Sister of all Alaska Dirt Bike Rides - July in 2015!

[beemerdons]

Sister of all Alaska Dirt Bike Rides! A year ago when Steven "Jorstin" Kerns and BeemerDonS started planning our Alaska Off Road Adventure we were going to call it "Mother of all Alaska Dirt Bike Rides", similar to Papa Chuy Viejo's "Mother of all Mexico Dirt Bike Rides"! https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/155841-mother-of-all-mexico-dirt-bike-rides-march-in-2015/

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/158536-the-alaska-slo-mo-photo-tour/page-1?hl=%20alaska%20%20ride%20%20reports

However, Uberkul Brad and his Buddy Don have shot that brilliant idea right in the Ass! If you want to see Real Manly Man Alaska Riding, read their report.

Now if you want to ride dirt in Alaska on a route so easy-peasy that even Big Girlie Men like dcarver, Bustanut joker and Radio Howie could do it (maybe!), consider yourself cordially invited to join Jorstin and BDS from Monday, July 27 through Thursday, August 6 in The Last Frontier!

 

[beemerdons]

Buon Giorno Paisanos, Steven "Jorstin" Kerns and BeemerDonStanley are already booked for Alaska. Both on BMW GS's running a big loop around Central Alaska with the last two days on a dead head run down to Homer, wound up getting our motos from https://www.rental-motorcycle.com/namerica/usa/alaska/anchorage_rental.html jes' sayin' and nuff said, Mush you Huskies!

 

[beemerdons]

Steven Kerns: I've made contact with David Myers at AD-MO in SoCal, they rent the BMW F700GS which I own. We'll use them for our Alaska Adventure.

David Myers: I have filled out the Contacts Quotes form, both Steve and I will rent the BMW F700GS.

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Stanley <[email protected]>
To: information <[email protected]>
Cc: justinktm690 <justinktm690@
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 12:16 pm
Subject: My off road riding Buddy Steven Kerns and I'd like to rent motorcycles from you starting Wednesday morning 7/29 and returning them to you on Wednesday evening 8/5 of 2015.

Dear David Myers, my off road riding Buddy Steven Kerns and I'd like to rent motorcycles from you starting Wednesday morning July 29 and returning them to you on Wednesday evening August 5 of 2015. Steve and I ride dirt in the Southwest and I've included a few pics of us in Death Valley riding Titus Canyon. Plus Mexico!

Steve's dirt mounts here are a BMW R1200GS Adventure and a KTM 690 Enduro, my off road bikes are a BMW F650GS Twin and Kawasaki KLR 650; Steve and I both will rent BMW F700GS's .

I am a retired UA Pipefitter (Fire Sprinkler Fitter) and I worked in Alaska during the Eighties, primarily at Pump Station #4 just North of the Atigun Pass but also at the ALEYSKA warehouses/support in Fox, plus I installed Fire Protection in two Native Schools out on the Aleutians. Our proposed Itinerary:

Day One: Anchorage to Talkeetna, 115 miles/2 hours. Lodging: Whatever You recommend.

Day Two: Talkeetna to Gracious House 150 miles/2.5 hours https://www.alaskaone.com/gracious/

Day Three: Gracious House to Chitina, 175 miles/3.5 hours. Lodging: Whatever You recommend.

Day Four: "Rest Day" in Chitina, actually our longest day of riding! Chitina to McCarthy and back: 120 miles/4 hours. Chitina to Valdez and back: 260 miles/5 hours.

Day Five: Chitina to Majestic Valley Lodge, 175 miles/3.5 hours https://majesticvalleylodge.com/cms/ Plan on a PM white water rafting trip.

Day Six: Majestic Valley Lodge to Homer, 275 miles/5 hours. Lodging: Whatever You recommend.

Day Seven: Rest Day in Homer, either go out on a wildlife ocean cruise or go out deep sea fishing. Any recommendations for either of these two excursions?

Day Eight: Ride back to Anchorage and turn in the Motos, 225 miles/4 hours. Where do you recommend we stay in Anchorage that is convenient for you two?

https://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=52&section=10042 I realize that these mileages and riding times do not add up to much, but I also know a lot of Riders planning an Alaska trip try to pack too many miles in to each available day. I have the Alaska Gazetteer, we will also find some dirt treks.

Any and all additional advice on an eight day Itinerary would be appreciated, you Folks are the Alaska Experts and we are looking to you for Guidance. Thank You Very Much!

Sincerely yours,

Don Stanley
BMW MOA #24810
BMW RA #21856
Chandler, AZ 85225

 

[beemerdons]

Guys, Jorstin and Papa Chuy are just as SHITTY as dcarver, Bustanut joker and RadioHowie in riding dirt! Almost as CRAPPY as yamafitter, Bugnatr and 'Zilla!

 

[SeattleTy]

What an adventure

 

[beemerdons]

What an adventure

David Meyers: My Reservation for my Kawasaki KLR 650 with all of my Credit Card Information has been submitted, Steven "Jorstin" Kerns will reserve his own motorcycle for this Alaska Off Road Trek.


Steven Kerns: Book your Alaska bike ASAP, I went with the KLR and remember we're picking up the motos on WED 7/29 at 9:00 am and returning them to AdMo Anchorage on Wednesday 8/5 at 5:00 pm.

Sincerely,

Don StanleyChandler, AZ 85225


-----Original Message-----From: David Meyers @ AdMo-Tours.com <[email protected]>

To: Don Stanley <[email protected]>

Sent: Mon, Nov 10, 2014 4:30 pm


Look forward to seeing your reservation!

Will you be reserving bike for both of you?
Best Regards,

David Meyers

ADMO …“The World on Two Wheels”

Don't miss ADMO's movie “Where Cars Don’t Dare”now on iTunes!
On Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:26:33 -0500, Don Stanley <[email protected]> wrote:
Steve, I had failed to mention this on Friday: ADMO also has the Kawasaki KLR 650 for rent for $100 a day, since we are riding the motos for 8 days we would save $200; the BMW F700GS's rent for $125 a day. I will make my decision and fill out a Reservations Form with ADMO today.
Jorstin, looking forward to riding Alaska with You!






Thank you for choosing AdMo-Tours!

We will process your reservation during our business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm US Pacific Time. Our office is closed on major holidays.

You will receive confirmation via email invoice regarding motorcycle availability; usually within 3 to 5 business days. Please do not book your airfare until you have received this confirmation.

Your invoice will also include instructions for accepting your reservation and providing payment for your rental motorcycle.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

AdMo-Tours, Inc / USA

Adventure Motorcycle Tours, Training & Rentals

P.O. Box 1803, 1300 Highway 2, Wrightwood, CA 92397

Tel: ++1-760-249-1105

Toll free:1-800-944-2356

Fax: ++1-760-249-5550

�the world on two wheels!

 

[Pterodactyl]

Sounds like a great ride. We lived in Fairbanks, AK for many years. Moved to Montana three years ago and have ridden back to Alaska two of the three years. My first impressions:

- Best place to get advice from the locals is on the Alaska Forum of ADVRider. There are some guys who post there that have been riding in Alaska for 50 years and are glad to share their knowledge. There is a sticky alled "Alaska Primer" that has some great info; there is a second sticky on the haul road, but it does not sound like that is part of the plan. I'm KHuddy over there should we meet. It is at: https://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=68

- While in the Anchorage / MatSu Valley area consider riding Hatcher Pass. Great ride that is only open a few months every year. You may be able to get a local to show you the way, which will be helpful.

- When you turn off the parks Hwy to the Denali Hwy you are only 31 miless from Denali NP. You can only ride a short distance into the park to Savage Creek. If you want to go further you must ride a bus, but worth a 60 mile diversion to just look around. Talkeetna is the staging area for climbers before the fly up to the base camp on Denali; plenty of flight seeing tours of the montain available.

- You'll be riding the Denali Hwy from west to east. It is much more scenic from east to west. I know you can't change the route, but be sure to stop and look behind you every now and then. Some of the best views of Denali you wil get. Plan a stop at Maclaren Lodge (mile 42) for lunch and some good views of Maclaren Glacier. Maclaren Lodge was our favorite Sno Go destination in the winter.

- On the day you go from Chitna to Valdez and return, consider staying in Valdez for the night. Not much in Chitna; I used to go there often because there is a subsistance fishery there on the Chitna River, Unless things have changed you will have your fill pretty quickly. There is a US Air Force run trailer park in Valdez that rents out 28 foot trailers to military and retirees. Much cheaper than a motel. They also have tent camping available. Probably run out of Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson; reservations for the trailers are a must.

- A diversion to Seward would be worth your time. They have the SeaLife Center there and the Army runs one of the best camp grounds / lodges I've ever seen. Reservations a must.

- When in Anchorage visit Alaska Leather. Barb and her crew are great people and have all sorts of gear, advice and help.

Just some initial thoughts.

 

[beemerdons]

Sounds like a great ride. We lived in Fairbanks, AK for many years. Moved to Montana three years ago and have ridden back to Alaska two of the three years. My first impressions:
- Best place to get advice from the locals is on the Alaska Forum of ADVRider. There are some guys who post there that have been riding in Alaska for 50 years and are glad to share their knowledge. There is a sticky alled "Alaska Primer" that has some great info; there is a second sticky on the haul road, but it does not sound like that is part of the plan. I'm KHuddy over there should we meet. It is at: https://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=68

- While in the Anchorage / MatSu Valley area consider riding Hatcher Pass. Great ride that is only open a few months every year. You may be able to get a local to show you the way, which will be helpful.

- When you turn off the parks Hwy to the Denali Hwy you are only 31 miless from Denali NP. You can only ride a short distance into the park to Savage Creek. If you want to go further you must ride a bus, but worth a 60 mile diversion to just look around. Talkeetna is the staging area for climbers before the fly up to the base camp on Denali; plenty of flight seeing tours of the montain available.

- You'll be riding the Denali Hwy from west to east. It is much more scenic from east to west. I know you can't change the route, but be sure to stop and look behind you every now and then. Some of the best views of Denali you wil get. Plan a stop at Maclaren Lodge (mile 42) for lunch and some good views of Maclaren Glacier. Maclaren Lodge was our favorite Sno Go destination in the winter.

- On the day you go from Chitna to Valdez and return, consider staying in Valdez for the night. Not much in Chitna; I used to go there often because there is a subsistance fishery there on the Chitna River, Unless things have changed you will have your fill pretty quickly. There is a US Air Force run trailer park in Valdez that rents out 28 foot trailers to military and retirees. Much cheaper than a motel. They also have tent camping available. Probably run out of Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson; reservations for the trailers are a must.

- A diversion to Seward would be worth your time. They have the SeaLife Center there and the Army runs one of the best camp grounds / lodges I've ever seen. Reservations a must.

- When in Anchorage visit Alaska Leather. Barb and her crew are great people and have all sorts of gear, advice and help.

Just some initial thoughts.

Muchas Gracias Kevin, I was going to send you a Private Message after the first of the year: But, you beat me to the punch! I worked in Alaska for five straight summers as a Pipefitter for ALYESKA so I have quite a bit of knowledge of AK, but admittedly it is now information that is 30 years old. I will gladly follow your great advice, thanks again! Pterodactyl, we post as donsethbear over at Adventure Rider.

It is ironic you mentioned Barb and Alaska Leather, I was on the phone with Barb just last week ordering a Sheepskin Butt pad for 2009 BMW F650GS Twin. I have an AK Leather pad on my 1996 BMW R1100GS, it is worn but still entirely serviceable!

Why wouldn't you take your own bike? I'm just asking, I'm sure there is a reason, but I am curious. Too much wear and tear?
- Jo


Jo I rode up to Alaska 5 summers in a row back in the Eighties, it takes a week to get up to Fairbanks from Phoenix. Never rode it back, made so much money working for ALYESKA on the pipeline I always came back on The Blue Canoe-the M/V Matanuska. Once you enter Yukon/AK, motels are $200 a night!

By the time you figure out your costs for two weeks out on the road, it is a lot cheaper to fly up and rent your bike. I also hate being away from my Son Seth for 3 weeks, when Miss Donna and I went to Italy in September for three weeks it really killed us being away from Seth and her four Grandchildren! JSNS!

 

[beemerdons]

Yo Kevin Huddy, is Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn still in business and still as crazy as ever? In my much younger and way wilder days I'd get blind drunk there and sleep in the parking lot chained up to my Harley-Davidson FLH Shovelhead Electra-Glide! jes' sayin' and nuff said, Whiskey!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/skinny-dicks-halfway-inn-parks-highway-AK/155757967782453 https://skinnydicks.net

 

[Pterodactyl]

It is still in business as of 18 months ago. New owners have made it a porn shop / bar. Pretty creepy.

 

[beemerdons]

It is still in business as of 18 months ago. New owners have made it a porn shop / bar. Pretty creepy.

Very sorry to hear it 'P', used to be your typical fun and loose Alaska Roadhouse; friendly Alaskans having a ball, with plenty of laughs and loads of good times! JSNS!

 

[Top_Speed1]

Is that BillyFitz getting ready to drop kick his bike (because it dumped him!) ...upon further professional Inspection (Don Stanley) and other riders... they were wondering why he came with snow tires mounted on his bike?! eh!

 

[beemerdons]

Is that BillyFitz getting ready to drop kick his bike (because it dumped him!) ...upon further professional Inspection (Don Stanley) and other riders... they were wondering why he came with snow tires mounted on his bike?! eh!

That is Steven "Jorstin" Kerns, his moto is a BMW R1200GS Adventure named "Sputnik" farkled out to the MAXIMUM! JSNS, eh!



"Sputnik" in its normal upright riding position, with our man Jorstin pictured in the background! JSNS!

 

[Top_Speed1]

Looks like Sputnik is not in a geosynchronous orbit anymore!. And, his side bags (missing) are in an inclining orbit soon to fireball down to Earth... right on target for Bowmanville ON. ....at least that's what NASA is saying.

 

[bikerskier]

Do not miss Hatcher Pass! Spectacular valley!

 

[beemerdons]

Do not miss Hatcher Pass! Spectacular valley!

Thanks Ralph, since both you and KevinH have mentioned it Steve and I will NOT miss it! JSNS!

 

[UberKul]

Looks like a good ride Don. I'll be following and let me know of you need anything. Start early on your Kennicott/McCarthy day if you're not staying over out there. It's a good stretch and it's worth a few hours of sight seeing.

 

[beemerdons]

Looks like a good ride Don. I'll be following and let me know of you need anything. Start early on your Kennicott/McCarthy day if you're not staying over out there. It's a good stretch and it's worth a few hours of sight seeing.

Uberkul, I'm going to take you up on your offer! Brad, do you have a recommendation for lodging in the Kennicott/McCarthy area? We're NOT camping, hotels/motels only!

In Reply #7 Pterodactyl stated we would not be impressed by Chitna, So Jorstin and Papa Chuy are thinking the night of Day Three would be spent in Kennicott/McCarthy area and the night of Day Four would be in Valdez! JSNS!

 

[dcarver]

Looks like Jorstin's Beemer likes to take dirt naps..?