) regularly. Good on ya, mate-

Chisca · 08-26-2009, 02:36 PM

Thanks so much for the reply. I go back and forth with which bike I would take on an Alaska trip as I have a R1100S and a DRZ 400S. Crossing the plains on a DRZ just isn't all that appealing. The R just eats up the miles. If I could somehow strap the Suzuki on back of the 1100...