My ride ATLtotheArctic.com

[zolo]

"I'm riding a motorcycle from Atlanta, GA to the Arctic Circle, AK, because it's hard and long and something I will do alone in honor of my sister, Kris, who has breast cancer. I'm hoping this site gives her something to read during chemo, because that's hard and it takes a long time, and it's something she has to do alone. "

"I love you, Kris."
The opening paragraph from my website.

So this ride is a charity ride in honor of my sister who is battling breast cancer as I write this. Its in benefit of the Susan G. Komen foundation. A grand cancer charity that gives out nearly all that they take in to try and end breast cancer for good.

Atlanta GA, to the Arctic circle and Beyond. Deadhorse, AK. to be exact.
Thats my goal. To ride there and back with awareness and hope heavy on my heart.

Please check out my site, my route and my plans. I will be updating the site as I ride alone west then north up the AK. Writing and posting pictures and video. Ive raised nearly $6000.00 so far and I hope to raise more by the time I get home. Having ridden 12,000 miles there and back.

Any advice or help is very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[longjohn]

Zolo
I cant give you any advise, but i can say that you Rock!!!!!!!!!

 

[jatorresrv]

Please check out my site, my route and my plans. I will be updating the site as I ride alone west then north up the AK. Writing and posting pictures and video. Ive raised nearly $6000.00 so far and I hope to raise more by the time I get home. Having ridden 12,000 miles there and back.

Any advice or help is very much appreciated. Thank you.

You forgot the link to your site. Here it is,
http://www.atltothearctic.com/

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[zolo]

Thanks you guys. I did indeed forget the link - good loooking out. So, updates -- I leave in 22 days!
The GS is ready and my gear is almost all assembled. The press is going well and we have been getting the word out. Many local newspapers and TV stations have picked up the story, so hopefully we can get some great funds raised for Komen. I truly hope that my family's story will inspire others, raise awareness, and maybe even save a life by advocating early detection... My sister is only 42! The statistics are mind numbing... we all just have to be proactive and support the cause.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my effort.

 

[DangT-100]

Zolo-good luck to your sis and you! Still doin fire work? I'm with TN. Division of Forestry. Make it out west evry once in a while. Have fun.
Dan

 

[Grim Reaper]

You are doing it the easy way!
This guy did it Miami to Denali and down to Guatemala......on Bicycle! :bike_rider:
http://www.powercycle.net/
His dad lives off Riverside Drive.
So did these guys!
http://keytoanchorage.com/
Glenn lives in Duluth.

In all seriousness. Good luck on the ride. A good cause for sure. Best wishes to your sister on her battle.

Keep us posted frequently!

 

[Alltwistedup]

good luck

Here is the link for my ride last year it has a ton of info when it comes to what I took and who helped me. I had in mind doing a little more then Deadhorse when I left and went nuts on the way back. Best advise I can give you is when the going gets tough (it will) and you want to quit and go home, take a day off and chill out and remember your reason for going. Take a day off in Edmonton and Fairbanks and go thru your whole bike as one you leave their its an expense tow bill back. I made Deadhorse on Aug 11 and I cough the first storm of the year on the way up crossed the pass and rode into to hell (+35, rain, snow, mud and wind) and did not get back out till the next day when I rode back over it. The trip was worth everything it cost me even the quadruple hernia surgery two months ago.


http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11081144
updated slideshow its worth your time to look at what your going into.
http://rapidshare.com/files/404350838/80_days_20042_miles.exe.html

good luck

 

[zolo]

Zolo-good luck to your sis and you! Still doin fire work? I'm with TN. Division of Forestry. Make it out west evry once in a while. Have fun.
Dan

I fought last year down in AZ... Prescott N.F.

I stayed home this summer. With my sis battling cancer. I wasnt going out west all summer chasing smoke.
Between a steady GF, my Family needed all the support they can get I made the decision to stay home. It was tough though. I still check the Situation report and see whats burning.

Thanks for the ups.. it means a lot...

Daniel

 

[zolo]

You are doing it the easy way!
This guy did it Miami to Denali and down to Guatemala......on Bicycle! :bike_rider:
http://www.powercycle.net/
His dad lives off Riverside Drive.
So did these guys!
http://keytoanchorage.com/
Glenn lives in Duluth.

In all seriousness. Good luck on the ride. A good cause for sure. Best wishes to your sister on her battle.

Keep us posted frequently!

Thank you, I will keep up with the Portal for sure. I havent posted as much lately Trying to get ready. T minus 4 days till I leave.

 

[kai38]

WOW Thanks for the slide show.
My trip is still ten months away but seeing those pictures makes me want to leave in the morning.
Thanks

 

[zolo]

Here is the link for my ride last year it has a ton of info when it comes to what I took and who helped me. I had in mind doing a little more then Deadhorse when I left and went nuts on the way back. Best advise I can give you is when the going gets tough (it will) and you want to quit and go home, take a day off and chill out and remember your reason for going. Take a day off in Edmonton and Fairbanks and go thru your whole bike as one you leave their its an expense tow bill back. I made Deadhorse on Aug 11 and I cough the first storm of the year on the way up crossed the pass and rode into to hell (+35, rain, snow, mud and wind) and did not get back out till the next day when I rode back over it. The trip was worth everything it cost me even the quadruple hernia surgery two months ago.


http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11081144
updated slideshow its worth your time to look at what your going into.
http://rapidshare.com/files/404350838/80_days_20042_miles.exe.html

good luck

Wow. Thanks for the post and the advice. Ive been going through my gear like crazy. Making sure I have all I will need but not take to much at the same time.
Spare fuel has been heavy on my mind I have a means to carry some but not as much as you did. Im thinking I should re-visit that part.
Your photos are great. Very inspiring on my final week of the "city" roll. :victory:

I want to spend my last few days with my sister before I set out.
Im Trying to raise a bit of awareness and funds for Breast Cancer research and the Susan G. Komen foundation. I have many reasons to tough it out, you are right and your advice to take time and remember those reasons is very sound. I will keep that in mind.

Thanks again

 

[zolo]

last minute details

I needed a place to carry my tools and spare Final Drive oil Etc. So I decided to design, and sew my own. I started with some pre built saddle pouches and rebuilt them to fit on the bike where I wanted. I cut them apart to add straps that are adjustable. I had some straps sewed on with a center buckle.
Now I can place them over the tank and attach them to the tank guards down low.
With them being connected I can load each pouch and have even weight to help keep them located.

 

[Alltwistedup]

food for thought

sorry for my bad grammar.

I was a little fuel heavy but if you notice my speed in a few pics I have a throttle control issue and can burn fuel fast being so loaded. The biggest reason was the run to Inuvik, nwt. The stretch from the corner gas station to Eagle plains I wondered if 2.5 gallons was going to be enough. Most GS guys make the Coldfoot to Deadhorse Alaska run with just a small spare bottle. Think about caring 1 or 2 2L coke bottles for the couple of days you need it then trash them when done. Stop in Dawson Creek and get the hand out that tells were gas, food, lodging is and plan off that for stops. Your going to go thru places that close up a 5-7pm so plan ahead. For a gas cost figure about $4 a gallon when you get to Canada and on the Alaskan Hwy at Muncho Lake there is only 2 places and they were $8 a gallon with nothing around for 280K $$$$$$$$$.

Leave your plans open unless you have a tight schedule I figured 10 to Inuvik from home too 21 days after a break down and some slow ride days. You just never know whats going to happen. The slow ride days and ditching my plans were my best move took all the pressure off.

Talk to other riders when ever you can so you know whats coming at you in terms of road construction don’t be the last vechical in line. I got stuck between a Mack truck and a travel trailer for a 30 mile section could not see the truck grill behind me but I could here it and barely made out the trailer lights 10' in front of me due to all the dust their was no way the truck driver could see me. After that run I made sure I was first in line or in the top 3 even if I had to wait. You will learn to both love and hate the road graders.

Rain gear was what made Alaska go from miserable to OK. For 7 days I woke up in the rain, rode in the rain, set the tent back up in the rain and slept in the rain. I had to replace my jacket in Anchorage as it ripped apart and the pants barely made it back. I had bought my tent just for this trip knowing that it was going to see tons of water. I even had a guy one night at a gas station off to put me up in his garage so that I was out of the rain, I declined and went to the beach better sunset.

Tires 3 places to buy Edmonton, Prince George or Alaska. Whitehorse Harley dealer charged $350-400 a tire mounted and you get what they have. There is a BMW guy in Fairbanks that works out of his garage and he is good from what I was told.

I mounted a camera in almost the same place lasted 3 days till the bugs took it out. Then it became a map weight.

Cost savings
Free maps at visitor centers in us and Canada I only paid for 5 maps my whole trip major cost savings. I also camped with other riders when I could, mostly I would talk to the get a good feel for them and then ask if they wanted to spit the cost of a site. If its all cool its a cost savings for both and Its nice to have someone else to talk to every once in a while. Cell phone is about worthless get a calling card for $10 and use it up.

Hey I need you do do me a favor and stop at Liard hot springs get their by 2-3pm it fills up. relax for a while in the pools, go across the hwy get a burger and fries (their good). Then go back and relax in hot springs some more have a great nights sleep, wake up, go back to hot springs relax some more. then go ride again your body will thank me.

Any questions feel free to ask. Knowledge is free it helps everyone in the end. I know and have known several women who have fought cancer, I don’t wish it on any one.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I just got back from a tour in AK which included a nice little bus ride down the Dalton Highway from Deadhorse/Prudhoe. My $0.02 is as follows:

1. I think you can camp out at Coldfoot (I saw several other vehicles and motorcyclists camping there.) IIRC campsites were $20 or so per night. Food at Coldfoot is pretty good, actually. Expensive, though: Your only options (unless you want to buy and cook your own) are the buffet which runs $20 for dinner and $16 for breakfast. All you can eat, though. Lodging at Coldfoot is primitive (think of a dorm or military barracks) and expensive at $199/night for a room for 2 people.

2. No gas past Coldfoot until you get to Prudhoe/Deadhorse. I figure you must know that already since you've probably done your research but it's worth mentioning again: NO gas (or anything else) for 250 miles. US 50 (the so-called "loneliest road in America") is Times Square compared to the Dalton.

3. We saw a lot of motorcyclists. Every rider we saw North of Coldfoot was on a BMW of some kind (we saw mostly GS bikes but also a couple of F800's and at least one F650 thumper.) You won't be the only rider there, by a long shot.

4. There are several nice pullouts along the highway where I think you can camp out.

5. We stayed at the Arctic Caribou inn, I don't know if any other "hotels" up there are open to the general public, AFAIK most of them are for the oil field workers. Food was just as expensive as in Coldfoot and not nearly as good. Didn't even ask how much gas was, my guess is it was at least $5.50/gallon. I don't think you can camp at Prudhoe but you can probably camp outside of the oilfield complex. When we were there (July 5th and 6th) it was about 38 degrees, misty, windy, and completely overcast with intermittent showers.

6. The Dalton coming out of Prudhoe is slick when wet. And it's almost always wet.

Have fun and take lots of photos! When I saw the motorcycles and pointed them out to my wife she said "you really want to ride up here, don't you?" I told her that I did and she assured me that if I did, I'd be riding alone.

 

[rjcj-8]

You made the local paper in Rome GA
http://www.rn-t.com/view/full_story...se-breast-cancer-awareness?instance=home_news