Salem, OR to Homer, AK

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July 17 - Glad I washed the bike this morning, wouldn't want to be seen on a dirt-bag...Crossed the border into the good ol' USA this afternoon, via Border City. Dang, I made it to Alaska! Border gal said "Welcome Home", made me feel all warm & gushy inside.

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July 17 - Waiting in line to start west across the TOK cutoff - "Road under construction" Har har...

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July 17 - Flagger guy had a genuine sense of humor regarding bikers who ride the TOK cutoff... I got to follow the water truck who was following the freakin' grader....fun fun

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July 17 - Eagle Trail State Campground - First night in Alaska

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July 17 - Great campground but no water so I bummed some off one of the RV'rs. One other tent, only 3 or 4 campers. Was this really the tourist season or was it the infamous TOK cutoff?

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July 17 - No! Bad doggies! What is it about tires anyway?

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July 17 - I could have left my flashlights & lantern home!

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July 18 - Still on the TOK cutoff, beautiful country

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July 18 - Isn't that Mount Whatsitsname off in the distance?

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July 18 - Rode like hell all day after getting clear of the nasties, stopped for 30 or 40 seconds in Anchorage, then on down the Kenai peninsula. Stopped & registered at a state campground but decided to move on as the bears were hungry & I was not in the mood to deal with them. Finally found the Midnight Sun at Moose Pass, sort of a B&B & decided to stay there 2 days. It's an easy ride to Homer from there and only 27 miles down to Seward.

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July 18 - Great cabins at the Midnight Sun - $105, lots better than sharing your tent with a bear.

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July 19 - Cook Inlet at Homer. Old Captain Cook went everywhere. Sometimes he was a real pain in the ass. You should read about him.

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July 19 - Damn! It's me at Homer freakin Alaska! Yeehaaaaa! Who'd a thunk it??

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July 19 - Highlight of my 2-hour stay in Homer was lunch at the Cosmic Kitchen. Dead Halibut of course.

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July 19 - I bought a fist full of post cards plus stamps to send to you guys. Then I ordered coffee & moved to the outside deck, got all my gear settled & unpacked, got out the old ballpoint, ready to write for a couple of hours....and no address list anywhere! So...under the beady-eyed surveillance of the only other person on the deck I reversed all of the above and rode off into the afternoon. Bet she was impressed. Great view from the deck. Homer. What else can I say? Homer..Homer...

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July 19 - On the way back to Moose Pass & The Midnight Sun...local art trailer complete with hubcap eyeballs & stinger in the rear. I love art. You should too.

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July 20 - riding out of Moose Pass heading to Glennallen to follow the Alaskan Pipeline up to Delta Junction on highway 4. Washed the bike again this morning. Why do I do that? Why?

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July 20 - On the Glen Highway near Palmer, AK - One of many rivers in the Talkeetna mountains that were mined for gold during the big rush.

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July 20 - Dry Creek campground near Gakona - no water but lots of bugs & only a few campers. Very private. Except for the bugs.

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July 20 - I wouldn't sell my Original Bug Shirt for $1000! Well...maybe I would but it's pretty cool. Maybe $100 would get it? $75? Comes with it's own bugs....think about it...

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July 21 - Fantastic light this morning on the road to Glennallen. I'm all alone again, zero traffic.