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(An apology to those of you who might have thought I knew what I was doing with this computer. First, I've been having problems gaining access to my ISP via the roaming number. That seems to be resolved, at least for now. Second, I can't seem to get the pics to remain viable. They insert into the document and transmit to the website and at some point vanish. Help!!)

THE SUMMER OF MY SOLSTICE
(or, Two wheels and Two Up to 66,30 North

Host: Roger Dabbs, Mississippi State University Class of 1969

"I am maroon" -- Go Dogs!

This site is dedicated to those who dream, aren't afraid to joust with an occasional windmill, and pursue their dreams with a bulldog's tenacity. Robert Frost said that he could sum up all his life experiences in three words, "It goes on". Don't watch, out of body, as life goes on; rather, as life goes on, let your dreams pave your roads.

It all began years ago when my next door neighbor (both of us were Second Lieutenants in the Air Force) inherited a moped from his uncle. Ski, a former football lineman at the Air Force Academy and a candidate for the "fat boy" program, offered it to me for one penny. I immediately took the moped upstairs in my apartment and began to disassemble and clean it. You wouldn't believe the racket it made when I finally got it to fire up; and that three horsepower, two-wheeled moped introduced me to the feeling of freedom that comes from riding a two-wheeler. Since that time, I have made many trips on a motorcycle: Germany to Spain and back; New Mexico to Florida and back; and the Blue Ridge Parkway. But now comes the greatest adventure so far -- Alaska and back on my newly acquired "Dogsteed", a 1998 BMW R1100GS.

Marty, my wife, has been wanting to go to Alaska for years -- she thought dragging our 24 foot camper up the Alcan highway would be a good way to spend a summer. I wasn't enthralled with the idea but a motorcycle trip -- now that would be the ticket. So, I started priming her and finally reached an agreement: I would ride up and back; she would fly up and back; and we would tour on the bike while she was there.

With the agreement came the preparations. A new tent, sleeping bags/pads, a kitchen, rain gear, clothes, spare parts and a computer all became a packing challenge of major proportions. The Dogsteed needed a 12,000 mile service so at the invitation of longtime friend and retired Air Force Colonel, Bob Hancock, (we made the trip from Germany to Spain together), the Dogsteed sniffed its way to Bad Bob's garage south of Macon, GA, in mid-April. Below, Bad Bob (right) and Jsquared inspect the valves on the left jug. The 12,000 mile service went well with only one small setback: Bad Bob didn't get a good seat on the left valve cover and when I went for a test ride, my left oil tannned boot received an unexpected reconditioning. A valve cover reseat and the service was complete. An uneventful return to Tennessee and the 12,000 mile service was history. Two weeks later, a new set of tires were mounted and the Dogsteed was ready.

Introduction

The Itinerary

The Itinerary was driven by my need to get to Anchorage before Marty's arrival on June 14, so, I planned a route to Alaska that I thought would be the most direct. Only one day was planned to exceed 500 miles of riding -- most days were in the 400-450 range.

June 1: Depart for St. Louis, MO....June 2: St. Louis to Omaha, NE....June 3: Omaha to Fargo, ND....June 4: Fargo to Regina, CAN....June 5: Regina to Edmonton, CAN....June 6: Edmonton to Fort St. John, CAN....June 7: Fort St. John to Fort Nelson, CAN....June 8: Fort Nelson to Watson Lake, CAN....June 9: Watson Lake to Haines Junction, CAN....June 10: Haines Junction to Glennallen, AK....June 11: Glennallen to Anchorage, AK.... Two days rest for me and the Dogsteed and a visit with my first F-4 backseater, Duane Miller....June 14: Marty arrives....June 15: South to Seward for a whale and glacier watching cruise....June 17: North to Kennicott Copper Mining area....June 19: North to Fairbanks....June 20: North to the Artic Circle (66,30 North Latitude) to witness the Summer Solstice....June 21: South to Manley Hot Springs....June 22: South to Denali National Park (Mt. McKinley)....June 23: Return to Anchorage....June 24: Marty departs....June 25: Depart Anchorage for Glennallen, AK....June 26: Glennallen to Haines Junction, CAN....June 27: Haines Junction to Watson Lake, CAN....June 28: Watson Lake to Prince George, CAN (via Cassiar Highway -- two days)....June 30: Prince George to Calgary, CAN....July 1: Calgary to Lewistown, MT....July 2: Lewistown to Medicine Bow, WY....July 3: Medicine Bow to Colorado Springs, CO....July 4: Colorado Springs to Pratt, KS....July 5: Pratt to Springfield, MO....July 6: Springfield to Columbia, TN....July 7: Columbia to HOME.

The Trip

The Front Nine (Days)