Didn’t see that one coming! :)

Today after work when I walked out and into the parking lot, I was greeted by a little send off surprised. No, I ‘m not leaving today, Thursday, or Friday, but Saturday, May 18th. Only us controllers understand that sometimes we have to do what we have to do because we all work different schedules. Some have Friday & Saturday off, while others have Monday – Tuesday, or Saturday – Sunday, but we make do because that is what is required.

So today, an individual that has Thursday – Friday off decided that they would take the opportunity to give me a proper send off because they would not see me again until July 1st. It was pretty cool and I really did appreciate it. No harm was done to my ride and it was all done in fun and I loved it. Those that know me, know that if you can make someone smile, if only for a moment, it was worth the effort. Well it worked because their work made me smile. The signed sendoff that was left in my tank bag was also pretty cool. I think that I will take that send off note with me as I travel to Alaska and back.

Below are the pictures I took of the BMW sitting in the parking lot at work. I also included the note. If you are wondering if I rode said bike in that condition home, the answer is no. Didn’t want to be a litter bug. It was also decided today that someone was making the trip with me. Do you see her in the picture? I don’t think she’ll put me over the weight limit.

Thanks to all that signed the card and to all those that wished well in my travels. Thanks OW, well played!!

Test post using iPhone

This is a test post using Siri and my iPhone via the blogger app. If this app can make it simple, maybe I can post while the road. Now how about a picture.

This was a double rainbow taken outside my house yesterday May 11th 2013.

I have been asked this question.

I’m still reading the Milepost magazine bit by bit, but I saw this little quote inside the magazine which confirms what I had been told. So now you know why I’m leaving mid-May though June for Alaska.

One of the most often asked questions is, “When is the best time to travel?” Many Alaskans recommend May and June as the most favorable months for travel to the North, as well as probably the most promis- ing period for views of Mount McKinley. The high season for travel in the North is June through August, usually the warmest months. But summer can also be the wettest months. The weather is as variable and unpredictable in the North as anywhere else.

Do you want to track me?

Ok a few of you out there have asked how to track me while I’m driving to Alaska and back and here is how you do it. Goto my webpage, www.cmarkdixon.com. Now put your mouse over Alaska2013 button, when the drop down menu appears, slide your mouse over SpotTracker and single click or left click and a new window should open. If I’m active it should plot a GPS waypoint every ten minutes.

Here is a picture of my webpage with the Alaska2013 menu open.

Below is what an actual Spot Tracker page will look like.

What did you pack???

I thought it would be cool to spread everything that I packed on the motorcycle and spread it out all over the driveway and take some pictures. There is a lot of crap sitting down there and it all fits. I packed and unpacked twice today alone to make sure that I knew where everything was and if I could put it all back quickly. Sometimes I amaze myself at some of the things that I do and when I staring at all that stuff it finally hit me that I’m actually going to pull this thing off.

I told Lori today that I was ready for departure. There is nothing that I can think to get done and even if there was, I do not think there is enough time to order it and install it. Mentally I’m ready, physically it will take me a few days to get my riding butt broken in. I reviewed my first 4 days of my California trip because I remembered that I sprinted to get to where I considered the beginning of my trip and I did 1,981 miles in 4 days. That’s pretty damn close to 500 and day with the wife. When I leave for Alaska, my first 4 days will be 1743 solo, so I think I will be ok. After those 4 days, I will be racking up some miles until I reach Tok, Alaska. The next 6 days I will lay down 3016 miles, which is right at 500 miles a day.

All total, I will be on the road for 6 weeks, 42 days, and will lay down a minimum of 16,500 miles as it is laid out. Here we go!

Pictures of my bike packed and unpacked.

Pretty cool write up on the guy that created the tent for motorcycles.

While I was researching tents to take on my trip to Alaska, I accidently found the Redverz tent. I knew the guy that created the tent was a rider but never found anything in black and white to show anyone. Here it is, Click here for the story.

 

 

She’s ready, best I can tell.

Okie Dokie, I think I have gone over this a few hundred times and I think I’m ready for my May 18th departure date. Tonight I put the finally touches on the motorcycle. All the fluids have been changed and the one thing that I checked because something in my mind just said, take a peek, was the drive shaft. Not a trace of grease that I could see on the shaft anywhere, so I did a little research and put some Honda Moly 60 on there. See the pictures below that show a dry shaft.

Last Saturday while I was in the process of changing some of the fluids and checking and replacing the air filter, I got a little package in the mail. I didn’t order anything thing so I had no clue what I was about to see. Inside that package was a Gremlin bell sent to me by an old friend that retired recently and we still ride motorcycle together now and then. Funny thing was I was considering buying one for myself but as the legend goes, it has twice the power if it purchased by a friend and given as a gift. Thank you Gary Mace and it was installed on the BMW immediately.

Now that you have seen the pictures above did you catch the oversight? I know at least one of you will see it because I saw it as soon as I posted the pictures. Hehe, so busy doing the obvious that I overlooked the simple.

So tomorrow I will start riding the motorcycle to work daily to make sure that nothing I have done to the bike recently falls off and needs repair. Friday, I will likely take a short road trip and camp for the night just to workout the logistics of all the cloths, tools, tires, and equipment that I have decided to drag 16,500 miles around the United States and Canada.

This is the basic look of the bike with 90% of the load onboard. Handles very well in case you are wondering.