Equipment Review

I think that we did a really good job preparing for our trip.  We used most everything that we brought with us (although we only used the stool just so that we could say that we did).

Vehicle prep

Our vehicle preparations were (mostly) spot-on:
* The clear plastic film did a good job of minimizing incidental scratches and nicks from rocks on the road.
* We scraped the skid plate a number of times in construction zones and on secondary roads.  I am sure that I would have done damage to the bodywork without this skid plate.
* Without the luggage rack on the trunk we just wouldn't have had any place for the tent and sleeping bags.
* The little pouches for glasses and incidentals worked out well.
* Cargo nets in the saddle bags and trunk worked well and are quite cheap.
* The backrest was welcome at times, but also a bit of a nuisance at times.  It wanted to constantly flop forward requiring someone to set it up before the driver could mount.

Things that didn't work as well as I thought they would:
* The foot rests (highway pegs) weren't as comfortable as I would have liked.  My feed kept knocking into the front fenders.

The vehicle itself

With the exception of the cruise control, the Spyder performed perfectly.  Its stability in the greasy construction zones of the Yukon was very welcome, as we didn't have to worry about falling over.  We talked to a number of two-wheeled riders who had issues with this, to the point of damaging ankles!
The Spyder always had plenty of power and was quite comfortable, especially on the pillion seat.  Although the spousal unit had no problems with the front seat, my backsides would complain after about an hour and a half when riding in the front position (this is not unusual for me, for I have this experience with many seats).

Power was always plentiful, tractable, and smooth.  I really like the manual transmission as it provides plenty of engine braking on long downhill runs.  The service tech in Eagle River was surprised to see how little brake wear we had experienced compared to the automatic transmission models.

Again, once one gets past the fact that it is not a two-wheeled vehicle, it is a remarkable machine that does what it does very well.  It is purpose-built as a three-wheeled vehicle and performs that role admirably.

Even thought the fairing and front of the vehicle protect the rider well from cold and rain, the handlebar warmers were most welcome during those ~50 degree days.  I  only broke out the cold weather gloves twice.

I tried using the radio a few times, but at anything over about 35 mph it is just garbled noise.  So most of the time I just left it off.

Other equipment:

We only needed the mosquito head nets twice.  After the horror stories we heard about the 'State Bird' of Alaska, we are not disappointed.  As small as these head nets are, they made for cheap insurance and were welcomed when they were  needed.

We also only used the Kelty awning twice.  Again, it was most welcome when we used it in Seward and Homer as someplace to get out of the rain without having to be crouched inside of the tent.  Definitely worth the space and weight, including the pole.

The Klymit sleeping pads are RECOMMENDED!  They roll up into a small package, yet are still very comfortable.

The Eddie Bauer and Marmot down sleeping bags did a good job of keeping us warm and could be compressed with the tent into the dry bag carried on the luggage rack.

Clothing:

Both the BMG Mercury (his) and Tourmaster (hers) jacket/pants combinations performed admirably!  I took the lining out of the BMG in favor of a light fleece jacket which made it easier to layer up/layer down.  The BMG liner has a lot of buttons/zippers/loops making it a chore to install/uninstall.
There were only a couple of times when were were a little cold, and we never got wet while wearing this gear.  Since we were tight on space, these jackets were worn almost constantly, and with the pants were welcome on wildlife and glacier viewing boat excursions.

Electronics:

The tablet was great for updating the blog and for internet searches.
Although I added a second power outlet in the front trunk of the Spyder, we rarely used it as it was often blocked by stuff.  However, the power outlet in the rear trunk was regularly used to charge phones, camera batteries, kindle, and tablet.

Signs along the way

This post is just a compendium of interesting/obligatory signs encountered on our trip.  Enjoy!

 How about a cup of coffee in Seattle with a stranger?

Every trip along the Alaska highway includes this sign at Dawson Creek, B.C.

The Road Kill Grill (and RV park), Clinton, B.C.

Leave your muddy boots at home, boys

Someplace to stay in Valdez

Not sure what this is about, seen in the UAA dorm

Another obligatory photo

Our contribution to the Signpost Forest...

The most obligatory sign of all - we made it!

What does it say about Seward when one wants to eat a 15-pound burger and fries before one dies?

Got to watch out for these

Mmm...tasty!

The place to make a call when entering Homer, AK

Many of us wonder the same thing

The People...

One of the most interesting things about traveling by motorcycle, and especially by one as weird as the Spyder is that one gets to meet a lot of very interesting people.  What I hadn't anticipated is just how much the Spyder is a magnet for the curious, especially when sporting a Colorado license plate in Alaska!  There were many times that we had opportunities to meet with people we would never have met otherwise.

We had many conversations that went something like:
"How do you like that thing?"
Well, for our current travels it seems to do quite well, with two people and all of our gear it performs quite well.
"You rode all the way from Colorado?"
Yes.  We came up through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and now we are working our way through British Columbia on our way to Alaska.  The return trip will be by ferry.
"Well, I rode the Alaska Highway back in 1974.  It was a dirt road back then."
Since I was a teenager I have always wanted to do this.  Now I can, so I am.
"You ride safe!"
Thanks, you be careful too.

Traveling by motorcycle also provides convenient opportunities for conversation.  Being 'adventurous' types, motorcyclists don't mind approaching other motorcyclists to see what they might have to say.  This is a great way to learn about the road ahead.  On the first day I noticed what I assumed to be an 'experienced' motorcyclist in Laramie, Wyoming.  After a little conversation I told him that we were on our way to Alaska.  He mentioned that the University of Alaska in Fairbanks would host people in their dorms for $40 per night.  While we never made it to Fairbanks, we did discover that the University of Alaska in Anchorage had a similar arrangement, which we took advantage of.  Staying in the dorm rooms proved to be much cheaper than booking hotel rooms in Anchorage.  This is something we would have never known about if we hadn't talked with this guy.

A couple of  times we heard the phrase "Alaska changes a person".  They said that once you come here, you want to come back.  This is something that I now understand.  We met several people who have arranged their lives so that they can spend time in Alaska.  In fact, we have already decided that we will be back someday.  Traveling by motorcycle was a great introduction to Alaska.  However, next time we come we will be traveling in some kind of a 'van' so that we can bring along things like kayaks, coolers, bikes, fishing poles, ...


Richard
We met Richard in British Columbia.  He appeared to me to be in his mid '70s and was on his way back home to California on his Kawasaki 650.  He had been to Alaska by motorcycle several times before.  Richard told us about the new, inexpensive yet nice Hostel at Liard Hot Springs.  This guy really impressed me as someone who lives life to the fullest, working through whatever it takes to do what he wants to do.

Grandma
We met a woman (didn't get her name) who admitted she was "pushing 80" and was also traveling by Spyder from Oregon to Fairbanks and then on to Anchorage to see her children.  Her husband didn't want do do the trip, so she continued on with her grandson and daughter.  She figured that this may be her last trip to Alasks by motorcycle.  A truly lovely woman who again, lives life to the fullest. Her machine is the maroon one below, her daughter's is the yellow one:

This photo was taken at a campground at Teslin, Yukon Territories.



Geno and Andrew
We met Geno and Andrew at the municipal campground in Seward.  Geno keeps wooden beads in his beard and has a minivan that he has been living in while traveling through Alaska.  He told us how he spent some time in Hawaii working on a coffee plantation, then he was in Oregon helping some friends building bee hives.  He connected with Andrew while traveling through Alaska.
Geno provides transportation while Andrew provides Salmon and campground fees.  A truly symbiotic relationship.  Geno traveled above the Arctic circle to experience 24-hour sunlight (something that we will do on a future trip).  It would have been nice to spend some more time with these guys, but we had miles to go.

Niv
At the same campground in Seward, Niv set up camp right next to us.  He is a young man who was traveling solo from Israel, with just what he carried on his back.  When I asked what brought him to Alaska, he mentioned how he had seen shows on television about Alaska and told his friends that he was going to go to Alaska.
After a couple of years his friends said "So, when are you going to Alaska?".  At this point he figured that he had to make good on this proclamation, so he got plane tickets to Alaska and train tickets to interesting locations therein (after Seward he planned to travel to Denali by train). From now on, Niv will be able to say that yes, he has been to Alaska.  That should shut his friends up!

Guenther and spouse
While camped at a free campground at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge we met Guenther, who was traveling from Fairbanks on a big BMW motorcycle.  His wife was on a smaller Japanese bike.  We shared some very pleasant conversation and Guenther shared some salmon which he smoked himself, packed in oil.  Easily the best smoked salmon that I have ever put in my 'trout hole'.  Be careful with the leavings he admonished, as they make great bear bait!

Just a nice photo that I took at Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge with the sun shining through birch bark

The Guy from Brazil
On the way home traveling through Wyoming, we passed a guy on a really interesting motorcycle.  At first I couldn't figure out what it was.  A VW-powered Guzzi perhaps?  I have seen them before, as well as  Subaru powered Moto Guzzis.
Later, he stopped at the rest stop where we were cooling off, pouring water on our shirts in the 100 degree heat.  It turned out that he was riding his Amazonas from Brazil to Sturgis.  How cool is that?!

Regrets...
One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't take pictures of the people that we met.  While I have a few photos of the people we met on the ferry, I failed to take pictures of people we met on the road.  This is something I will have to rectify on future adventures.