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So, here we go! This is one of my bucket list adventures. This trip has been a long time in the making and with the encouragement of my wife Tammy I am doing this! I am feeling anxious, nervous, but mostly excited about hitting the road. I have ridden off and on for a number of years but I have never done a long trip like this before. Hell, I doubt I have ever done more then 100 - 200 miles at any one time. I have been talking about doing a cross-country ride since before I got married and finally now the opportunity is here and I am all in.
The idea is to take off from Ketchikan, AK by way of ferry to Bellingham, WA. Once there I will ride my 2006 Honda VTX 1300C to Corpus Christi, TX. This ride will take me through the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. I will spend maybe a couple weeks there and ride back. Once back to Seattle, WA, I will ship my bike back to Ketchikan via Alaska Marine Lines barge and fly home via Alaska Airlines.
I have been working on having the right gear put together for the trip. I have bought some stuff and scrounged other stuff from wherever I found it to equip myself with everything I think I will need. I have my tent, sleeping bag, bedroll, luggage, and assorted other things mounted on the bike where I could. I figure that once the trip is over, I can do a wrap up and determine what I planned for correctly and what I might do better next time. In preparing for this, I did a test run up and down our limited amount of road and everything stayed on really well, except for one of my side covers. I had removed it to install a battery charging cable and I guess I didn't get it back on right because it is nowhere to be found on the road. I guess this trip will have to go on without it and I can replace it when I get back.
The only bad thing about today is the waiting. My ferry does not leave till the afternoon. I have to be at the ferry terminal an hour and a half early for check in but that still leaves all morning and part of the afternoon to wait. I will go to work for that time so I don't waste vacation time sitting on my hands waiting on the ferry and then just shoot over to the terminal when it is time.
At the terminal and waiting for this adventure to start! Now, it's just waiting, waiting, and more waiting. As I wait, I check out the other ferries coming and going, a ferry going north comes in and the inter-island ferry to Metlakatla comes in. While checking out who else is in line to board, I notice a couple of BMW bikes ahead of mine. The two guys riding those keep to themselves and don't act very friendly. As I walk by, I notice them speaking a different language. I think they speak Portuguese like Brazil Portuguese. I only assume that from what i hear of the language on TV and recognizing a few words but I really don't know what they mean but at least I recognize them.
Finally! I am on board and secured the bike, with tie downs, to a forklift. I had to haul my sleeping pad and bag upstairs to the guest decks for the two nights I will spend on board but I am not taking my tent. You can set up a tent on the rear deck but I already know, from experience, that it will be crowded for a tent and I just don't want to deal with that. I get fairly situated and the ferry pulls away from the dock. Let the adventure begin!
As a side note, Metlakatla is on a separate island very near to our island and is the only Indian reservation in Alaska. My wife, my first born, and I lived there for a short while about 20+ years ago.
My starting mileage reading is 18936.
Details of each picture to follows:
Pic 1 - My Steed : This is my 2006 Honda VTX 1300C loaded and ready to hit the road. I managed to tie everything on securely and even did a test ride here to make sure nothing comes loose. I have my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, suitcase, and assorted other things on board. Now, off to work for a few hours, till the ferry leaves and I can start the first leg of this adventure.
Pic 2 - Starting Mileage: One quick look at the odometer. The starting miles reading is 18936. I will try to post my miles traveled at the end of each day that I actually travel.
Pic 3 - The Ferry Terminal: So, the ferry terminal here is not very big. It is just a small building with lots of lines for the cars, and a ferry dock. Lots of sea traffic through here on multiple ferries going north and south with the Alaska Marine Highway. I had to show up an hour and a half early just to sign in and wait. Look closely and you'll notice 2 motorcycles in front of mine. Not friendly guys but best I could tell was they were speaking a language that sounded Portuguese (from Brazil). Had to come back and add this because, they play into my trip much later on.
Pic 4 - The Ferry Stikine: This ferry is docked at the ferry dock next door, which is for the Inter-island Ferry Authority. Mostly, these ferries go to Metlakatla, AK and Prince of Wales, AK. They are being loaded now for a run to Prince of Wales, but unfortunately, this is not my time for boarding.
Pic 5 - The Ferry Lituya: Still waiting on my ferry. This is the ferry Lituya. It's loading up and getting ready to head over to Metlakatla. Side note: Metlakatla is the only Indian Reservation in Alaska. Unfortunately, still not my boarding time!
Pic 6 - The Ferry Columbia! : Woo Hoo! The ferry is an hour and a half late but better late than never. The ferry is just arriving at the dock as I anxiously wait.
Pic 7 - My Ferry Awaits! : The ferry is loading as I type. Need to get it in gear and get on board and secure my bike.
Pic 8 - Ready to Sail: So, got on board, tied down my bike, unloaded what I need for two days sailing time, locked up my concealed handgun in the safe, per their requirements, and just waiting to leave port!
Pic 9 - Dinner: I had myself a Bacon Cheeseburger for dinner. Pricey to eat on board the ferry but at least these guys know how to lay the bacon on a cheeseburger!
Pic 10 - Open Water: Open Water but not like the movie! This shot is from the stern looking back toward home as we leave the edge of our island and head into open water. The trip will be along the "inside passage" and will be close to land most if not all the way.
Pic 11 - Adios Ketchikan! : We are finally clear of our island, Revillagigedo Island, and we are picking up speed. This is a huge ferry but pretty nimble once they crank up the engines. We just passed Pennock Island on the right, which obscures Ketchikan. The island on the left is Gravina where our airport is located.
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