Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Summary & refelections

I started writing this final entry 9-1/2 years ago!!!! I thought I posted it 4 years ago and just realized today 2/13/18 that I never hit publish. Guess it's time I finish it. At least I beat the second half of Tom's story but it might be another 9-1/2 years to see that!!!!!


It's been nearly 2 months (now over 9 years!!) since I returned and it blew by. First I'll provide some numbers.

On the road for 39 days.
Total miles traveled 12,170.
284.5 gallons of gas for an average of 42.74 mpg.
Gas cost $1490 for an average cost of 5.11/gallon.

Food & Hotel costs ran about $2500. Splitting motel/hotel room costs 2 to 5 ways kept the cost down.

I lost count on total wildlife sightings but we saw brown, black (almost to close) and grizzly bears, buffalo/bisons, reindeer/caribou, deer, dahl sheep, eagles & prairie dogs of which I had 2 kills.

2 oil changes and 1 rear tire.

Best overall scenery were the Northern Rockies of British Columbia although Mt. McKinley is very impressive but you don't get to ride through/around and over it. Other then a few trips to Florida I've never taken a long road trip like this. My most memorable impression is just how much country is out there. I've flown many places but it's a completely different experience when you ride it. It becomes a sensory experience because you see it/feel it/touch it/smell it. You feel the change in temps when you go through a mountain pass or ride into the clouds, you inhale the smells of fresh cut hay or of glue &  fiberglass when you pass a boat manufacturer, the jarring of bottoming out your shocks on a pothole or flying up from your seat at a frost heave when you miss seeing them. The myriad of different people you meet along the way was also an interesting part of the adventure. My favorite was the fellow on the BMW at the pilot car.