Deadhorse to Deadhorse

[taxfree4]

From Deadhorse Bay Brooklyn to Deadhorse Alaska

All maps laid out, gear assembled, beef jerky made and launch date is June 3rd. West to Portal North Dakota- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-Edmonton, Alberta-Dawsons Creek B.C -Watson Lake, Yukon-Wiseman AK-Prudhoe Bay. This should be interesting.

[taxfree4]

Did a Worcestshire, bourbon, honey jerky with a tad hit of hot sauce for those cool mornings

https://youtu.be/YYuGH5NaCdA?si=u2f85ewb54RhKF3I

[Rickc]

Should be a great adventure, we'll want to see pictures.

[taxfree4]

Should be a great adventure, we'll want to see pictures.

1 video camera, 1 gopro, a regular digital camera and a cell phone, it'll be covered.

[taxfree4]

I bought these for the trip just to have additional side visibility. I can't tell how much better side view I have with these little half moons. The advantage over the on mirror ones is they sit higher and have a much farther side view envelope

[FarsideF6B]

Sounds like an Epic trip🤩 I’ll be headed to Dubuque, Iowa June 8th for the 2024 Valkyrie InZane gathering. Not near the trip you are making though. I’ll be following your journey here so add some pic’s. Safe travels :cheers:

[taxfree4]

Sounds like an Epic trip�� I’ll be headed to Dubuque, Iowa June 8th for the 2024 Valkyrie InZane gathering. Not near the trip you are making though. I’ll be following your journey here so add some pic’s. Safe travels :cheers:

All journeys are epic my friend no matter the length, as long as we're in 2 wheels. Enjoy the gathering

[JackB]

Sounds like an Epic trip�� I’ll be headed to Dubuque, Iowa June 8th for the 2024 Valkyrie InZane gathering. Not near the trip you are making though. I’ll be following your journey here so add some pic’s. Safe travels :cheers:

Hope to see you there will you be on your F6B?

[FarsideF6B]

Hope to see you there will you be on your F6B?

Hey Jack,
I think I'll ride Renegade, my Valkyrie. The last two InZanes I was on my B. Renegade deserves this trip. Getting New tires for her and all fluids changed. She is running strong! She got the Attic Rat GLH pkg a few years ago. 'riding' See you there!

[taxfree4]

Naturally, wildfires and landslides in British Columbia has closed Highway 97 (Alaska Highway) which causes me to reroute, almost 2 days, but hopefully it'll pass by the 3rd.

[Rickc]

I'm sure you will be prepared and expect more than a couple of detours all part of the adventure.

[taxfree4]

I'm sure you will be prepared and expect more than a couple of detours all part of the adventure.

Definitely, looks pretty solid up to Yukon, thats where it looks like the adventure begins but I'm ready to be uncomfortable.

[taxfree4]

Bought the Zumo XT for the ride, looks like a winner, we'll see.

https://youtube.com/shorts/vG4J4WPqXfg?si=2QdZuNNWjlKwLgh1

[taxfree4]

Easy ride, so far, UNTIL, I-39 North shut down, both ways, 80 miles out of Wisconsin Dells, where I am now due to motorcycle fatality. Other than that, a little rain but nothing to complain about...yet. Off to North Dakota.

[taxfree4]

Long, long story but was almost half way to Alaska, was just in Canada and due to road conditions, the approaching storm and a side wind that I never experienced I had to turn back. According to the locals, where I stopped in Portal,, ND I launched a month too early. They said the wind dies down end of June beginning of July. US52, which takes you from Jamestown ND, to Portal, then across to North Portal, Saskatchewan and becomes I-39 was a nightmare with that wind. It is a 2 lane, bi-directional highway, if you can call it that. Being ND is flat, with northern ND even flatter the roadway is built up, like a railroad track 6-8 feet in the air with very little shoulder. It is the only paved road,no alternates. All roads leading up to it are dirt which translates to mud if it rains. Steady 25-35 mph wind as soon as I was in Wisconsin to ND with gusts of who knows. Settled in Jamestown ND to head to Saskatoon the next day. I even made a video on my YouTube page.

National Weather Service put a warning for the wind, which I was unaware of. It was a battle from the moment I left Jamestown, crossing the border I hit North Portal and had to make a decision. The wind was either sending me into oncoming or off the I-39 into a ditch 6-8 feet down AND there was a storm that filled the sky with 400 miles to go. I wasnt about to go on a suicide mission. Turned around, headed to Minot, ND. Next day I hit Lead SD in a cabin right on a creek, perfect weather not a cloud in the sky. Grand Junction Co., Vegas, where it was 109 degrees, Hoover Dam, Monument Valley, Flagstaff AZ, perfect.I was going to stay in Rawlins, Wyoming for a few days but on Tuesday this week they said the winds would be 55+ mph so I decided to get as far east as possible, Kearney, Nebraska was a good stop. So I left Monday for Kearney, a little wind but not horrible. 20 miles out from Kearney I came to a construction zone, slowed to 55 mph. The westbound lane of I-80 was completely shut down so all traffic was funneled to the eastbound side. 2 lanes, again, bi-directional, 1 each way. All of a sudden something appeared in the middle of the road from underneath the car in front, which looked like a square patch of tar, it wasn't.

All of a sudden BOOM, the front of the bike lifted and veered to the left, oncoming traffic, kept it up, didn't go down, maintained balance and pulled it back in lane. Rode about a mile or 2 and it felt okay. All of a sudden the front wobbled and I pulled over. Whatever road construction left in the road bent the rim on both side, the air came out and flattened the tire. Called 911, trooper came and helped me push it onto grass next to tiny shoulder. Still in 2 lane traffic I backed up traffic for 2 mile. I have been in Kearny, Neb since Monday waiting for the $1200 rim and $300 tire to come in, hopefully today. Nothing moves fast here. Lots of cornfields. Kearney is a nice town, I'm filing for residency today and seeing if Motel 6 will sell me a timeshare.

This brings me to my main point. Between the totaling of my 2013 F6B in 2018, the ND wind sheer and now this, which could have been a fatality real easy if it wasn't for adrenaline and experience, I think I have reached the maximum of my guardian angel's patience. When I get back the B will be up for sale. It is loaded. Russell Day Long, Heli-Bars, Torq-Loopz, Baggershoeld, MRA XCREEN, Mp3 rack. Brand new Baker Air Wings and older Hand Wings, Darksided with a Kumho. $14,000 firm, brand new front rim and tire

[taxfree4]

Some pics from the good side

[taxfree4]

Kanab, Utah Monticello, Utah

[SpencerPJ]

Be safe. I never was an out of state rider, I'm considering a class A RV, toyhauler, Then a few month trip out west. My riding is 2-3 hrs southern state in the hills and turns. I would like to carve some mountain roads.

[taxfree4]

It's like life I say, you plan and plan, this trip was 3 years in the making, then life happens and disrupts those plans and you either get angry, give up or adapt. I chose to adapt and it was the best x country I've ever done. I think its healthy to put yourself into uncomfortable, not dangerous, situations to see how you respond. This was a fatality waiting to happen. I'm even afraid to look at the SD card of the incident. But adrenaline and experience kicks in, then you have focus, all in split seconds. I say go for the trailer. Its a big, beautiful country, don't miss Utah.

[jm21ddd15]

glad your okay. Sorry to hear your going to sell the F6. Been good to have your voice on the forum. Gotta respect your decision tho. Everything in life has risks. Wish you the best. Good pics you posted on the trip. Lots to see in this country.

[taxfree4]

glad your okay. Sorry to hear your going to sell the F6. Been good to have your voice on the forum. Gotta respect your decision tho. Everything in life has risks. Wish you the best. Good pics you posted on the trip. Lots to see in this country.

Hey, I'll still post, write my usual sparky opinions. I'll just do it from a spectator point of view. Thanks for the nice words. On a lighter note new grandchild coming in August. Doing my best to excite them about the space program

[taxfree4]

Some more pics

[Rickc]

A ride you will never forget. Sorry things didn't go as planned but happy you are here to tell us about it.

[taxfree4]

A ride you will never forget. Sorry things didn't go as planned but happy you are here to tell us about it.

I will definitely remember this one, for both good and bad, thanks for the sentiments