A trip to Alaska with fellow long time riding buddies, aka Phat Barstewards, is a Bucket List trip. Well, at least for most of us. Steve’s bucket apparently has a hole in it because this is a return trip for him. I’ve known Steve the longest and have ridden with him the least. Back in the earlier days of the Internet all of us met on a list server dedicated to V4 Hondas known as SabMag. Steve and I have ridden up and down the East Coast between Maine and Georgia
I met Harvey [in person] when I broke down on a trip between RI and GA via the Blue Ridge Parkway. My electrical system released its smoke and left me on the side of the road. From the a few posts on the SabMag list and arrangements were made for spare parts and alternate transportation down to Suches, GA. Harvey was trailering down from Norfolk and stated Asheville was “on the way”. I later learned that “on the way” is Harvey’s Mantra. In his mind Sacramento is on the way between Boston and Philadelphia. I may have met Chris and/or Dan on that same trip, but that was a weekend of meeting many people previously known only by their writings.
I met Chris and Dan either that year or the years after and all of us have frequented the same roads and campfires. Onward to Alaska. We’ve been planning this trip for almost two years and it’s less than 100 days to departure. We’ve acquired and [mostly] upfitted our bikes for our journey to the 49th state. I’ll be riding a 2011 BMW R1200 GS Adventure. Dan has been faithful to the Japanese and will be riding a Suzuki VStrom 650. Chris and Steve will be on BMW GS’s and Harvey will round out the group with a Super Tenere 1200.
Next up for me is finalizing what to bring and then doing a few different test fits on packing the bike. Harvey, Chris, Dan and I are heading to VA to play around on the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route next month. This will help in fine tuning.
Phat Barstewards 