Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego 2006, Around Oz 2008, Around the Baltic 2011, Taiwan 2013

Oxnard, California to Fort St. John, CanadaI decided to move pretty fast thru California, Oregon and Washington since I had already seen all that from the Harley and was anxious to get to Canada and that famed scenery. I left on Monday May 29th about 8:30 after making a nice breakfast for my sweetheart (needed to be extra nice since she will be taking care of things at my house while I am gone). :=) I made it to Redding the first day then Walla Walla, Washington on the 30th. I was using Highway 99 in California and Highway 97 thru Oregon and Washington.

Fort St. John. Canada to Dawson City, Yukon TerritoryHit the road again on June 4th, and cruised thru Pink Mountain, Prophet River, Fort Nelson, Toad River, Laird River, Coal River (did I mention that there a LOT of rivers up here). Entered the Yukon Territory (another one of those "I always wanted to do that moments"). I took this great picture

Dawson City, YT to Fairbanks, AK with a little side trip to Prudhoe Bay.
Well, THAT was an adventure. Left Dawson City (via ferry over the Yukon River) and headed down Hwy. 9, the very aptly named "Top of the World Highway". Good gravel and absolutely outstanding scenery. Entered Alaska at Poker Creek,

the "most northerly land border port in the USA" (cool, another point in the braggin rights contests) and made my way to Chicken, Alaska.

Fairbanks down to the Kenai Pennisula and back up to Palmer.Rested up in Fairbanks and then headed down the Parks Highway to Talkeetna. Got stopped in Nenana for an hour or so by forest fire that had jumped the highway. When they let us go there were still flames on both sides of the road. Stopped in Denali National National Park for a look around. Couldn't find that mountain everyone talks about. :=) I was hoping for a sight seeing flight that would let me get a picture of Denali Mountain and that would land on a glacier.

Glenn Highway and the TOK Cutoff to Haines to catch the ferry to Bellingham.I left Palmer and headed up Hwy. 1, the Glenn Highway and the Tok Cutoff back to the Alcan and south to Haines Junction.

Rode my KLR into Billings. I'll show those Harleys.Got to Billings. I left Spokane and toured around the Lake Coeur d'Alene area. Yes, more beautiful scenery and great roads. :=)

Spent three days getting over Lolo Pass on Hwy 12 (enjoying the area),

Billings back to Oxnard!I left Billings on July 2nd and headed south. Rode Hwy. 212 to Red Lodge then over Beartooth Pass to Cooke City.

Yes, I am going to say it again. There is some absolutely fantastic scenery here. If you haven't thoroughly toured the USA, you don't HAVE to go to Alaska to see a lot of wonderful country. If you have seen it, then definitely go up there. I rode down thru Yellowstone National Park, thru the Tetons, and south to Jackson.

A LOT of Pictures!If anyone might be interested in seeing ALL my Alaska Part 1 pictures, they can be found here. http://RickMcD.smugmug.com/gallery/1849361/1/92776851
There are 500 pictures, so if you are not on a highspeed connection don't EVEN consider going there! :=)

Working on the KLR and at the Ventura Harley Dealership.
After my long ride I enjoyed driving my F-150 (with air conditioning and stereo) around my local area for awhile. I have been servicing the bike (new tires, oil and filter change, repacking, etc.). I took several things on the KLR to Alaska that I didn't use or wear at all so I am cutting down "on the load".

Working at the Harley dealer and packing the KLR.Not much new to report. I have been putting in more hours than usual at the Harley dealer but it is going to come in handy (especially on that Polynesian cruise). I have been regliously reading the travelers stories and watching the HUBB on the Horizons Unlimited web site (if you can't find it, you have a problem) :=), making lists, and pouring over my maps getting ready for leg 3 and 4 of the Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego ride.

Leaving Oxnard, heading to Mexcio!
Goin' south, way south, penguin country!Time to get back on the road for the second half of the Prudhoe Bay to Tierra Del Fuego adventure. Saturday, Sept 30th is the day.

Made it to Mazatlan. Very Warm all the way!!

Made it to Puerto Escondido for more beachs, beer and riding friends.It had to be done. I had to drag myself away from the great hotel and beaches in Mazatlan and move on down the road. I left and spent the next night in a quaint little fishing village on the coast called Puerto Vallarta. :0) A local American told me where the best taco stand in PV was so naturally went there. Had two asada tacos (they WERE great).

Had to leave Puerto Escondido (although I did NOT want to). GREAT beach community with surfers from all over the world! AGAIN, I had to drag myself away from a great beach, cold beer (with tequila chasers)

and magnificant sunsets

Another beach in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua.
Beaches aren't as much fun when it is raining!

Made it to Panama City after a little rafting trip and other assorted exciting adventures. Border Crossings can be fun (if you are NOT the one with the paperwork problem)! OK, time to get you all caught up. When I last left you I was sitting in a bar (only because it was raining) on the beach in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. It was only about 35 miles to the Costa Rican border. Got there fairly early and was looking forward to a little less stressful crossing.

OK I hate to leave this very nice hotel (thanks Cory and Jules) and this very nice city but it is time to move on to South America!Panama City, a VERY nice place to spend a few days!!

The new skyline, and

the old parts of the city are both very nice!

Alive and well in Cali, Colombia. Jumped the Darien Gap and rode from Bogota to Cali. Looking for the equator. I think it is south! ;=]Part 4 of the adventure is underway. Thanks to Copa Airlines and Girag Cargo Service, crossing the Darien Gap was a snap. In Panama City at Tocuman Airport we crawled thru all the paperwork hoops (2.5 hours) and turned the bikes over to Girag Cargo Services who promised that they would have them in Bogota, Colombia the next morning at 4:00 AM.

Made it to Peru and will be in this country for several days since it is a north south country. Nazca lines and Machu Picchu soon! Ridin´and Havin Fun!It’s time again for an update. Let’s see, we were in Cali, Colombia when I last posted. A VERY nice thing happened for us in Cali after I posted so I will tell you about it. If you have been keeping up with the blog (and you should be) you will remember that we were given a tour of Panama City by a fellow ( Douglas) in the motorcycle club who had the nice VW convertible.

Still in Peru (told you it was a long north south country). We made it to Cusco so a vist to Machu Picchu is in my very near future.We left Piura and made it to Trujillo for the night. There were some very nice views of the beach and villages along the way [if you could ignore the desert].