[UPDATED] Leaving for Alaska and the Arctic Ocean... on an S2R

[eric]

[***UPDATE***]

I've finally started uploading pictures! Part one of the write-up of my trip from Los Angeles to the Arctic Ocean is up here at my blog: http://thesunhaswings.blogspot.com/2012/11/one-dream.html

I'll be adding sections over the next few weeks (wish I could do it faster, but what with a new job starting it's hectic). I've divided the story into seven sections, so remember that the pictures you see here are only a fraction of what's to come.

And of course, thank you all for your support and encouragement  . Without it, I don't think it would have been anything close to the amazing, life-changing adventure that it was.


But first, some of my favorite bike pictures from what I've currently uploaded (for the rest, click the link above):


The first day, heading through the golden fields of Central California.



On the way to Valdez, AK



On the Dalton Highway heading south, looking towards the Brooks Range, about 130 miles north of the Arctic Circle



North of Valdez



Portage Glacier, Kenai Peninsula



Rain over the tundra at Atigun Pass.



North of Valdez



Look what the Dalton Highway did...



Kennecott Mines in Wrangell-St.Elias National Park










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[***Below here is my original post***]

In three days I will be leaving LA for Alaska on a six-week trip. My ultimate destination is Deadhorse, right outside Prudhoe Bay on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.

I will be posting updates whenever I can here, and in more depth on my blog. Feel free to give me any suggestions or just any comments  

Meanwhile, I have three days to finish the final preparations + move out of my place + put all my earthly possessions in storage. Fun! ..... not...


My planned route.



I've traveled pretty extensively through the Southwest on a number of trips over the past year. This will be the longest trip by far though. But here are some of my favorite pictures from the past year (click on the text to link to the picture):

Bonneville

Canyonlands, Utah

Capitol Reef, Utah

Sunrise over the mountains overlooking Bonneville

Near San Felipe, Baja California

Big Sur

Abandoned mine in Death Valley

Death Valley

[Raux]

Heated gear and spiked tires?

[geoffduc]

Best of luck with the trip Eric...

Be sure to keep us posted...

Geoff...

[The Don]

Good luck, i am in awe of your awesomeness.

[ducpainter]

A friend took the same trip back in the day on a Yamaha XS-650.

The only trouble he had was with headlight bulbs and lenses from the stones kicked up on the gravel sections of the Alaska highway.

Have fun.

[Ducatamount]

Good Luck and keep the positive attitude!
Looking forward to your pics.   

[bob795]

    Have a great and safe trip, Eric

[Buckethead]

 

[MikeZ]

That will be an epic trip.
Be careful and have a great time.

Can't wait to see some pics

[BMiller]

I envy you.....with the wife (although understanding) and job (maybe when I leave it) I already know there is almost no way I could pull one of those off ATM

Looking forward to the updates.

[JBubble]

Looks like an amazing trip!

If you need a place to camp/crash or whatever, we live near Mt. Hood in Oregon.

[Speeddog]

Looking forward to the updates!

Best of luck!

[spolic]

Best of luck on this trip! I loved looking at the pics from last time and I look forward to seeing and reading about this trip.

I really need keep fresh in my mind a saying from Warren Miller. "If you don't do it this year, you'll only be a year older when you do."

[Jaman]

  Safe Travels 

Thank you for Living the Dream, and I look forward to the pics & updates on your blog! 

[mrpetebojangles]

Wow, that trip looks awesome. I was showing some co-workers and we're all in awe. It's certainly a dream of mine to one day ride up to Alaska, but I never considered traversing Alaska as well.