Even though this trip will take place in 2010 and 2011, it has its roots back in Iowa City, IA in 1965. As I recall, it was a nice fall Saturday and my roommate - Joe DeRyke - borrowed the neighbors Lambretta motor scooter so we could go for a little ride. I had this 1964 Honda Sport 50 - if you look close you will see crutches sticking up out of my jacket. I had been in a car accident and this is the only way I could carry them to school.
It was such a beautiful day we headed West of the city and finally wound up 180 miles North West in our home town of Fort Dodge, Ia. Of course, we hadn't checked the weather forecast, little did we know the temperature was going to drop considerably overnight. We finally got back to Iowa City Sunday evening throughly chilled.
This is my my Honda 250 Scrambler that I rode my last couple of years of college, I took this to Colorado after I graduated.
This time Joe and I are going to put on a few more miles. In May 2010 we will ride to Prudoe Bay, Alaska (me from Las Vegas and Joe from San Jose, CA) then back to our respective homes. Then the first part of 2011 we will start making our way to the Southerm tip of South America.
Test of New Bike
In early October 2009 I met Joe in Moab, Utah. Because we would have some dirt roads in Alaska and South America I wanted to see how this bike performed off road. I had ridden the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands several times in the past with Brent and other friends so I thought I knew what to expect. What I had not correctly factored in was I was at least 20 years younger, lighter, in better shape and the bike I was riding then was over 200 pounds lighter.
Needless to say, it wasn't as much fun this time although it definately let me know that the bike will work well for our trips. As I told Anne, I am glad I did it but it was probably the last time I ride that trail. Here are a few photos of the trip:
A little hill we came up -
A Bumpy Part -
Joe & Me -
A bit of Switchback Road -
The Road to the Switchbacks -
