Flat Rocky Rides Again ... for now

The day dawned not so bright and clear, Thursday, June 22, … I was on my way to Fairbanks with Rockin’ Rita, Peppermint Patti and the rest of their crew … quite a bunch I might add.  But for me, I had to stay out of sight … this was a HOG function, not a WOW function.  I just stayed in the tour pack while they had all the fun… going and attending the HOG rally in Fairbanks.

One of their stops was at a pull out called Denali View South.  Well, they got theirs.  There was no Denali view.  But good friends always make the best of it and they took their photo anyway.

They made multiple stops on the way to Fairbanks, eating, taking photos … I wasn’t even able to get out to stretch my four legs.  This was no fun at all for me.

Most of our group stayed at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks housing.  I still didn’t get out.  And off they went to play … ride around, play bike games. 

Rockin' Rita received an impromptu hair cut from Miss Harley Davidson the Mighty Quin. There are certain necessities prior to heading out on a long road trip.



Goofy women.  I guess Harley rallies do that to them.  Robin doesn't even know they were there.  Sly ladies.

They also ate a lot, and had ice cream.  I didn’t get any of that either.  But my day was coming.

They ate at a Denny's.  Peppermint is thinking the food at these places has improved a lot.

They even had an outhouse rather than a restroom, as Fireman Mike pointed out so well.

On Sunday, June 25, Rockin’ Rita, Birdy, Fireman Mike and Peppermint rode to Delta.  There, we separated and Rockin’ Rita and Peppermint started their run of the Alaska-Canada Highway. 

 

You'll notice they were so excited to get on the road they didn't even include me in the photo.  Bummer.  But I was there, just not visible.  Yep, still in the tour pack.

What a ride that was … the first dinner stop was in Tok, where we met up with Smudge and Mike, and Ruby and Tim.  The day was young, and on we rode.

 

And then, we crossed into Yukon, Canada.

The girls, and me.  Yep, they finally remembered I was knocking around in the tour pack.  Rockin' Rita, Peppermint, Smudge and Ruby.  What a group they are.  Nuts, I'd say.

We were all going to the same place past Beaver Creek in Yukon, to a place called Discovery Yukon Lodgings.  I was informed that it was way better than staying in Beaver Creek, and it was.  The folks were super nice, and the accommodations very cute and quaint … little cabins. 

 

These old snow machines have personality.  The one on the left looks like a ninja.  The one on the right seems to be smiling.

Rockin' Rita's trike is outside the cabin.  The women didn't let me inside.  They left me in the tour packs like some kind of animal.  What's with that?  I'm housebroke, kind of.

The gravel around the cabin and an unseen tree root did give Peppermint a bit of trouble, but with the help of the other ladies she managed to get where she wanted to go without dropping the bike.  It was a pretty rough ride for me in the tour pack.  However, I did survive.

 

Monday, June 26, the group continued on to Haines Junction.  Smudge, Mike, Ruby and Tim were heading to Haines to catch a ferry.  

Smudge and Mike, Tim and Ruby, riding ahead of us around Kluane Lake.

This is a tough crowd.  They were not real enthusiastic about doing a can-can kick.



They were more enthused about this photo near the beautiful lake.

 

Rockin' Rita rode sweep, her usual spot.

We were continuing on … taking a total of nine days, and about 3,600 miles, to get to Colorado Springs.  That’s where the Women On Wheels Ride In would take place, and I’d be in my full glory.  I’m their mascot … being introduced as a flat animal on a tongue depressor last year at the Ride In banquet in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

 

Since then I’ve been a lot of places … not just with these chicks, but with all the WOW members who live all over the world.

 

We found a place to stay in Whitehorse, Yukon, and wouldn’t you know it … they ran into some friends from Anchorage, Jon and Glenda.  We were trying to find the hotel and this car behind us kept dogging us.  Then someone in the vehicle asked if we were lost.  Peppermint was about to lose her cool with them.  Rockin' Rita told them we were just fine.  They followed us.  Ha!!!  Jon didn't know he was close to being told he was Number 1, or better.  They were with relatives and on a road trip.

One of these women is always running into someone she knows.  Well, that way she can’t get away with anything.  But then the other one is always keeping her in line.  You figure out who does what.

The ladies have gotten some pretty good weather, and that continued on Tuesday, June 27. 

The first wildlife of the day was an urban fox ... walking across the street as the ladies were packing up to leave.

They rolled into Teslin, and the location of the metal-grate Teslin River bridge.  Peppermint loves the bridge and the grate.  Other people, not so much.

The Teslin River Bridge, Yukon Territory, Canada.

This is how the bridge should be crossed ... quickly and with attitude. 

The road stretched out, but the weather was decent.  Watson Lake came into sight, and the famous Sign Forest.  That’s always worth a stop. 

I got to get out of the tour pack and have a photo at the sign post forest in Watson Lake.  Friend Dewey was in Alaska, so we didn't get to see him here.  Maybe, when we come back through here.  It just felt good to be in the fresh air.  I was starting to feel claustrophobic and a bit bike-sick.  It's like car-sick but stuck in a tour pack instead.

I got to get out of the tour pack and I was like a wild creature … playing, photo bombing, helping a family put up a sign.  I didn’t want to leave as the taste of freedom was oh-so sweet in my mouth.

 

This family was kind enough to let me help them out.  It's hard work putting up a sign in this neighborhood.

The girls met Anna.  She was a very nice dog, and was adopted from Best Friends in Kanab, Utah.  Peppermint has been there, and thinks it's a great organization.  In fact, she belongs to it.  They save many, many animals, and not just dogs.

Alas, the girls wanted to get back on the road.  I was kind of glad they didn’t let me out too much after that.  There were a lot of bears on the road, and beasr eat sheep.  I was scared as I could smell them, and I’m sure they could smell me. 

There were quite a few  bears in a short distance.  This one looks like he smells sheep.  Agghh.  That would most likely be me he's smelling.  Help.  Let's get out of here.  Ride for your lives!!!

Why did she shoot this in black and white?  I don't know.  At least they were going away from the road and not toward us.

Peppermint had to get my photo with a bear.  You can see that small dot of black on the right-hand side.  My eyes are bugging out because I'm scared and my back is to him.  I sure hope Peppermint has my back if he turns around.  Bears eat sheep, remember?  I'm a tasty morsel as I ride not walk, so I'm quite tender and on the plump side.

Finally, we ended up at a place called Northern Rockies Lodge, or some such.  It was a pleasant place and I was glad we were done for the day.  Seeing all those bears scared the sheep poop out of me.  I hid it in her tour pack.