Day 9: Palmer, just Palmer

August 8/2010: We stayed overnight at Cissy and Bob's where Hailey crossed off something on her bucket list.

Yeah, we unloaded some lead.

Cissy was an excellent teacher!

That's one dead box! By the way, Cissy said we were naturals. I guess we can quit our day jobs now eh?

After our shooting spree, the four of us rode down to Turnagain Arm en route to Girdwood (on the Kenai Peninsula). Holy shit! Hella crosswinds! Seriously, it was blowing 30 kms--in gusts of course--and made a beautiful ride...um...invigorating. Hailey says it was like a spa treatment with all that rain and wind.Then Cissy and Bob treated us to dinner at a cool Cajun restaurant in Girdwood. Yummy!

Day 8 : Mile 134.4 Highway 3 to Palmer

August 7/2010: We left the Mary Carey Mt. McKinley Lodge and headed south to Wasilla. But a lot of things can happen between here and there, and they did.

  At the Trapper Creek Trading Post gas station Bitchy Linda had a small mishap. Sigh. Which resulted in some free yellow paint for Maria (and her unfortunate incontinence-inducing rain suit) when she fell off the bike and onto the curb, as well as leaving Bitchy Linda's clutch handle a little worse for wear.

The stop and flop, and a mysterious sound from Hailey's chain, lead us to the first bike shop we could find in Wasilla. Which just happened to be the Denali Harley-Davidson Shop (907-FREEDOM; www.denaliharley.com) and Wow! Really, wait to you hear what happened next!

Paul

Heroes to Sparkle and Bitchy Linda: Paul, Mitch, Shawn, Greg

Upon meeting two stressed out Canadian travellers, General Manager Paul Ramage put his arms around us and said, "let's go to the bike hospital." Our bikes received the attention they required....

This doesn't really need a caption but a certain person who is planning our homecoming/birthday party should keep this particular meal in mind as it is the birthday girl's favourite grub. Just sayin'

 After making the bikes feel better, Paul and his employees invited us to stay for the 5th anniversary of the local Harley Chapter 1836. 

Where we had party games, great conversation and Maria won the door prize--literally. Each year the chapter gets someone to sign their door. Boy was Maria ever surprised when she found out she had the winning ticket!

 They tried to convince Hailey to buy a Harley. (Note that she is already wearing Harley colours--orange and black!)

We met Bob and Cissy at the party who invited us to stay with them at their home in Palmer (just outside of Wasilla).

Precious their pit bull is the friendliest dog we've ever met. We received some kitty loving too from Tigger and....okay, we can't remember the other cat's name. Sorry puss.

Day 7: Fairbanks to mile 134.4 on Highway 3

August 6/2010: To date we've travelled just over 4,000 kms. The bikes needed an oil change so we turned to the men at Thunder Road in Fairbanks for help. (907-479-7433).

Randy working on the VStrom (aka "Bitchy Linda")

Randy and Jerry

Maria, Hailey, Jerry

 Not only did they provide us with fantastic service, Randy loaned us his car so we could go for breakfast! Never have we felt so well taken care of. Thanks guys!

The Thunder Road boys suggested that we visit "The Bakery" for breakfast. Hailey ate reindeer sausage--which tastes like pepperoni. We had a laugh at the local ads printed on the tables. The menu provided some giggles too. Mashed potatoes and gravy as an appetizer! That's messed up!

Sounds like a one night stand to me.

After leaving Fairbanks, we encountered lots of rain and mud. In fact, ever since we left Tok it has been raining. And cold! Have I whined about the cold already? No? Well, let's just say I have been having electric vest fantasies--and coveting Hailey's electric jacket--for about 1200 kms now. Good thing she is so much smaller than me or I'd arm wrestle her for it. Anyway, I digress. Today's ride was muddy.

We rode through the Denali National Park which was so beautiful. But rainy.

After about 300 kms of rain and mud we stopped at the Mary Carey McKinley View Lodge at mile 134.4 on Highway 3. Or, as we like to call it "The Shrine to Pine."

 

The shrine is famous for its view of Mt. McKinley, the biggest mountain in North America. See it? No, we didn't either.

Hailey and Haley (no "I"--it's faster that way).

 The highlight of our night at the shrine was Haley, shrine employee and a recent transplant from the lower 48.

Hailey also enjoyed the Snow Goose beer, brewed in Anchorage. And while she drank, I called up Sarah Palin to invite her to go riding with us in Wasilla the next day. Unfortunately, no one answered the phone. I tried not to take it personally.

Oh yeah, we saw two things on day 7 that don't really fit into the story here, but they were cool nonetheless.This red truck is covered in packing tape. Seems the owner couldn't find a bra for the truck and decided this was the best way to protect it from rocks. Hmmm...

This is a tool kit made from ABS pipe. Hint to Clint: I think Bitchy Linda needs one of these.