Tuesday June 24. Bellingham Washington to Sutherlin Oregon.   Last night, the Purser announced the ferry will dock at eight o'clock the next morning. I, along with everyone else planned on that time. However, at six o'clock this morning the loudspeaker announced we will dock in one hour. Everybody starts scrambling. Parents with children really had it tough. Everyone lost one hour of preparation time. No one told us the crew is using a different time zone. When the Malaspina docks in Bellingham it is her 2634 successful voyage. I give the State of Alaska and the crew of the Malaspina high marks. The ship is clean and the staff helpful and competent. I will do another cruise with them again.

With only one hundred and sixty-seven passengers aboard the departure is quick and without incident.. I am worried about the angle of the gang-way and the metal grading. I had no problem and the motorcycle handles the ramp easily.

It is a beautiful morning in Bellingham and I am through town quickly, but not too quickly. The crew warns me to be careful of the local traffic enforcement officer. They love to tag driver just off the ferry and in a hurry to get to the Interstate. As I turned the corner towards the highway, there he was. I was thankful for the warning. 

It is a wonderful eighty mile ride to Kirkland and Cascade BMW. They are very helpful and I get front and rear tires. I again go with the Dunlops. I tell the service manager about my experience with  the dealership in Fairbanks. His smile tells me that he has heard my story many times.

I talk with a guy in the BMW shop who has just returned from riding through British Columbia and a small part of Alaska. He is complaining about the ride and how he did not like it. He rode the Alcan, not the Cassair or the Yellowhead. He talks for fifteen minutes without taking a breath about his ride. He never ask me where I  have come from. I doubt he is interested in my opinion. I chose not to tell him about the great ride I have had. He tells me he intends to post his ride on a popular internet motorcycle bulletin board.  I hope he does not discourage anyone from riding in Alaska based on his experience.

I had a good day of riding today. I am pleasd about having new tires and fresh oil. They allow me to ride at speed without thinking about problems. I am a hundred and forty miles north of the California border. I feel great and I look forward to another four days of riding. Motorcycle touring is good for the soul!

                                                                 Previous  Home   Next