Friday, April 17, 2009
Trip Planning Update
I'm a little overdue in posting, but James and I have reworked the trip itinerary a bit. We made some accommodations for things like tire changes and fun detours. Instead of Fairbanks being the first Alaska stop, we'll be stopping first in Anchorage which will make for a better staging area for the change from road tires to dirt tires. Not only will it be time for some new rubber by then, but somehow I'm sure the switch to knobbies is a good decision, since 450 of the 500 mile journey north to Prudhoe Bay is dirt road in various levels of disrepair.
We've purchased a personal satellite tracker. http://www.findmespot.com/en/ So the cool thing about this is not only do we have a way of contacting people in case of emergency while we are out of cell range but we have our own web site that tracks our travels and any messages. As you can see (check it out), we are "ok" and currently, at this very moment, in Forestdale, MA. Specifically (you can see this by clicking our location dot on the map) we are located at 41.6822° N -70.5264° W. I'll try to tie the website and our blog together so we can keep everyone updated.
The motorbabies are undergoing their "farkling."
Farkle (n. or v.) \Far"kle\
The word Farkle belongs to the vernacular of the North American motorcyclist, and refers to accessories or the act of accessorizing a motorcycle. The word may be a combination of "function" and "sparkle."
Can also mean:
James's bike:
Pelican case side panniers (luggage)
Adventure Spec crash bars, skid plate and seat luggage plate
Garmin 60 csx GPS
Marsee tank bag
Shana's bike:
Adventure Spec crash bars, skid plate and seat luggage plate
Marsee tank bag
More to come on that stuff. In addition to farkle for the bike the trip purchase list includes stuff like a video camera, travel laptop, some additions to the camp gear and, importantly, a supply of stink-resistant, wicking travel underwear. Well, there's a ton of stuff we need actually. And there's plenty of work to be done to get ready - and departure is really not that far away folks!
One of the big parts of the planning process was figuring out what we were going to do with our three dogs. I was actually stressing about it. We are so grateful that our friends Evan and Sheila will actually be coming to stay at our house for the whole time and take care of the dogs for us. It's such a relief!
The new trip route will follow this post.
Till next time....
We've purchased a personal satellite tracker. http://www.findmespot.com/en/ So the cool thing about this is not only do we have a way of contacting people in case of emergency while we are out of cell range but we have our own web site that tracks our travels and any messages. As you can see (check it out), we are "ok" and currently, at this very moment, in Forestdale, MA. Specifically (you can see this by clicking our location dot on the map) we are located at 41.6822° N -70.5264° W. I'll try to tie the website and our blog together so we can keep everyone updated.
The motorbabies are undergoing their "farkling."
Farkle (n. or v.) \Far"kle\
The word Farkle belongs to the vernacular of the North American motorcyclist, and refers to accessories or the act of accessorizing a motorcycle. The word may be a combination of "function" and "sparkle."
Can also mean:
- F.ancy
- A.ccessory
- R.eally
- K.ool &
- L.ikely
- E.xpensive
James's bike:
Pelican case side panniers (luggage)
Adventure Spec crash bars, skid plate and seat luggage plate
Garmin 60 csx GPS
Marsee tank bag
Shana's bike:
Adventure Spec crash bars, skid plate and seat luggage plate
Marsee tank bag
More to come on that stuff. In addition to farkle for the bike the trip purchase list includes stuff like a video camera, travel laptop, some additions to the camp gear and, importantly, a supply of stink-resistant, wicking travel underwear. Well, there's a ton of stuff we need actually. And there's plenty of work to be done to get ready - and departure is really not that far away folks!
One of the big parts of the planning process was figuring out what we were going to do with our three dogs. I was actually stressing about it. We are so grateful that our friends Evan and Sheila will actually be coming to stay at our house for the whole time and take care of the dogs for us. It's such a relief!
The new trip route will follow this post.
Till next time....
Monday, January 26, 2009
Stating the obvious
Carpe Iter Itineris
So obviously "carpe" means "seize" in Latin. I'm sure you'll surmise that "iter itineris" means, "the journey." I know, it's probably a bit expected, but I couldn't think of anything more fitting. Plus, it sounds kind of cool and intellectual, although I promise I'm neither of those things.
But I'll make a deal with you. If the journey itself inspires a better, more suitable name I'll change it to do it more justice.
So obviously "carpe" means "seize" in Latin. I'm sure you'll surmise that "iter itineris" means, "the journey." I know, it's probably a bit expected, but I couldn't think of anything more fitting. Plus, it sounds kind of cool and intellectual, although I promise I'm neither of those things.
But I'll make a deal with you. If the journey itself inspires a better, more suitable name I'll change it to do it more justice.
The begining of the blog
This blog will follow our journey on motorcycle from Cape Cod across the Canadian wilderness, through the Yukon and into Alaska. We'll ride the Hall Road to the Arctic Circle and then turn around and head south into Big Sky Country (Montana). Meandering down the Glacial pass of the Sun Road we'll make a quick stop at a family reunion (not ours) and ride back to Cape Cod through the Dakotas and past the Great Lakes. All told we should rack up about 11,000 miles.
As I sit down to write the first entry in this blog I wonder if it will live up to all that I expect. I expect this trip, 11,000 miles across the northern most parts of North America, to be something epic. Epic for us that is. I know this isn't something new - people ride motorcycles into the remotest parts of the world. But for me (us) this is what I hope will be the first of many experiences of a lifetime.
So this blog is an attempt to capture the journey to some degree of depth. I'm sure there will be moments where words will not be enough, or where I, quite simply, will not have sufficient command of them to render the journey justice.
At least I hope to share some of us, our trip and the journey it becomes with you. There'll be plenty of asphalt, some dirt, mud and rocks, a little rain, and hopefully plenty of shine - welcome.
As I sit down to write the first entry in this blog I wonder if it will live up to all that I expect. I expect this trip, 11,000 miles across the northern most parts of North America, to be something epic. Epic for us that is. I know this isn't something new - people ride motorcycles into the remotest parts of the world. But for me (us) this is what I hope will be the first of many experiences of a lifetime.
So this blog is an attempt to capture the journey to some degree of depth. I'm sure there will be moments where words will not be enough, or where I, quite simply, will not have sufficient command of them to render the journey justice.
At least I hope to share some of us, our trip and the journey it becomes with you. There'll be plenty of asphalt, some dirt, mud and rocks, a little rain, and hopefully plenty of shine - welcome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)