Picto Diary - 18 June 2016 - Souvlaki

Day 11. 540 miles. Prince Rupert, BC to Quesnel, BC. 2012 BMW GS motorcycle. 18 June 2016.

Above: Canadian Customs. Prince Rupert, BC. 18 June 2016.

Early... 3:00 AM ferry disembarkation. We go to a Tim Horton's for some coffee and bagel, after which time dawn shows its face. We start for Quesnel, BC about 4:30 AM

About 150 miles of Highway 16, The Yellowhead Highway, which follows the Skeena River, is new to me. When The Yellowhead reaches the junction with Highway 37, the south end of The Cassier Highway, the terrain looks familiar. I'd ridden the section of the Yellowhead beyond Prince George and up the Cassier Highway about 50 miles on a ride some years ago with Elk, Joe and His Highness. It was on that ride that I first set foot in Alaska... in Hyder. You can ride to Hyder, but you can't ride into other parts of Alaska from there.

Hyder became somewhat well known amongst iron butt motorcycle types as it was the nearest Alaska destination to which you could ride from the lower 48. To reach Skagway or Haines by road would have entailed an additional 600 or 700 miles of riding. To reach the border of Alaska on the Alaska highway would have mean 850 more miles of riding. So, shorten the ride. Ride to Hyder, Alaska!

Above: Alaska riders. Bishop, Galt, Earp, and Chief. Ulysses Restaurant. Quesnel, BC. 18 June 2016.

Greek restaurant. Above expectation considering timber town location. souvlaki, calamari, ouzo, and saganaki.

Addendum:

Steve
Looks like you had a great ride to Alaska. Congrats.
This week Kathy and I went to Ruth Chris and our server was Adam B. A young guy with an FJR 1300 who expressed his desire and passion for longer distance rides. I told him I would introduce you guys so you could share some of your exploits. His phone in case I lose my note is 612-zzz zzzz.
Let me know when you are back in town and I will set up a meet.
Thanks

Charles Atlas,
Park City, UT

Lets meet up.


Steve, Every time I send you an email or a post it shows up as "Bea ..... Don't know how Kay turns into Bea??????

Bea,
Livermore, CA

Golden girls. Bea Arthur.


Kevin H and his wife say hello. Currently we're in Fairbanks headed back to Anchorage from Prudhoe Bay...

We're almost in the same neighborhood.

Keith, Queens, NYC, NY

Your Alaska trip is becoming very compelling, downright envious. I'm curious about your choice of rides, why no duc? Also, would this ride destroy my K 1200 GT?Great to see your smiling face in these pictures.

ITYW,
San Angelo, TX


You could take GT... many comparable bikes up there. Even lots of Road Kings. Potential unreliability of Duc in those far flung locations dissuaded me from taking it. Also, I have friends who use the F800GS as a long trip adventure bike.

Raises the issue of tires too. In the wilds, it would be better to have a flat with a tube bike than a tubeless. With a tube, though the process of repair is more tedious, you can return to square one. With a plug in a tubeless, you have a weaker tire with no place to get it fixed.