Today we ran out of gas...

The past several days we have been flirting with our fuel tanks. Yesterday, my fuel gauge illuminated it's warning light, giving me a range of 47 miles until I was out. The following mileage sign told me that the next town was 48 miles away. I slowed down from 70 to 55, and began pulling in the clutch going downhill, ducking my head to try and squeeze every ounce of aerodynamics out of the fairing. The R1200 GS does not free-wheel well at all! Luck was on my side, however, and I coasted in as the range indicator ticked to "0". Today, we were not so lucky. Around 35 miles from the US border, dad illuminated me to the fact that his range was down to 27 miles. Miraculously, it was all steep downhill to the customs, the next station however was 7 miles away. By this time my gauge was down to 8, and dad's was scrapeing 0. Within two miles dad had pulled over, and yet again, I coasted into the station with my gauge on 0.

Two days ago, we met Mark, a really cool guy, and fellow ADV Rider member. We talked at the REI in Anchorage for awhile, and the longer we talked, the more we wished we had scheduled more time in Alaska. Oh well, you make the best with what you have. We were forced to leave mom a day early due to the fact that we had over 800 miles to ride before we got to Haines, where we will catch our ferry tomorrow morning.

Yesterday we were introduced to the extreme inconsistencies Alaska has to offer. Exiting Anchorage was cold, rainy, and windy, miserable conditions to ride in. My heated vest was broken, so the most artificial warmth I had were heated grips pressing upon wet gloves. Not a fun way to start your morning. Yet by 1:00 it had cleared into a sunny, albeit cold and windy, day. Next, as we rode we would see signs warning for loose gravel, or broken highway, but rarely had to slow down for these exagerated warnings. Then, we come around a turn, doing 75, and bam, no sign, nothing, just no more pavement! I stomp on the brakes and back off the throttle, but still ended up hitting the shale Alaska uses for gravel at 60, not pleasant.

But we have survived! And made it to Haines to boot! Tonight, we ate with Gordon and Mike, a couple of guys from Calgary, Alberta, (as it so happens this was at least the 12th time we had run into these bikers, but somehow the first time we had gotten their names)! Their blog can be found at gordon3473.blogspot.com/. Great guys on a 1200 Adventure and V-Strom 650. They're riding the ferry from Haines to Scagway tonight.

Two days ago, we also got a call from Ed, then a day away from Chicago, and home. Glad he got there safe!


Goodnight!

Zack