Alaska Trip-Day 4-333k-May 27 2012

 

Event full day…..left Kenmore ND at 9 am in light rain though it had poured during the night. I had on my winter wear plus rain gear which included a hood under the helmet and attached to the rain jacket. I also wore the belaclava and set my riding glasses on the dash. Earlier I had spoken with a Texas Oil worker who advised me to watch for dark patches on the pavement at entry points to the hwy as this indicated slick mud from oil rigs entering from the fields.

I was roughly 30 m from the border on hwy 52. The GPS indicated a Turn N…hwy 1?, this was soon to create my 1st ever bike loss at speed. The wind had picked up and I was fighting it from the right , creating turbulence that pushed the bike towards oncoming traffic which fortunately was light but I was pulling to the paved shoulder at speeds over 50 miles per hour to let Oil Tankers pass. Moments after letting a truck by I noticed the GPS going crazy….I had missed the turn. I hit 4th gear and applied the break lightly and pulled to the shoulder to make a U turn. What the F**** the rear end of Kawi was trying to catch up with the front. While I was trying to figure out what was happening da da Kawi pulled itself, I swear out of the fishtail, allowing me to come to my senses and take over…..I applied brake again slowing down to about 20 or so and again she was in a fishtail. More concerned for the bike, so not to end my trip I said or rather thought not on the pavement, as it slid to the left I gave it a little throttel and aimed for the grassy ditch. We made it and for a moment I thought I was going to keep it upright but suddenly she was down but I was upright . WE had glided or so it felt to a gentle stop with Kawi on her left side which made it easy for me to get back on and lift the fully loaded bike upright as the ditch inclined down to the right. She was still screaming as I had my hand on a closed clutch and the throttel open…dam comberson winter gloves. I stalled it when I let go of the clutch. Starting her up I eased up the bank, thing she would spin out but no she drove up as if she wear wearing spikes but blow and behold she started into a slide as soon as both wheels touched the shoulder,both feet were deployed but they felt like training wheels as they slid along the pavement. I moved her to an access point to the Oil Patch. Unable to switch gears or to neutral, I shut her down…..on closer inspection I saw that the left running board was jammed under the shifter. This was an easy fix….no damage except to my feelings. The shoulder was as greasy as a frying pan with lard. I would later learn at a Tim Horton’s in Canada that I should watch for slight frost like conditions as the 7 degree temp and high winds occasionally created these situations.

Sitting at the border behind 15 tractor trailers and its pouring when a CN rail truck stops beside me and the passenger says follow us….he takes me straight up to the border crossing and presto I back on Canadian soil.

Just when I thought the wind couldn’t get worse, the flat Saskatchewan Prairie threw gale force winds at me …. so strong directly from my right that the windshield was actually twisting and I was continually being pushed into oncoming traffic which had become more frequent. My neck was sore from being rocked by the gusts and my right shoulder was acting up. It was so windy that as I approached water directly on both sides of the road I glimpsed two ducks taking flight into the wind and as they tilted their wings they shot almost straight up.

No place to pull over. If I go off the road hear I wonder if I’ll be found before summer….how deep is the water? I got to get off the road….good the turn to Regina is coming up as the rain pours harder making visibility tough. The turn is to the left, I slow down fearing using the break, my turn is not pretty but I’m upright and picking up speed, the wind now coming over my right shoulder, a relief from the 100 k previous. I make for Regina intent on finding a motel. Make Regina and take the GPS co ordinates to Saskatoon….check all the exits for 3 miles in driving rain, no motels not even a Macs….I,m in an industrial area. With nerves fried I push on towards Lumsden which is a village and ask for lodging. I pointed in the direction of an OLD Hotel……I look like a drown duck as I make my way into the bar….for some reason I think of Joseph and Mary. I humbly inquire about a room… I have already observed when I circled the place no stables…..they look at me for what seems like minutes…then 1 girl asks another…they confer for a bit, then say they have one left but it needs to be made up. One of the girls leave while I am left with the bar maid to sort out the details…..that will be $ 110.00 for the night sir….pardon is my astonished reply…remember I am on a budget and suppose to be tenting. Will you be with us longer than tonight ,she retorts……at those prices I will need to get a job immediately, so I ask if they have internet, seeing this as a graceful way to make an exit. We do is her reply….I look towards the window it is teeming down cats and dogs…by now I have been inside 10 minutes….I shaking like a leaf… my rain suite is soaked inside as are my inner cloths , I later learn. I say I will be here 1 night. She has me move the bike around the back and lets me in the locked back door. The room is upstairs above the Music Stage..no less but its Sunday. Pics posted. I shower, turn the heat uo to 84 and hang almost all that is in double water proof duffals out to dry.

Go down and have a 11.95hot hamburger which I enjoy. Then ask for the internet security key. It doesn’t work. I ask for it again, sorry sir we have been having problems with the service…….GO FIGURE.

SO HERE I sit at the bar, fed, dry and telling my story unable to publish.    

the bed

my stuff

the bar