Greg's Motorcycle Adventures

After 17,068 kilometers (10,606 miles) I have made it from Toronto to the most easterly point in North America, Cape Spear Newfoundland  and to the most western point accessible by road, The Homer Spit in Alaska. 

The drive to Homer was a surreal. Snow covered mountains, rivers, valleys and more wildlife made the twisty roads that often hugged the ocean a surreal drive. So many photo opportunities. Surprisingly I kept encountering the same people each time I stopped for a photo. Stopping at the sign for Homer I encountered a couple wearing Harley Davidson T-shirts. A conversation soon started and I was informed about the “Salty Dawg Saloon” on the Homer Spit. It seemed like a good place to celebrate my accomplishment. Before stopping for a glass of Glenlivet I rode right to the end of the road, where I was stopped only by the “Lands’ End Restaurant”.

The Salty Dawg Saloon has American one dollar bills signed by customers from all over the world tacked to every inch of its walls. Toasting with a drink and tacking my dollar bill on the wall Greg’s Adventure earned its place in this iconic bar. I kissed a cod in Newfoundland and tacked a $1 to the wall of a smelly bar in Homer, each end of North America has it tradition.

Not only is Homer the end of the road, it is also the Halibut fishing capital of the world. The shopping strip was made up of fishing adventure outfitters and fish cleaning stations, with the occasional gift shop or two (ok more than 2 shops but they all smelled of fish).  The spilt was a place well worth exploring.

Deciding to spend the night in Homer I pitched my tent on the beach, only to have the wind blow it away. This is how I met Jane, a retired librarian in her 60’s from New York State. She suggested I tether my tent to her van. Jane is by far, the most interesting person I have met since heading west. Travelling alone in her van, with no fixed destination, no schedule, we were like kindred spirits, but her travel stories were far more interesting than mine.  Check out her blog at www.datatamata.com .  With tent securely tethered, the ocean smashing against the beach I crawled into my sleeping bag after the sun finally went down around 11pm. Waking up to frost on my tent I felt a bit tired from my journey and decided to spend the following day exploring Anchorage, on foot.  

Homer may have been the end of the road but it is not the end of Greg’s Adventure.

Links

Celebrate reaching the End of the Road at the Salty Dawg Saloon. http://www.saltydawgsaloon.com/

Waking up to the sound of Beaver splashing is not a bad way to start the day, sure beats an alarm clock. Crawling out of my tent I immediately notice a Cow and Calf Moose walking within a few meters of my tent. They are huge animals and seemed to have little concern of being watched and photographed but eventually swim the lake and retreat into the privacy of the forest.

Back on the Alaskan Highway towards Liard Hot Springs for a relaxing soak. The hot springs are just what my body needed after days of riding and sleeping in a tent. Fully relaxed I head towards the Yukon.  Within the first 10 kilometers a Brown Bear at the side of the road captures my attention. Not wanting to be “meals on wheels” for the bear, I slow down and take a photo, never lifting my hand off the throttle.  Photo does not turn out well so I circle back and try again. Better photo, so keep moving.

A little further up the highway two Caribou are grazing at the side of the road, but run off too quickly to get a photo. Passing beautiful lakes, beside mountains on twisty roads is a motorcyclist’s heaven.  Warning signs of Buffalo are not to be ignored. I had come across Buffalo at Yellowstone Park in Wyoming but they were small in comparison to what the Yukon had to offer. The Buffalo on the road ahead of me were huge! Huge and so close I can smell them. I slowly passed within a few meters of a large Buffalo, at least two and a half times bigger than me and my bike combined.

It is 10:00pm just outside of Watson City, Yukon and the sun has not set, it feels more like7:00pm.  I wonder what tomorrows ride to Whitehorse will bring.

Check out the photos below.

Links

When in the area, visit the hot spring for a relaxing break on a long road trip. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/liard_rv_hs/

Last night I stayed at Toad River. This is a great campground with showers, laundry, RV hookups and a great breakfast.  Watch out for the moose and don’t let the beaver keep you awake.  http://www.toadriverlodge.com/

Tonight I am staying at Nugget City, Watson Lake Yukon. The campground here is more set up for RV’s and people wanting cabins but tent space is also available. Food is delicious but expensive, the showers are clean but on a meter ($1 for a 2 minute shower). A great pressure washer for washing your RV and if you stand back far enough it works for washing a motorcycle (but stand way way back).  Overall this place is good but expensive. The best part was that the waitress was from my home town, great conversation.  http://www.nuggetcity.com/

Toronto Ontario to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan – 704km

Looking in my mirror as I pulled away I could see four other motorcycles riding out with me and four people on the sidewalk waving goodbye. It was not how I imagined my departure. I had pictured myself riding away quietly into the sunrise, solo. This was one of those times when I unexpected was much better.

My daughter and friends had breakfast with me. Saying good bye is not easy but I felt very special hugging and shaking hands with my friends.  My daughter wants to meet me at Christmas time. I expect to be in Peru and will fly her down, I can’t wait.

My motorcycle friends were riding with me part of the way on my first day.  The “biker chick” (Ting) who I wrote about on May 8th was directly behind me, followed by Sean on his Kawasaki Vulcan, Jim then David both on the Harley’s.  Ting was the first to leave the group, I hate long goodbyes but the light changed red. Not much was said but it was a nice goodbye. Not one for long goodbyes either, Sean pulled past me about 30 minutes later, waving and wishing me luck before taking the off ramp. Jim and David continued on until Sudbury where we stopped for lunch.

I continued on to Sault Saint Marie, MI solo but not alone. I had the best wishes of friends with me. It has been many years since I have been on highway 17 from Sudbury to Sault Saint Marie and had forgotten how beautiful the scenery can be, ride it sometime. 

Now I am relaxing with a class of Glenlivet and planning tomorrows ride west.

Links

If you are ever in Sudbury and are looking for a great place to eat try Buzzy Brown’s at 1984 Regent Street. Jim, David and I all loved our food and Olivia our waitress was fantastic. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g155016-d769482-Reviews-Buzzy_Brown_s_Brasserie-Sudbury_Ontario.html