Alaska or bust!

[c_p_bowen at yahoo.com]

Very cool.

Guess the old joke is true...life starts when the dog dies and the kids move out!

Parts-wise, I happened upon Partzilla.com, which shows you all the bikes a particular part is used on.  Would give an idea when something's NLA.  RonAyers.com still has slightly better prices, though.

-Chris

> On Aug 3, 2014, at 11:42 PM, Charles Scappaticci via GPZList <gpzlist at micapeak.com> wrote:
> 
> Yup, I made it home last night safe and sound.  The old GPZ and I made the
> trip in one piece. 5,939 miles on the bike in 13 days and another 1,670 in
> the truck as I towed to Chick Driscolls house in Helena Montana to avoid
> Wyoming and southern Montana.  456 miles per day average on the bike,
> including 734 in one day riding from Anchorage AK to White Horse in the
> Yukon Territories and two days at 625 miles.  I probably rode 1,000 miles
> in the rain during the trip. Way too much seat time, my butt and hands
> still hurt.
> 
> I did make it to Fairbanks AK and down to Anchorage AK, which was my goal.
> Prudhoe Bay is still on the list for someday.  Lots of unbelievable
> scenery, really bad roads in the Yukon, and obviously lots of miles.  I'll
> write more of a trip report when time allows, but it's good to be sleeping
> in my own bed again.
> 
> I've got lots to do to the bike when I get time, valve and cam chain
> adjustment, new plugs, going to change out all the wheel bearings and
> steering head bearings after all the water and pounding they took. Need to
> have the Corbin seat freshened up as the foam has gotten hard after 17
> years and all the rubber bumpers have split. Also have to figure out why
> the throttle is hanging as well. I'm very impressed with the Michelin Pilot
> Road 2's that did nearly 7K miles, all of it heavily loaded down, I'll be
> replacing them with the same tires.  I'm sure I'll find a few more things
> to do as I go through it.
> 
> I've decided this will likely be the last big adventure for the old gal.
> It's never let me down and is still in decent shape, but the bigger problem
> is parts availability "should" something happen. This struck home when I
> found out the cam chain tensioner is no longer available. What else is NLA?
> I've carried a spare throttle cable on trips for years, just in case, but
> I can't carry everything I might need, I was already over loaded as it is.
> I think for now I'll stick to in state trips with it and save the next trip
> for a newer bike, though I've got to get through two more years of child
> support and college first.
> 
> A few observations, rants and questions:
> 
> 1. Why are the speed limits so slow in Canada?
> 2. Does anyone actually go the speed limit in Canada? Every time I rode
> anywhere near the speed limits I'd get passed like I was standing still. By
> cars, motor homes, and by the hordes of BMW GS's. Several locals laughed
> and said everyone ignores the speed limits.
> 3. If there is a 40% or greater chance of rain, it will.
> 4. Why does it stop raining when you put on your rain gear, but start when
> you take it off?
> 5. Why are there large patches of dirt roads in the Yukon? You're cruising
> blissfully along at 70 on decent asphalt when suddenly the pavement turns
> to mud/gravel/dirt? 100 yards later it's pavement again? The last 100 miles
> before the Alaska border is 40% dirt! I almost went down several times and
> I think my forearms took a worse beating than when I go dirt biking.
> 6. Anyone else notice that when you hit a puddle of water, the the GPZ
> efficiently directs that water right onto the top of your riding boots
> soaking your feet?
> 7. Canada is extremely efficient in the placement of rest stops with
> restrooms, placing them seemingly every 2 kilometers. Unless, you really
> really have to go, then the next one is 32 kilometers. Don't ask me how I
> know this.
> 8. Why are there lots of shiny new government placed road signs informing
> you that "Bob's Gas, Grub, and Lodging" is just two kilometers ahead but
> then you get there it's clear "Bob" must have died in the 90's and the
> place has been closed for years? This seems to most often happen when you
> are running on reserve and praying for a gas station to magically appear.
> 9. Why is it the farther north you ride, the fewer teeth the population
> have?
> 10. Along both 37 North and the Alaska highway, it seems every store, gas
> station, lodge, etc, has a pot of coffee going, many times giving it away
> free. I'm not a coffee lover, but was grateful for a hot cup many times
> when I was tired, cold and wet. My eternal thanks to these hardy
> individuals.
> 
> Charles S. and his tired GPZ 1100
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