Understand this. I had absolutely ZERO inclination to do a trip of such magnitude entirely alone! Not only was this trip not some type of “finding myself life event” (as I lost myself far too long ago to resurrect any such finding of the soul), but I’m far too much of a wuss to envisage riding around in the middle of nowhere up in the frozen North with some potentially hungry, man-eating teddy bears running around waiting for my untried “E-bay special” used dual-purpose bike to break-down right next to them like some kind of quivering free dinner, without at least having someone along to offer up as an alternative appetizer, in place of my own stinky hide!
Besides, much as I enjoy my solitude, I wanted to share the experience with someone of similar mind set, and more honestly, to have someone else to help diagnose and fix any truly mind-stumping mechanical maladies I may incur.
With this in mind, I posted my thoughts about doing this trip by motorcycle on one of the 5 or 6 Internet Message Boards that I frequent, in this case Maximum-Suzuki.com to gauge any interest from the members who may wish to join me on this trip.
I immediately received interested replies from a number of friends, but one, in particular, seemed very interested, and knowing Mike W. from multiple rides together in the semi-annual gathering of the Maximum Suzuki clan that we do in the North Carolina mountains every Spring and every Fall, I knew that if Mike said he was going to do the trip….he would actually do it!
Just so you have an idea of the face behind my “Old Baldy” message board moniker, here is a pic of “yours truly”, looking suitably dirty and unshaven to fit in with this trip!
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| Taken Date: | 2008:07:04 18:14:52 | Location: | unknown (no GPS data) |
and a pic of the much better looking, but just as grubby Mike W, who not only intended to ride with us from our home in Michigan to Inuvik and back, but also had to ride from his place in South Carolina to Michigan to meet up with us, and return there afterwards!
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| Taken Date: | 2008:07:04 18:15:05 | Location: | unknown (no GPS data) |
It was more recently that I posed the question to my son, Jaryd, who would be 18 years of age at the time of the trip, whether he would like to join me on this long ride. He readily agreed, but I admit to thinking this was likely just a “cool” idea and when it came down to it, he would not wish to follow through and join us. I’m glad to say he proved me (and a few friends) totally wrong, and Jaryd was very much looking forward to the trip with Mike and I.
And so a pic of the final rider, my son Jaryd…with his old man! (can you see how proud of him I am?)
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| Taken Date: | 2008:06:22 21:20:51 | Location: | 46° 29' 35" N, 84° 19' 20.3" W, 178 m.a.s.l. |
BTW, Jaryd’s sister, Lauren, decided that she need to give Jaryd a cool haircut for the trip, seeing that we’d be away for 3 weeks, and so this was the result….
Next, was to work out the actual route! See the section “The Route” for more details