Day 1 video -- Corey Langridge and Gary Hoop were the first two riders to join me.  Ten more will join us en route.  We took US 1 and US 82 west to Montgomery, Alabama because scenic secondary routes are more interesting than interstates.  Temperature ranged from 78 to 92 degrees with just 3 minutes of rain.  402 miles covered in day 1 -- July 17, 2010.

Day 2 video -- July 18, 2010 -- Right after yesterday's update was online, we walked across the street to Lone Star Steakhouse.  A frog strangler ensued with vicious lighting, terrifying thunder and it continued for two hours.  An employee drove us to our room!  Talk about service!   This reinforces my belief that it is vitally important to get an EARLY start to each day so to arrive at the destination before the afternoon thunder storm boils up.   We left Montgomery at 6 a.m. after a quick breakfast at Waffle House.  Since it was foggy, I decided to take the interstate paralleling US 82.  In about an hour, the fog lifted so I bravely took our group west across farm roads ... beautiful two-lane twistys going past grazing cows, startled rabbits, and a variety of dwellings ranging from rickety trailers to stately mansions.  Notice on the video of a "main street" of a small town, typical of many we went through.  It was a Sunday so everything was closed but look at that inviting cafe!  Maybe next year ....
    We took US 43 north from Tuscaloosa, AL to US 78 west thru Tupelo, MS where Corey hit a home run by finding a delicious Mexican restaurant for lunch (now, if you were on an interstate, good luck with finding good places).  We finally arrived in Memphis and crossed the Mississippi River into West Memphis, AR.  If you've followed me in past years, you may wonder why we are doing shorter days.  In the heat and humidity, trying to do 600-700 miles per day will drain all reserve energy out of you and you will be wiped out for the next three weeks.  Believe me, after all these years, I've learned my lesson.
     We expect Gary Dennis, John Dixie, George Upton and Gary Chumper to join us tonight or meet us at Waffle House next door before 6 a.m.
     Here's an article from the St. Augustine Record.

Day 3 video -- July 19, 2010 -- Several more bikers joined us at Waffle House.  We hit the road enjoying cool and dry air in the low 70s.  Keeping to the plan, we took secondary routes (highways 63 and 13) all the way to Kansas City, MO.   One highlight of the trip was a very uncoordinated driver swerving all over the highway.  What to do?  If we managed to pass her, she may run into us at the first stoplight.   Bottom line ... we called 9-1-1 and left her as far behind as possible.
     In the Ozarks, signs advised drivers to share the road with Amish horse and buggy drivers.  We did see one on the highway.
      In the video you will meet all our new riders (except George Upton -- I'll get him tomorrow).  At the end of the video, you will delight in seeing Eric and Shirley helping each other keep cool the fun way!  Temperatures climbed up to 97 degrees but it wasn't humid.
      One lesson I am learning ... next year, I am going to use mapquest very carefully and find evening meeting places within two or three block walk from our primary hotel.  We scrapped the plan to drive two miles to an Indian restaurant and walked to a closeby Outback where we had a great time talking about our jobs and the trip.  It was nice having Corey interpret the conversation at the table.
     Tomorrow morning it is off to South Dakota and the J & L Harley dealership is having cool treats for us and we are having a dinner ride with the HOG group (Harley Owners Group).  Mary and Coleen will join us there and our group will be complete when Terry Karr from Californa joins us in Canada.
     While you are thinking about, pretty please make a tax deductible donatiuon to SKIHI??  Just click this and you will be taken to a secure credit card site where you can choose a biker of your liking and make a donation starting at 1/10 cent per mile (total $10).  The folks at SKIHI will thank you!

Day 4 video -- Our enthusiastic group left Kansas City MO at 6 a.m.   John Dickie went his way West to go through Colorado and he will rejoin us Friday.  As of 9 p.m. he is in Denver, CO and will rejoin us in Bozeman, Montana.
      We kept a wary eye on the lighting up North but thanks to Gary's superb navigation skills, we dodged most of the ominous clouds.   Our group "chicked out" and pulled off to put on rain gear which we shed about an hour later.  The ride was on I-29 which was about 30% under construction. 
      On the video, you will meet George Upton, Mary Lahn and Coleen Weber.  These two ladies arranged a nice meet and greet at J & L Harley Davidson which made a nice donation to SKIHI.   The temperature all day was a most pleasant 73 to 82 degrees.  We enjoyed idyllic farm scenery for hours and hours.  On the video clip is a rather longish dash camera video of the dinner ride to Tea Steak House.
     Our route tomorrow should be spectacular ... Corey and I will take South Dakota highway 44 which parallels I-90 about 20 miles south of it to Rapid City, SD -- it goes through Badlands National Park which is designated by AAA as a scenic route.  The Harley people advised against it -- saying very few gas stations, etc. but, after all, we are on Hondas!  Wooo hoooo!
Michael Harris made it to the Arctic Circle taking the highway North of Dawson City ... about 17 hours on dirt and gravel.   He is riding on a 500 cc scooter with two front wheels.   We sure hope to meet him soon!

Day 5 video -- Wednesday, July 21, 2010 -- We met at J & L Harley Davidson at 7 a.m. for coffee and  headed down highway 19 to take 44 all the way to Rapid Falls.  Mary Lahn and Coleen Weber were planning to leave there at 9 a.m. and meet us here in Rapid Falls.  Temperature ranged from 67 to 83 degrees ... overcast ... perfecf motorcycling weather!
     Our route on 44 gave us spectacular views of the Missouri River and of the Badlands.  We ate at a crossroad town diner and enjoyed immensely the food there.  On the video, you will see a close encounter with an immense combine!  A replay of that encounter is courtesy of Vosonic windshield camera.
     George Upton plans to meet us in Bozeman and we expect Terry Karr from California to join us in Montana.
     Tomorrow morning it is off to Montana!  Our group keep saying "North to Alaska with enthusiasm" and some of them are learning how to sign that!

Day 6 video -- Thursday, July 22, 2010 -- With an invigorating 59 degrees enthusing us, Mary and Coleen joined us at 7 a.m.  George Upton had a change of plans and will meet us tonight here in Bozeman, Montana, as well as John Dickie.  
       We took off on Interstate 90 West for about 20 miles then took US 85 to hook up on US 212 on an absolutely spectacular ride with temperatures mostly in the 70s!  On the video, you will see Custer National Forest scenery.    Please notice the vegetation changes ... in valleys, we have certain trees (along rivers and creeks) and on the plains, shubbery, and in higher elevations, evergreens.  
        Our group arrived in Bozeman, MT at 4 p.m. Mountain Time and will walk to "Over the Tapas" restaurant on picturesque Main Street downtown Bozeman.   It is an  intensively pedestrian friendly city with lots of tourists.
       Tomorrow morning it is off to Glacier National Park ... from this point on, internet access may be a problem and there may be delayed updates.
       By now, you surely must have a favorite biker after watching all of these videos.  Won't you kindly sponsor one of them for as little as one-tenth of a cent per mile ($10 total pledge) or more?  Simply go to SKIHI.org if you want to pay by cash or check or go to DrSign's for credit card convenience.  I'm taking care of the transaction fee for SKIHI.  C'mon!  Make a biker happy and help SKIHI with their work with deaf children and their families and get a tax deductible receipt from SKIHI!
     NORTH TO ALASKA WITH ENTHUSIASM!

Day 7 video (I edited out the motorcycle sounds and put in soothing music) -- We left Royal 7 Motel  (ask for room 10 -- highly recommended) in Bozeman, Montana at 7 a.m. with 62 degrees invigorating us.  After a brief stint on I-90, we took US 287 all the way to Glacier National Park and took the Sun Highway (the video will show you some of this --- it took over two hours to drive 50 miles) through the park.  Temperatures varied from 59 to 68 degrees, with some overcast due to mountain clouds. 
       Our group split up into several directions, with Coleen and Mary staying at East Glacier, while most of us went to West Glacier ... on the video you will see Bad Rock Bed and Breakfast .. one of the 12 best inns in the country, according to some publications.  The host loaned us his car and George Upton drove to a local BBQ and brought back some finger licking good vittles.  We are looking forward to MamaYeh's Bed and Breakfast and RV campground in Prince George, British Columbia the day after tomorrow!  Mr. Edward Yeh is cooking us a welcoming BBQ!
     I'm leaving all my travel mates dreaming happily of a gastronomicalepicureandelight breakfast at 5:30 a.m. Saturday and am taking US 2 East under Glacier National Park and heading for Calgary to meet my energetic 91-year-old Mom and my lovely wife, Maureen at the airport where they will follow us to Alaska!  Isn't life great!?!!
     If you don't "do" bikes, you should plan around this time in 2011 to fly into Alberta and rent a car and follow us to Alaska!  Already, three people from Dauer Hall at UF are planning on this!    I am sure the Yehs will be glad to welcome you to glorious and beautiful Canada when we stop at Prince George, British Columbia! 
     When you plan on 2011, I strongly recommend you fly into Calgary the day before ... rent a car ... drive to Lake Louise (which is about 2 hours and 30 minutes) and you can meet us there.  This way, if your flight is delayed, no worries.
     Another highlight is stopping at Smithers, BC at EyeCandy Motorcycle shop ... the folks there are simply awesome!
     For those of you who like data ... my bike now has 172,400 miles and I'm getting about 43 MPG.  Aren't Gold Wings great touring bikes!??  Yes, that's 172,400 miles with no problems.

Day 8 video -- left Bozeman at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at Calgary Airport at 11 a.m.  Unfortunately, my mother and Maureen's flight was canceled.  They had to get a second fliight out of Chicago at 5 p.m. and got into Calgary at about 9 p.m.  I got them into the rental car and they followed me to Lake Louise.  The setting sun painted a spectacular outline of the Rocky Mountains while a rising full moon cast a beautiful glow on the Alberta landscape.   We arrived at the lodge but the doors were locked.  Fortunately, we found a room at Lake Louise Inn..
    As of July 30, Mountaineer Lodge is refusing to refund my money -- over a quarter of a THOUSAND DOLLARS, saying I didn't "try hard enough" to open two obviously and securely locked doors.   We stayed at Lake Louise Inn, where the girl at the desk said the same thing happened last week to another guest.  I had Corey Langridge as a witness that the "in case of emergency" number was taped INSIDE the registration area, not on the entrance doors!  Please choose Lake Louise Inn if you ever stay in this area.

Day 9 video -- July 25, 2010 -- The group left Lake Louise (Terry Karr and her parents joined us and also a couple from Edmonton, Alberta that I had met two years ago in Hyder) at 8 a.m. and had a spectacular ride on Trans Canadian Highway 1.  We ran into our old riding buddy Herb Pitzman!  After hours of gliding through Banff and Jasper, we hit Canadian Highway 16 and cruised into Prince George at 4 p,m. and met the Yehs.  Some of us are camping out on the front yard and some of us are staying in the bed and breakfast.  Edward Yeh cooked up a Western/Chinese style chicken and ribs and sausage and we happily devoured this along with watermelons and grapes.  Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!  Gastronomicalepicureandelightfully great!   Mr. Yeh is donating the money plus added some of his own for $200.00 from the BBQ to SKIHI ... thank you Edward and May Yeh!!!!!!!
     We met a biker couple from Vermont .. Paul and Laurie Beyor.  They donated $20 to SKIHI!
     Tomorrow morning it is off to Alaska!!! 

Day 10 video -- July 26, 2010 -- After a great breakfast served by May and Ed Yeh, we left the bed and breakfast (some of the hardy bikers camped out on the grassy lawn next to the B & B and fortunately, the bears weren't hungry that night).  The group cruised down Canadian 16 to 37 to 37 A and arrived in Stewart approximately 7 p.m.  We met at the Bitter Creek Cafe for a great meal and met outside the hotel for a group picture..              I believe that only Terry Karr is missing from this picture.  Mary and Coleen are planning on leaving tomorrow morning and I hope they have a chance to go up the road for four miles and officially enter Alaska.  Tomorrow, I guess some of us will sleep in (finally!) and then explore Hyder and go to the bear observation platform.

Day 11 video -- July 26, 2010 --  At Ripley Creek Inn, we met a biker who said he is there because he read the website and followed our agenda!   We stayed at a former 1920s brothel ... we had the entire first floor with a complete kitchen, sitting area, and a porch overlooking the water coming in from the Pacific Ocean.
         My plans for 2011 is to reserve a 1st floor room in the motel across the street from King Edward Hotel.  The rooms go very quickly so when you register for 2011, make sure you reserve your room there first before any other rooms.  If I am by myself, I always take King Edward Hotel ... but I wanted a special treat this year, so I booked Ripley Creek Inn which has a really authentic old mining town atmosphere.  One treat was this was the first time in my life I heard a rooster crow since I got my cochlear implant.  What a sound!  (Your donations to SKIHI can very well allow a deaf child the thrill of hearing sounds!)
        We went up to the mountain top (imagine gravel mountain road, thousand-foot drops and no guard railings!) and viewed Salmon Glacier in its majestic glory.  We also saw a mother bear and her cub.

Day 12 video -- July 27, 2010 -- trip change of plans ... instead of Nordegg, Alberta, we will go to Lake Louise Inn.    Instead of Biggar, SK we will go to Medicine Hat, Alberta.   Rest of schedule will stay the same.  
        Please be advised that when you arrive at the junction of Canadian Routes 16 and 37, the restaurant there has the most delicous bacon I ever had!  Make sure you stop there and order the bacon with your breakfast.  
       There are quite a few stretches this part of the trip with signs posted that next service is 200 or more KM away ... and that "service" is closed for good.  My advice for future bikers ... once you pass Calvary, don't let your tank go below half full.

Day 13  --  July 28, 2010 -- Some of the bikers left early to take Cassiar Highway North .... that is a lovely, desolate stretch of road connecting to the Alcan Highway.  The rest of us took highway 37 to Canadian 16 East.  We saw two huge moose ... a male moose gloriously arrayed with a huge rack of antlers (I hope that is what you call it) chasing a female moose and also an assortment of bears and a wolf.  We had about 15 minutes of rain ... nothing to it ... and John Dickie, Corey Langridge and I along with my mother and wife arrived at MamaYeh's Bed and Breakfast.  May Yeh gave us some incredibly delicious muffins.
    Make sure you stop at the restaurant just past Mount Robson ... both times, we had the soup and beef stew and the food is great and the view astonishing!
    Some of the bikers are already talking about next year ... along with Herb from last year and I really believe Patrick Henry and Dave Stufflebeam will join us!
     Corey called and he is in Washington State already!

Day 14 video --  July 29, 2010 -- Drove from MamaYeh Bed and Breakfast with some delicious muffins.  We stopped at the restaurant right before Mount Robson for a delicious lunch.  Had a spectacular ride through the icefields.  Arrived at Lake Louise and rented a canoe.  My mother, wife and I had an extremely pleasant time in the canoe. 

Day 15 -- video July 30, 2010 -- We left Lake Louise at the crack of dawn and made it to Calgary Airport in just two hours and ten minutes.  FYI, as far as I know, Route Rental Car seems to be the best car rental if you want to rent a car in Calgary and drive the Rocky Mountains to Stewart BC/Hyder Alaska.  The car rental was only $187 total.  Over three thousand two hundred kilometers.  I suggest very strongly that if you reserve a car, PRINT OUT the contract AND the "fine print" where it says renters flying out of the airport get up to 3,500 KM allowance because "locals" are allowed only 200 kilometers daily and possibly a fifty cents per extra kilometer charge!  Many car rental companies will not allow you to take their cars outside the province where it is rented (Alberta).  I was very pleased with the car they rented me.
    Arrived at Medicine Hat, Alberta.   Eric and Shirley are at Best Western and we plan to meet early tomorrow morning and hit the road.  Temperatures all day ranged from the low to high 70s.  How hot and humid was it at your city today?  Join us in 2011!
    I think some of the videos above don't match the dates ... it has been a long day amd I'm too tired to figure this out.  A complete trip DVD will be given to all the bikers and you can order your copy online later at www.DrSign.com

July 31, 2010 -- We decided not to stop in Estavian. SK.Canada as it was only 1 p.m . so the three of us (Eric, Shirley and Mike) kept on going into North Dakota.  They stopped at Minot and I kept on going (prices in Minot are outrageous) and got to I-94 about 40 miles west of Fargo and am in Valley City, North Dakota -- a very pleasant 718 mile drive with temperatures hitting 90 degrees at the Canada/USA border but quickly dropped down to the high 70s..  I plan to stop in Des Moines, Iowa, a 534 mile drive and hope Eric and Shirley will meet me there.  Eric is supposed to show me a great BBQ place just west of St. Louis!

August 1, 2010 video   -- Left Valley City, North Dakota at 5:30 a.m. and had a pleasant cruise down I-29 and then I-80 into Des Moines, Iowa.   I was going to go through Minneapolis but when I checked Doppler Radar, there was a vicious looking mass of clouds building up just west of Fargo and moving southeast so instead of going southeast, I took I-29 south through Sioux Falls and was out of the storm in about an hour and had bright sunny weather all the way to Des Moines.
    I may have a video update up in a few hours.
   Tomorrow morning, it is a pleasant 461 mile drive to Cape Girardeau, Missouri where I am finally going to "splurge" and stay at Drury Inn!

August 2, 2010 video -- Left Des Moines at 5:30 a.m. because I noticed that a storm was coming up from the West.  Sure enough, the dark western sky was ablaze with lightning and shaking with thunder.  No worries ... I was going East.  Instead of taking a southeastern route as originally planned, I went directly east to Davenport, then south to Cape Girareau, where I arrived before 2 p.m. (to beat the afternoon thunderstorms).  After eight years of driving to Alaska, I think I developed a nice system to stay dry ... watch Doppler radar and make route and time adjustments.
    On this video update you will see something you haven't seen for a couple of weeks .... air pollution ... such a shame.  Iowa is distinctive by its frequent pungent smells of stockyards also.  One more thing about the timing of these trips ... the first two days are on Saturday and Sunday so as to avoid rush hour traffic in the southeast and also the timing to go around greater St. Louis at noon was not accidental ... minimal traffic.  The temperature range today was 72 to 91 degrees.
     Ran into two deaf bikers at a gas station 30 miles north of here ... hope they and their riding buddies join us next year.  I am contacting all of the bikers who've ever ridden with me to see if they will make the 2011 trip sort of a reunion.  (Dave Stufflebeam and Patrick Henry ... are you reading this??)  I know Herb Pitzman is planning on 2011, along with Corey Langridge!  Wooo hoooo ...
     Another thought I am having ... if I can be assured of three room-mates in 2011 (myself and one other takes the floor in sleeping bag and air mattress at 10% each and two others get their own beds at 40% each), I will make reservations at Drury-type lodging or Hampton Inn type lodging as the rooms are FAR BIGGER than Motel 6 and the cost per person increase would only be a modest five or so dollars for much fancier accommodations.  For exampley Drury Inn has a free hot breakfast as early as 6 a.m. and free hot food and cold beverages from 5:30 to 7 p.m., free wireless internet, and free long distance calls.  Room prices at various locations begin at $59.99.

August 3, 2010 video -- Eric and Shirley caught up with me at Cape Girardeau, Missouri but needed to sleep in to recuperate from their long drive.  I had the bike packed at 5:30 and enjoyed a Drury Inn breakfast and was on the road by 7:15 a.m. Eastern Time crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois and hooking onto I-24 thru Kentucky and Tennesee and got onto the interstate through Atlanta, Georgia.  Due to my timing, I was able to avoid rush hour traffic.  Sure enough, you can set your clock by the thunderstorms as at precisely 4 p.m. I hit some rain.  No problem.  Arrived home at 8:45 p.m.   That made 870 miles in 13 hours and 30 minutes.

Email from Michael Harris ...
     I made it to the Arctic Circle via the Dalton yesterday (July 25, 2010).  13 hours or so.  I would have loved to go on to Prudhoe Bay but I need a new rear tire and the only available one is being shipped to Anchorage.
     The road was not that bad.  I started in rain with my slick street tires but I had few issues.  There are even some sections that are paved.  Like any road in Alaska they have some frost damaged sections but I did up to 70 mph at times on them.
       Between the two I would recommend the the Dempster in the YT.  Far more beautiful by a factor of 10.  In fact if I were to come up to this area again I wouldn't even attempt the Dalton but concentrate on the Dempster. 
      The Dalton has some great views no doubt but that Dempster, WOW.  Now this is based only on a segment of the road.
        Support and services on the Dalton are not an issue.  I passed plenty of Alaska Pipeline trucks, tourists in campers and tour buses.  If you break down help is close.  Also, plenty of great food, fantastic people and fuel.  Please stop at the HotShot Cafe and get a burger!
       The Dempster is definitely outside the 'comfort zone' your are really on your own but maybe that is the appeal. 
        I'm not leaving Alaska until the 3rd as that is when my tire is due in.


Comments -- Gasoline in Canada is 96 cents to $1.09 per liter which is approximately $4 per gallon.  Lodging in Canada is about twice as expensive.  Also, using your cell phone incurs roaming charges.  I am thinking of planning option A and option B for the 2011 and future trips.  Option A will have the fewest miles in Canada.  Pros -- cheaper and faster route.  Cons -- hotter.   Option B has 250 more miles overall and 1,350 more miles in Canada but is much cooler and scenic.
     Option A -- Here's the approximate direct route with least miles in Canada -- 63 hours, 3765 miles with 1119 miles in Canada.  This option will make it easier for bikers in Tennessee, Arkansas,Texas, South Dakota, etc. to join us.
     Option B -- Here's the coolest route with most miles in Canada -- 71 hours, 4012 miles with 2550 in Canada.  Makes it easier for bikers in New England and other eastern states to join us.  I am planning this so both groups will meet at Lake Louise, Alberta which is about two hours and fifteen minutes past Calgary, Alberta.  People flying into Calgary to rent cars can also meet us in Lake Louise and then drive to Alaska using our route..
       Coolest route will have 1,400 plus extra miles in Canada and entail about three extra lodging nights there.  At 40 MPG and $50 per night extra for Canadian lodging, it will cost about $200 extra.  Personally, I'd take the coolest route and enjoy the scenery.
      One thing I noticed the past few years ... after we arrived in Alaska, most of us split off into different directions ... Homer, Valdez, Sitka, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Arctic Circle, Prudhoe Bay, the ferry, Washington State, etc.
       For 2011, as in past years, I will post a suggested return trip to Florida with stops, etc. but in reality, it would be best to take it day by day and make reservations one day at a time.  For example, yesterday, I skipped Estevian, SK and headed straight for Fargo, ND from Medicine Hat, Alberta and Eric and Shirley to Minot, North Dakota.   I made reservations for Des Moines, Iowa from Fargo last night. 
       This allows maximum convenience and flexibility for individuals and groups and allows us to revise trips around storms.
        Speaking of storms, I saw on Doppler radar August 1 evening that something nasty was going to descend on Des Moines overnight so I set the alarm clock early and was on the road by 5:30 a.m. Monday, August 2 and the sky west of me was like July 4 fireworks with lightning and reveberating with thunder.  Instead of taking the original southeast route, I stayed on the interstate to Iowa City going due East to beat the storm, then turn south to Missouri.  It worked!  So, after 9 years of Florida to Alaska, I think the key is timing and direction.  I like very early starts as it gives more daytime hours for problem solving and allows you to arrive at the daily destination before the afternoon thunderstorms boil up.