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Ralf R Odent
Deb and Charlie traveling to Alaska on a pair of BMW R1200GS. This is Deborah's first trip to Alaska on her bike. Charlie went on his 60th birthday 3 years ago so for Deb's 60th birthday she wanted to do the same! Charlie has been riding for 41 years, starting out on Harleys. Deborah has ridden for 25 years always on a BMW. His first bike was a 1963 FLH full dresser. Her first was a BMW75/6 and she still has it. Mostly, it is a show bike now, but fun to putt around on for a few hundred miles. Charlie bought his first BMW in 1984 and abandoned Harleys three years later. Our style of riding lends to serious touring. Most of the time there is a bit of a rush to see things because of work schedules. This trip will allow for stops at various attractions. A 500 mile day is a usual day for them. Charlie has his Iron Butt award and this year Deborah will attempt the feat. bmwratsontour
Travel Blog Posts
Close of my big adventure
Published: August 18th 2011North America » United States » Arkansas » Jonesboro
August 1st 2011
On this trip I have learned two things about myself, number one: I am a strong woman. Mother nature threw everything she had at me hours on end and for days on end. I withstood the physical test and began again the next day with excitement. I could have never dreamed up the things I was able to be a part of. The wildlife, historical places, whimsical palaces, mountains, lakes and rock formations were unbelievable. Secondly, I am a woman who is strong. I have withstood childbirth, divorce, poverty and emotional trauma with the death of dear friends and family. I have withstood a woman ,whom I called friend, whose treachery almost broke up my marriage.I have passed through to the other side. I do not listen to music as I ride, I prefer the solitude ... read more
July 16th 2011
Well, we are here and yep, it is warm. We did not find the Rallymeisters so had no idea where we were to set so we opted for the Holiday Inn. Showers, washing clothes, air conditioning and a pool were too tempting to pass up as the fairgrounds had not yet opened to rally goers. The ride this morning was great Last relaxing , cool (read air conditioned) night for a while as all rooms in his town are booked till next Sunday I was standing in line for something and I thought what is that smell? OMG, it is ME! Washed the riding suit pants as soon as I got somewhere. The dead bugs and road grime are gone now. I guess that is why people let us up in line!! Travel tip: Tide comes ... read more
On the way to Bloomsburg
Published: July 16th 2011North America » United States » Pennsylvania » Clarion
July 15th 2011
We left the Bavarian Lodge this morning and traveled down the road to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. This would be a must see for a Christmas Fanatic. Imagine a WalMart Super Store or a Meiers or a Canadian tire for that fact and fill it with every Christmas geehaw imaginable and you have Bronner's.. Temps were increasing and it soon became rather warm. Road construction in rain and cool temps is not really pleasant but road construction in heat we have decided is worse. We miss the 52 F (or 11 C) and sunny. Stopped at Clarion, PA (they don't have a Clarion Hotel btw) at the Super 8 which I recommend! $55, clean, and walking distance to Applebee's . We are approximately 180 miles from Bloosmburg and have traveled 9515 miles so far. ... read more
July 14th 2011
Hwy 2 was a great ride that followed the contour of Lake Michigan. Cool and sunny no electrics hooked up as we headed to I75. First, we had to cross a fun bridge called the Mackinaw which is grated in the middle with concrete on each outside lane. I knew I would be fine because I had crossed a metal grate bridge in the Yukon in pouring rain. Well, this was a looong bridge. The concrete lane was closed for repair (of course), so the grate was it. Not bad just hate seeing water down below me! Superslabbed it on I75 to the turn off for Saginaw which would take us to Frankenmuth. If you have never seen this town, make it a point to stop here. It is a German settlement with all the trappings. ... read more
Minnesota, Wisconsin and the UP
Published: July 14th 2011North America » United States » Michigan » Escanaba
July 13th 2011
We left Grand Rapids this am under a sunny and cool sky and headed to Duluth. After a stop at Aerostiitch HQ we headed for Wisconsin. We had lunch at the Breakwater Cafe in Ashland, WI, which has a great view of Lake Superior.. Highway 2 offers some spectacular views. Traveling across the UP was great as Zumo took us on back roads. We stopped at the Terrace Bay Inn between Escanaba and Gladstone this evening. This was recommended by a rider we met at Aerostitch. in It was a very worthy tip. This inn was built in 1922 and has been remodeled numerous times. It is worth a stay if you are in the area. The food is excellent and the drinks are reasonable and so are the rooms, from which you can see the ... read more
July 12th 2011
Another sunny day and great travel. I planned to stop in Winnipeg but the Zumo sent me on a short cut which really was one. So, motored on to the border and found the items Deb wanted at the duty free shop in Emerson. I really love it when something works out unexpectedly. North Dakota's speed limit is 75 on the I/state but drops to 30 when resurfacing occurs and it WAS occuring . Got into Minnesota and the state government is supposedly shut down. The rest stops are closed but the gas is still available for the MSP. The Indian Casino seemed to be at no loss for revenue while the state lottery was closed.. I(Deb) have ridden all types of roads, but do you know the best road? DRY! It was a beautiful day ... read more
July 11th 2011
We left this morning in SUNSHINE! Four lane road and sunshine, we didn't know how to act. I didn't have to sing the rain songs. You know, Raindrops keep falling on my head, Green eyes crying in the rain and Who'll stop the rain. Okay, so you listen to ipod I sing very loud. The thing I love about travelling on a bike is that people always come and talk to you. We meet all kinds of people on our travels. In a car, people don't care where you come from or are going. We stopped at Red Barn in Broadview and then on to Brandon with a stop at a visitor center for stickers of the province. We saw real bad flooding in this area, our waitress at Albert's' told us that the people in ... read more
Onward thru Canada towards Bloomsburg
Published: July 11th 2011North America » Canada » Saskatchewan » Saskatoon
July 10th 2011
Left the Holiday Inn this AM in (you guessed it) rain and 12 C or 54 F. Not exactly balmy but acceptable. Stopped in Spruce Grove at a Home Depot for Duck Tape. Deb's boots were taking on water like the Titanic so I fashioned some silver Michael Jackson look alike boots that did the trick. On down the Yellowhead highway towards Saskatoon we went in search of a sunny sky. We met a fellow traveler, Louis, at N. Battleford, SK on a 12GS. He was traveling from Winnipeg where he was now employed but was in Canada from Transylvania. Since the sun was shining at that point there were no worries. Louis was on a 4 week holiday and had crafted his own panniers. He also had a fishing rod and a slingshot with which ... read more
July 9th 2011
Left Ft. St.John in the rain after a delightful stay at the Super 8. Had to pry Deb out of the spa robe and the huge kingsize bed.. I discovered it was not the Gerbings jacket but rather the controller so replaced with my controller. 5 km from our hotel road construction reared its ugly head AGAIN. It lasted for 30 km with grooved payment to go with the rain. Stopped in Dawson Creek for the mandatory picture of Mile 0 of the Alcan.And another stop at WalMart to purchase a pair of bib rainsuit pants as my Aerostitch decided to leak at the crotch. ( something about continuous downpour) All along the road the water was swift and close to pavement. Approaching the BC/Alberta border we were flagged down as water was across the roadway. ... read more
July 8th 2011
Total miles today 384.. Not a great day as far as scenery as most of the day was consumed by rain. We packed up in the dry but that only lasted about 20 minutes.Saw some wildlife, a large moose and several bear and a couple of caribou .Met Steven from Vancouver who was traveling across Canada by bicycle for cancer research. My destination was Dawson Creek but we stopped short in Ft. St John. It was getting close to 5 pm and with the COLD (53 F) rain we were afraid rooms would be gone.. Debs Gerbing jacket ceased functioning and coupled with her leaking RoadGear boots it was rather a challenge for her. We got the next to last room at the Super 8 and was it great,. jacuzzi suite complete with Spumante for $199. ... read more
Tot: 0.156s; Tpl: 0.007s; cc: 21; qc: 82; dbt: 0.0553s; 1; s:apollo w:www (50.28.60.10); sld: 1; ; mem: 6.5mb
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