The 2012 Rally in the Valley

The 2012 Alaska State HOG rally was June 21-23, in Palmer, Alaska. I was honored to share the time with good friends, a great rally committee and new friends, under blue skies, sunshine and high-70 degree temperatures. That pretty much sums up the rally.

But wait. There's more, so much more. That's the photos. I've posted many of them on the Chapter 66 Facebook page, but I wanted to also share some of them with others who may not be a part of that page. I also have some that have not yet made the rally site, so you also get a few of those. You know how I am about photos. I shoot indiscriminately, always waiting and hoping for the “perfect” photo. After all, film is cheap these days.

Thursday is always a fun day as it's not yet the official rally but most people register prior to the start of the rally.  Victoria and Michelle were enjoying both the sun and the shade at the Palmer fairgrounds. 

This guy has already been traveling this summer.  The iguana showed up at the Meet in the Middle Run over Memorial Day.  His mama, Rhonda from Fairbanks, says he's very friendly.

How could I not take a picture of a Viet Nam vet?  Mark was gracious enough to pose for me.

Jim was one of several who volunteered their grills so our chapter could get the shishkababs ready for the cookoff.

The rally opening ceremonies began with a bagpiper.  I so enjoy the pipes.

And the presenting of the colors and the signing of the national anthem.  Let the party begin.

JoAnn and her new girl.  Even the pets got to attend the ceremonies and rally.

 

Cindy and Mac at the Matanuska Glacier.  I spent a day and a half riding with them doing the rally compass challenge.  Good weather and good friends.  Need I say more?  We had a blast, and even got some Miller's ice cream during our rides.  It doesn't get any better than that,.

Mac does good work taking photos.  Me at the Matanuska Glacier.

Of course, I have to get a little goofy.  I didn't realize how difficult it was to balance on the seat of a motorcycle that is held up by nothing more than an itty-bitty piece of metal stuck on the ground.  Good thing zumba is improving my balance.  I made it happen without falling and breaking anything.

Mac and Cindy at Eklutna Lake.  The directions for the four points of the compass ride were to be creative. 

 

Good friends make the world go around.  And this wild bunch definately make a statement.  Judai, Becky, Maria, Pam and me.  This was just a part of the great weekend.

Chapter 66 did a skit based on the Johnny Horton song "North to Alaska" although it was a loose rendition with the words changed to make it more "bikerish."  Our sets use cardboard and paint, and a lot of creativity and ingenuity on the part of the committee members.  We had a blast meeting, planning and painting. 

I love this photo of Judai and Gunda.  There were a lot of puppies at the rally, as well as full-grown dogs, a Guinea pig and an iguana.  I expect the Guinea pig is something that should show up at a HOG rally.

We even had dancing girls in the Valley chapter's portion of the talent show.

I like to take photos of license plates. 

One compass photo had to  be at the reindeer farm near Palmer.  I'd packed this tree branch to use as antlers and I had red electrical tape so I could make a red nose.  Do I resemble Rudolph?  Will the other reindeer accept me?

And what's a rally without a bike game or two.  The object is to put the tennis balls on top of the cones.  The rider must go slow enough and close enough so that the passenger can get the balls on the cones, but they cannot put their feet down,.  It sounds way easier than it is.



This game involved a slow ride with the passenger tossing a water balloon over the top of the flags.  The trick was to catch it, hopefully without it breaking.  You don't catch it, you break it, you lose.  Not too many folks could do this one. 



There were a couple of new games at the rally this year.  This one was for trikes, and the driver was blindfolded.  The passenger had to guide them around some cones and race back to the finish line.  It was a fun thing to watch, and no one crashed or ran over anyone. 

There was even a pet show, and this dog was definately styling.

There's always room for ice cream, and a rally is not a rally if you don't have some. 

I was just a spectator for the games, and a photographer that needed a break.

The weenie bite is a game played at most rallies.  The passenger must get a bite of the weenie, with the largest piece bitten off being the winning bite.  The driver must ride under the weenie slow enough without putting his or her feet down, so the passenger can get a bite.  Usually the weenie is covered with mustard.  This time it was ketchup.  Weenies are very slick characters, and it takes a lot of talent to get a bite, especially a winning bite.

The rally activities included a Chapter Challenge where the four Alaskan chapters competed in games, a cook off, a talent contest and the number of chapter members registered per chapter. What I will say is that Chapter 66 won the challenge trophy, which will be displayed at our Anchorage dealership until the next chapter challenge. Chapter 66 will need to add something to the trophy before passing it on to the challenge winner. Chapter 66 has a lot of talented people, a willingness to participate and folks that like to laugh and have fun … in addition to riding, of course.

Most of the group who participated in the talent portion of the chapter challenge.

Ron (with his lovely wife Barbie) was our "Johnny Horton" for our talent skit.

Alvin and Elesha.  Elesha worked to put together the food piece of the chapter challenge.  Everyone loved the shiskababs, chicken and beef.  They were yummy. 

We now have a new Princess in the Queen's group, Stacey.  Congratulations, Stacey.

And next? I'm off to Phoenix to pick up my bike and head on out to the open road. More reporting to follow.

A visit to the Musk Ox Farm

Tuesday, June 5, dawned bright and beautiful. Blue sky. Sometimes I forget what it is when we have so many cloudy days. Okay, maybe not so many this year so far. In my mind, if there is even one cloudy day, it seems like it's too many.

I followed my usual schedule of hitting the zumba studio, to make up for what I would eat during the day. Hobbs and I then hauled onto the Alaska version of a slab and hightailed it north. It was a great ride to the Valley to visit the Musk Ox Farm near Palmer.

We parked in the lot, and there were only a few other vehicles. Being retired and able to visit places in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week is awesome.



Hobbs and me.  You can see some of the musk ox in the background.

The tour of the farm isn't long, but it was so nice. We learned about the musk ox, an ice age survivor, their arrival to the Valley and the trials of trying to put domesticated herds in other areas. They have a soft wool called qiviut which is given to and used by the Alaska natives to make hats, scarves and other items.

Look at that face.

We also learned about breeding and the most interesting fact which is that a musk ox is nothing more than closely related to a goat!!! Who knew.

All hair.

This herd is 60 years old, with currently about 60 animals, from bulls to calves. The babies here now are a month or so old, and their little spindly legs and shaggy coats make you just want to hug them.

Shaggy, shaggy, shaggy.

You wouldn't want to during the rutting season as they have a musky smell (although they have no musk gland) that isn't that pleasant to humans; hence the name musk ox.

All animals love Hobbs.

They're still a cute animal to me. I've put my name on a list to be a musk ox socializer. Hopefully I'll get a call. This means I'd go to the farm and help do touchy/feely things with them. Sounds like my kind of volunteer job … animals. I'm so looking forward to it.

They're a bit more standoffish to me.  Oh well.

Memories of Memorial Day weekend



Our group of six heading to Grizzly Bear.  This was taken at Denali View South.  McKinley wasn't quite out all the way, but we had sun, and that always makes for a pleasant ride.  But we were prepared for rain as well.  I'm wearing my "snowpants" rather than chaps.

The Harley Owners Group does a run to Grizzly Bear Campground, a place about 240 miles north of Anchorage. We leave on the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, end up at the campground (which also has cabins, a hotel and camping), and have a big barbecue, catered over the past few years by the Black Sheep, the religious arm of HOG. We've always had great feasts for this barbecue.

Steak, burgers, salads, desserts.  Even hot water with tea for me.  What more could you ask for?  Black Sheep rock!!!

The evening is one that is memorable for a number of reasons. It's the first overnight ride for the HOG group for the year, a time to park the bikes and let your hair hang down, and a chance to get to know your fellow HOGs. We always have a great time, great food and make new friends in addition to seeing so many others we've not seen for a while.

Friends before things started getting silly.

I rode up with a group of friends, avoiding most of the rain others had run into. I was glad to find that this year was no different, and although we had rain during the barbecue, it didn't spoil the fun.

We obeyed the sign and placed our butts accordingly.

This wasn't part of the silliness.  This is Paul's rainhat.  Ya gotta keep the beer from getting diluted.

On Sunday, most people go back down the road to Byer's Lake, where there's a memorial ceremony honoring those who have served, those who have fallen. It's a moving ceremony and one that I've attended multiple times.

But there's a group of us that heads north, into Fairbanks, and around, doing a loop of more than 900 miles for the weekend. This year was no different, and while there was one of our core group that was unable to make it (We missed you, Harvey, me especially cuz I had to lead.), we picked up a couple of new folks, Maria and Doug.

that

Usually it's the other way around, with Birdie giving the pushback.  There's a photo of Zookeeper getting a pushback too.  But I'll use that one another day.

We left Grizzly, with a sprinkle or two, then on through Fairbanks and out the other side. We stopped in Salcha since it looked like we'd run into rain. I figured people could put on raingear, and it doesn't hurt that they have ice cream and we nearly always stop anyway.

While we were eating our ice cream, the skies let loose and it poured. But once we were ready to get on the road again, we encountered a few sprinkles and then good weather. Hooray for sunshine.

We were on to Tok where we spent the night at another bear motel, Golden Bear. We stay here everytime we come through. It's owned by the father of a guy I used to work with, and we like to give business to locals and people who are part of our family in some way. We like to eat at a place called Fast Eddy's, which has a great salad bar, and then we raced for the motel as the rain was coming again.

We all seem to end up hanging out and visiting in one room.  Okay, maybe we weren't visiting.  We all had our phones out texting and checking e-mail and Facebook.  Sickos. 

The ride Sunday was made ducking and bobbing, weaving and somehow avoiding rain for the most part. Friends who had left a bit earlier than we had dealt with rain most of their trip.

And here's the proof that we had sunshine.  Zookeeper, Maria and Doug.

Monday dawned with a sprinkle, but the sun was shining and we knew we had it in the bag for the day. The big mission was to make it to Copper Center to visit the remains of a historic lodge that burned a few weeks prior. We'd often eaten at the lodge, and had stayed a time or two.

The beloved Copper Center Roadhouse.  But it will be rebuilt.

It was a sad time, with our Harley Parking Only sign charred and hanging upside down. I straightened it so we could park in our spot, for old time's sake. We have heard it will be rebuit, but while there will be a lodge, so much of the character that is associated with the old one will be missing.

Then it was back on the road and heading for Eureka for a late lunch. We met up with a few other friends, and now our group was 10. Riding down the road heading back to Anchorage, it was a beautiful sight to see those 10 motorcycles riding in a perfect formation. It's an awesome feeling to have such good friends, to spend quality time and to share a meal.

While I mostly spent Memorial Day weekend riding and having fun, it was a time to remember those who have served our country, those who have died for it, and the families that continue to sacrifice. I truly believe that freedom is not free. Thank you to our service people and their families. What they do is not forgotten.

 Trashed Alaska

Now that the snow is mostly gone, we ride everywhere. That includes to functions, parties, and parks. A few short days ago a friend and I rode out toward Earthquake Park. There's this large pullout where you can park and view the city. It's a beautiful view and one worthy of seeing many times over.

While we were there we walked around the area a bit. Now that Mother Nature has given us some warmth to the sun and melted much of the snow, the trash is now surfacing.  There was trash everywhere.

Trash in the trees, trash on the ground, trash everywhere.

There's plain old junk, the standby Safeway plastic bags that fly in the wind, and then the really disgusting stuff.

What is wrong with people? They should keep their private life at home, and pick up their trash. It would be nice if they had a little pride in their community rather than the need to trash it.

Absolutely disgusting trash, and there was more than one.  Get a room, folks.

But putting that piece of the equation aside, this week is the Anchorage Chamber's Citywide Cleanup Week. Thank you to all those volunteers who are out cleaning the streets and parks and bagging up a winter's worth of other people's trash and filth.

Trains, bikers and babes

The Alaska Railroad logo is a class act with the Alaska state colors.

The Alaska Railroad held an open house May 5, with music, giveaways and train rides. The ARR is America's only full-service railroad, offering both freight and passenger service year-round. Line construction was completed in 1923; it was built in sections by work gangs starting in 1915. Today nearly 70 percent of Alaska's population live along the 500-mile railroad corridor that runs from Whittier and Seward to Anchorage and north to Fairbanks, with a branch line serving Fort Wainwright, North Pole and Eielson Air Force Base.

In my mind, trains are one of the beautiful mechanical creations.

Babe Jaz and I (the other babe), both of us bikers, had decided to go experience something other than a simple motorcycle ride. (We did ride to the event, though.) We'd been in the area a few days before looking at trains and taking a few photos of engines. Doesn't everyone love trains?

The yellow tape just seemed funny ... as though it would keep the massive locomotives from breaking through and rolling on down the tracks.  Yeah, yeah.  I know.  It's to keep people out.  Still looked humorous to me.

On open house day, we spent a fun couple of hours. First we rode the train. The rides weren't long, only 20 minutes in duration, and the wait in line was way longer than that, but it was fun.

Show us the way.  We're going on a train ride.

Our train awaits.  It looks like a moosegooser pushing baby strollers. 

Aaaalllll abooooaaarrrdddd!!!

 Then, just like all of the other kids, we wandered by the old steam locomotive, No. 557, and into and out of a number of rail cars on display.



Steam locomotive No. 557.

No. 557 returned to Alaska Jan. 3, 2012, nearly 50 years after it left service on the Alaska Railroad. It was the last steam-driven locomotive in active use and regular service on the ARR. It was mostly used to help during high-water conditions in Nenana during floods as steamers could easily go through two feet of water when it flowed over the rails. It was also used for special events, then it was sold to a scrap dealer and museum owner who preserved it, keeping it in running condition in Moses Lake, Wa. It was purchased by an Alaskan couple with the provisio that it be relocated to Anchorage, rehabilitated and eventually put back into service, possibly pulling refurbished railcars during the summer tourist season.

Beautiful wheels on No. 557.

Originally known as U.S. No. 3523, No. 557 was one of 2,120 of this type of locomotive built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corp. between 1942 and 1945. There were 12 sent to Alaska.

Engine 557 is a tender locomotive, meaning it pulls a special rail vehicle called a tender, which carries its fuel, which could be wood, coal or oil, and water. Originally the 557s tender carried coal, but it was later converted to oil. Currently it is valued between $175,000 to $250,000 and is in near-running condition.

The back end of No. 557.

From the steam engine, we trooped onto No. 4327, an SD70MAC locomotive. The ARR owns 28 of them, which makes up more than half of their 51-unit locomotive fleet. SD means special duty, and MAC means modified-cab, alternating current, referring to the traction motor.

We're going in.  No. 4327, here we come.

No. 4327 is a 4,300 horsepower locomotive, weighing 420,000 pounds, and capable of speeds up to 70 mph. The first two numbers of the four-digit locomotive numbers indicate the horsepower. Diesel locomotives are basically electric locomotives that carry their own power source.

Wouldn't I like to take this piece of machinery for a spin!!

Jaz and I then spent some time meandering through passenger cars, some of which were refurbished from the 1950s era. There are reclining seats, domes with seats up on top, and even a gift shop.

Not bad seating at all.

It truly was a grand few hours, made only better by riding to and from the event. Next time, consider taking a look at what's around locally for entertainment. We did, and found enjoyment in things that we see everyday, but don't really pay a whole lot of attention to as we go about our busy days.

Absolutely beautiful.  Clean lines, wonderful colors, and fun to be had when traveling by train.

Saddle up and let's ride

Those who ride, ride. Those who ride, wait (except for the lucky few with trikes or sidehacks). When we don't ride, we wait for spring. And I'm thinking spring has finally sprung. Can it be true, or is Mother Nature just waiting, biding her time to cruelly dump another load of snow on us, even at this late date.

Ready ... and waiting.

Biker Bill and I rode to the bike show in early April. It was a short, but sweet ride, of only 15 miles. It appears that now we can begin to ride in earnest, rolling through the miles, and tanks of gas. I'm wondering if my credit card can handle the gas charges this year. It appears that to ride any number of miles, that we all need to be backed by a bank, or go looking for sponsorships!!

Freezing our butts off just riding 15 miles to and from the bike show.

I've been out a bit, riding with friends, and I'm hoping this finally, really, is it. Mother Nature has had her way with us for too long, and hopefully she's decided we've suffered enough.

Tamara, the daughter of a friend of mine from 2nd grade, me and Zookeeper.

Purple Haze

Uncle Glen, ready to ride.

The HOG rides started, April 25. It was wonderful to see so many people show up for the first ride of the season, so many beautiful bikes, some newer than others, and some great license plates. I do like to photograph license plates.

There are also the other rides, that aren't HOG. A lady that some of the officers met when they went to officer training in San Diego came to Anchorage so some of us got together and took her for a ride to Girdwood. It was nice meeting her, and being able to share a little bit of our great state with her.

Me, Purple Haze, Uncle Glen, Pam, Chuck, Vickie from San Diego, Birdie and Mike.

Let the riding begin, let us all ride safely, let us share our common bond with each other, making new friends, seeing old ones.

Hobbs on the Arm.  It's one of my favorite places to ride and take photos.