A friend whose Harley ownership predates my own has joined the Black Sheep Christian biker club. Every year over Memorial Day weekend they promote their first "rally" of the season at Denali Park. They invite the HOG (Harley Owners Group) to attend as an "outreach" to the members of this Harley club they would like to evangelize. The feature of the rally is a big feed sponsored by members of the Black Sheep.
My friend invited me to go with him this spring. I was delighted to commit and experience my first extended motorcycle trip.
Along with the ride to the rally, we were going to head further north to Fairbanks and then out to Tok, Alaska before coming back hope to the Kenai Peninsula. This is what we called, "The Loop". There is a loop in the Alaska Highway system that begins at Wasilla, Alaska, goes to Fairbanks and out to Tok before coming back by way of Palmer Alaska where the "loop" is closed and then you return to the Peninsula by way of Anchorage. By the clock on my Electra Glide, it was about 1350 miles.
As the departure date approached, I got rather nervous. A million things to worry about kept my mind occupied. "Will the Electra Glide break down?" "Will I bring the right equipment?" "What if we get into rain?" "Can I pack enough stuff on my bike?" And more.
The Electra Glide is known as a "bagger." That means I have saddle bags and a trunk on my bike. For trips like this, it is the ONLY way to go. I was able to pack everything I needed with a minimum of external lashing of stuff on the outside of my bike. Since space is limited, you have to choose carefully what you need to take. How many pairs of underwear and socks? Tools? Oil? Sleeping pad? Sleeping bag? Snacks? Hat? On and on. Even if you decide not to take as much of something as you might like or decide to leave something behind, you can really get quite a bit in those bags if you are careful.
The other thing you need to pack is cash. It always comes in handy. As Solomon said, it is the answer for everything.
So, the night before departure, I park my vehicle outside and haul the Electra Glide in. One side of the saddle bags is for messy stuff like oil, gas and tools. The other side is for my clothes and shaving kit. The trunk holds my sleeping pad and gloves and sunglasses, stuff I need to get in and out of during the day. On my back seat I lash my sleeping bag and pillow in a waterproof bag with another smaller waterproof bag on top of that, that holds my rain jacket and leather vest for layering.
I check the oil. I should have checked the air pressure in the tires but forgot. Fortunately it must have been OK. I wash the bike, hate to start a trip with a dirty bike. I clean the shield on my helmet with Windex. I pace. I think about what I packed and did not pack. I decide I need to go to bed and get a good night's sleep so I don't continue to obsess over details.
I'm up early and double check everything. I wait. We aren't supposed to meet until noon at Fred Meyer's in Soldotna but I am a chronically early person. I can't help it. I begin to obsess. I decide to ride to the Harley Store way past Fred Meyer's in Soldotna. This wasn't all about obsession, I had ordered some minor parts for my bike and I got a call that they were in. I ask if they might be able to install them that morning. OK. While I am there I decide I need some "highway pegs" for the trip. On long stretches of highway these allow you to extend your legs for a change of position. And since I have quite a bit in the leg department, this sounds like a good idea to me.
Oh yes, a Soldotna Harley Davidson overpriced T-shirt. I must have one of those, long sleeved. I don't want to show up at my first "rally" and not be flying the home colors! That would be a major faux pax! I buy the shirt.
My bike is done and I figure that I better get out of the Harley store before any more good ideas occur to me and I spend more money. Honestly, it's like kryptonite, a fatal attraction. I must get away. I text my friend and tell him that if he is early I am at the Harley store and will be at Fred Meyers shortly. He texts back and says they haven't left home yet, but will soon. Oh. So I have at least an hour and a half to wait. I decide to go home. I do and I pace. I am ready to ride! I think maybe he'll be early because he must be as anxious as I am.
I go to Fred Meyers a half hour early. I wait for 40 minutes. My friend arrives. Ah! Finally we will be hitting the road. First though he has to go get some snacks inside Fred Meyer. Oh yes, and another rider will be joining us too, we have to wait until he gets here. While I wait watching over the bikes while snacks are purchased and riders arrive, I notice the smoke from the Funny River fire is filling the sky. I wonder if I should even be leaving town. I have second thoughts. What if? What if? I decide that if things go bad I will just turn around and come home.
My friend comes back we snap a couple of pictures.
.jpg)
We wait. Our rider friend arrives. He is getting married the very next weekend and this is his "bachelor party." I'm OK with that. Some story that will make. A young guy spending his bachelor party with a couple of old guy preachers. Wild times ahead.
So, we are all here, we are snacked up. We start our bikes and we are finally on the road.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I would be interested to have your comments!