Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Mi 02 Nov, 2016 14:54

was machen die 5 Helden in Las Vegas ?
bestimmt nicht im Casion zocken gehe, sondern:

Bild

Quelle: https://www.facebook.com/AddictiveBehav ... =3&theater
Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Do 10 Nov, 2016 07:55

aufm Weg in den warmen Süden, Rast am Strand bei Santa Monica / L.A.
Bild

Quelle: https://www.facebook.com/leavinghomefun ... =3&theater
Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Fr 25 Nov, 2016 00:20

ein Schnipsel aus der Querung nach der grossen Flussfahrt im Norden Sibiriens

http://leavinghomefunktion.com/adventur ... a/?lang=en
Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Di 29 Nov, 2016 07:59

Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Di 29 Nov, 2016 08:03

Bild

in L.A. bei den Althippis

Bild

Bild
Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon kahlgryndiger » Di 29 Nov, 2016 08:09

Das mit der Beringsee wird vermutlich auf immer ihr Geheimnis bleiben. Oder habe ich was verpasst?
Na vielleicht aber auch als Höhepunkt des Buches oder so.
*Keep It Simple* (Keb' Mo') and FCK PTN
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kahlgryndiger
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Di 29 Nov, 2016 08:19

ne, da hamse gekniffen
die Beringstrasse haben sie nur im Flieger überquert
als Ersatz sind sie den Fluss runter gefahren
ist wohl auch besser so
Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon koarrl » Di 29 Nov, 2016 13:47

Aynchel hat geschrieben:... ist wohl auch besser so


Es sei ihnen verziehen.
And so castles made of sand slip into the sea. Eventually.
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koarrl
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Di 29 Nov, 2016 14:49

Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Uwe Steinbrecher » Di 29 Nov, 2016 15:41

Krasse Sache!
Man erlaube sich einfach mal die Vorstellung im Kopf:
Mitten in der Beringsee Auf einem Wackelligen Floß umgeben von eiskaltem wasser und bösem Wind bei Temperaturen knapp über 0 grad.
Da bekomm ich bei der vorstellung, im Defender zu sitzen, ja schon Schiss!
Wenn ich mir dass auf einer Ural vorstelle mit unktontrollierbarer Drift, Wetterkapriolen und der "zuverlässigen" Ural Technik als einziger Antrieb.
Gewürzt von der Möglichkeit 9 Meter hohen Wellen zu begenen.....
Mann bin ich froh dass sie die Sache nicht gemacht haben!
In diesem Szenario, finde ich auch die Aussage: "Es sei ihnen verziehen." fast schon vermessen. Selbst wenn sie eigentlich nett gemeint war.
„Schlechte Vorbereitung ist eine solide Basis für Abenteuerreisen.“
Wauschi
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Di 29 Nov, 2016 21:37

Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Mi 07 Dez, 2016 16:57

Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon Aynchel » Mi 07 Dez, 2016 17:16

hier ist eine Reisebekanntschaft ne Weile mit den Protagonisten zusammen gewesen und hat nen netten Bericht mit interessantem Blickwinkel geschrieben
lesenswert wie ich finde

https://www.facebook.com/notes/alexande ... 1144464742

für den FB Verweigerer :wink: als Kopie:


A simple tribute to my friends, my short time family. Anne, Efy, Elizabeth, Kaupo and Johannes. Because of them, I now live my life much more creatively. Because of them I write this story. This party of 5 has changed my life forever. They just may change yours.
Also, a special thanks to Kat for helping me edit this story.


Saturday - August 27, 2016

I met with the party early Saturday morning at Alaska Power Sport in Anchorage. This is my place of work and also where the party was dwelling until it was time to go. That time was now. It was about 9:45AM. I had packed up the night before and was ready to go on a small weekend adventure.
As I arrived, I observed the crew puffing away on a cigarette each as they made some last minute preparations for the trip from Anchorage towards Canada. They were entering the 3rd stage of their journey which started in Germany. Heading east to reach the west was the slogan. Their current destination was New York, then fly home for Christmas. Their main intent on this adventure was to experience the world for what it really was. Not to be influenced by the media of this age. I dismounted my bike, a BMW 650GS. I approached the party. I was pretty stoked about the trip, but I had no idea what to expect from it. (I think this is probably the best way to begin any adventure.)
Their dedication towards the trip had me in awe. They had been staying in the far yard of work for a week and had been busier at work than I was myself. The girls were putting videos together and making picture slideshows. In addition to their creative efforts, they were making contact with individuals around the world. The guys were working steadily on the bikes minus their frequent breaks for coffee and a smoke. They were polite and a delight to be around. They were not excitable, but would not hesitate to interact closely with you.
This would be the start of a very new experience for me. I would be accompanying world travelers and showing them the very small amount of what I know about this part of the world. Along with learning a little something for myself. Traveling in a pack of Urals from across the seas was never something I ever thought about doing. I was happy for this day. (For those of you whom are unfamiliar. Urals are motorcycles built in Russia. They have Sidecars attached. These particular ones are modified in various ways and are over loaded.)
Don and Mitch, my friends and fellow employees were there too. They were to see us off and lock up the yard. Don decided to join us for a short ride and then part ways in Eagle River. It was nice to ride as a large group. Made us more visible. Our average speed was 35 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. A few drivers had passed us displaying some choice sign language. Some folks might not make it home in time for dinner I suppose. Our speed was slow due to an piston replacement which required us to adhere to a break-in period. We were ok with that. (Our low speed really allowed us to take it all in.)
We deposited Don off at the first exit. A local law enforcement gentleman pulled over and greeted us. With calculated concern in his eye, we approached each other. Don and I described the adventure our visitors were on and that we were acting as escort. He wished us well and waited in his car till we took off. (Thanks for slowing people down for us officer.) Don went home. We continued on towards Hatcher's Pass, taking the scenic cruise through Eagle River down the Old Glenn Highway. A nice low speed limit of 45 MPH made it a better choice in case of our first break-down. Break-downs had always been a common occurance for the travelers. This was a first real run since working on the bikes at the shop. Still cruisin' at 35 MPH, causing traffic issues along the way. It was a lovely way to spend time on the road on such a beautiful and clear day. Bright blue sky, wonderful fall colors and less aggressive bug splatters on the goggles.
I had wanted to bring them through Palmer, but the state fair was active. Good thing we passed by it. There were only several cars needed to have the line of them run into the main highway from the off ramp. We made it to a petrol station on the corner of Parks Highway and Palmer-Wasilla Highway. I fueled up and the crew grabbed supplies from the local grocery store. I was introduced to random chocolate. (Dark chocolate Milky Way is pretty damn good. I never had it before. I like it a lot!)
Chocolate is not just chocolate. It is goodness wrapped in a layer so thin that it is nearly sensual just to remove it. "Candy bars" is the definition of "chocolate". Many flavors to tantalize. Usually only reserved to times when we break down. Our first breakdown was at the entrance to Hatcher's Pass.
After a pleasurable cruise through Wasilla's back roads we came up and had a bit of difficulty with Johannes' carburetor. That was a quick adjustment. We turned onto the dirt road and headed up the first hill to go through the pass and had to stop. Then, we had chocolate. It was wonderful. Johannes, Kaupo and Elizabeth promptly took the bike apart enough to look at the top of the right side piston. Carb was checked. It turns out there was an issue with the points.
I wandered around looking at progress along with a man named Mark. He joined us at the parking lot before. He rode a Kawasaki. Seemed like a friendly guy with a real appreciation for motorcycles. I took some containers out and started picking blueberries. Efy joined me and then Anne soon after. We filled up 1 container and it was time to depart again.
We took off again and Elizabeth discovered that her bike now had an issue with 2nd gear. She was not pleased with her bike being the first to give us trouble. Twice in a row. Elizabeth had a bond with her bike. She wanted it to be a well behaved beast. (Personally I think the issues with her bike probably made her bond stronger.) It was decided she would have to run it without 2nd gear until we got to camp.
Mark was fascinated by the spectacle of Ural goodness, as was I. He decided to follow us through the pass. It was a peaceful and beautiful ride. Plenty of people around enjoying the life of summer living. All over there are people hiking, photographing, camping and riding ATVs. After a scenic cruise through the pass we stopped to assess the camping situation. At this point Mark offered us a place to stay. He would have to phone his friend and see if it was to bring guests to this other man's home. His name was Roger. The party seemed mutually acceptant of the idea. Anna prompted me for my thoughts. We gladly accepted. Mark called, we were given an ok and we were on our way! (Funny thing is, Roger did not hear much of what Mark had to say due to poor phone reception. Roger and Mark are such good friends, that if anyone needs anything from each other, it is an automatic "yes".)
We were near the end of the long dirt road after the pass and had a flat tire. Anne's front tire had sheared the valve stem. Everyone was very calm and seemed quite used to such things. They had that tire switched over with a spare in a matter of minutes. They used group effort to lift the bike onto a metal petrol canister. The petrol canister provided much more clearance than that of a center stand. Once again, we were on our way.
We had arrived, parked and dismounted. In front of a cozy little cabin we were greeted by Roger and were promptly distributed beers. Allison, Roger's significant other, joined us shortly after. There was a cute dog around too, but it wanted very little to do with strangers. A small grumpy lookin dog advanced in its years. I was able to convince it to enjoy a few pieces of jerky. However he did not lend me even 1 pet on the head. What a bummer deal. Roger offered us endless coffee, beer, and a small bit of land to uses as we wish. There was a patch of grass on the other side of a small creek running the length of Roger's property. Connecting the 2 sides was a sturdy bridge made of a red colored treated wood. Clearly careful effort was put into the construction of the boardwalk. A small sign read "Let's hope our ship arrives before the docks rot" . (IIRC)
Roger offered us use of his facilities. He owned a dry cabin which did have electricity. A well was in the works, but one thing at a time. It was very generous of Roger to offer all he had to us strangers.
Allison was a wonderful woman. She had nothing but laughter, smiles and pleasant stories to share. It was a pure joy to be here in this little haven in the woods. Sure there were neighbors, but that did not matter. We were welcome there. We had dinner of meatball sauce and fried root vegetables. It was pretty good if I do say so myself. More chocolate was distributed. Efy did the dishes (Thank you Efy:) as repairs were being made to a gearbox on Elizabeth's bike.
Kaupo needed a wrench to adjust his spokes. He did not have the right size. Turns out Roger had one that he could have. If not for this stop, we would not have that wrench. I pondered to myself a moment and realized that since we left Anchorage, everything has been as if the world itself was putting perfect opportunities in our way. (More examples of this happened throughout the journey.)
I slept on a tarp with my sleeping bag and blanket. They did not use tents. "They can see you, but you can't see them when in a tent." This they told me a few times. This was my first time sleeping under the stars. It was a heavenly experience.



Sunday
August 28, 2016

It was Sunday. I had grown determined that I would not be attending work for a few days. Determined to continue to taste this adventure. I would go for a short while. Work would be there when I got back. My attention turned towards the experience from here on. I woke up not knowing what this new day held in store for me. Enjoying the present moment was the way of living for me at this time.
Waking up was peaceful. Sleep had been peaceful. I learned the night sky becomes more intense the longer you stare at it. Active with debris and satellites alike. The depth of the stars become clear after a while and you realize you are part of a large universe. A universe that is constantly telling countless stories. Each color having its own frequency of twinkle.
The night had been cool, a bit of a winter nibble. The slugs on the tarp seemed to make it through the night just fine. My sleeping bag was very light however and I expected that the next nights would be colder. We were heading further north and the fall colors had already revealed themselves slightly in this region. It was still Summer in Anchorage, but not so much here.
I was the first up. I moved around and checked things out. Warming up at the same time. We had camped on the opposite side of the small stream. The grass all around was well groomed. A few bushes and well preserved trees were all around with a small clearing enough for the group to sleep and walk around a bit. The environment was all very accommodating. This was part of Roger's front yard.
In the front area of Roger's cabin was a fire pit, a picnic table and quite enough chairs for a modest party. Some were still stacked, room enough for 2 more. I picked up empty beer cans and disposed of them. After milling around for a moment, Roger came out and invited me into the cabin.
Roger and Allison were having coffee in the living room. A nice cozy place that looked out into the front yard. They both mentioned they like to do this every morning to enjoy nature's beauty. To see if wildlife comes by or anything interesting and general.
I usually don't drink coffee. Roger had offered me coffee from two devices. A standard coffee maker and a single serve brew machine. A flavor tree stood next to the single serve device. Sumatra blend. My friend Don had exposed me to this flavor of coffe before. I went with this. The coffee was quick to brew. I was happy to have warmth in my hands.
I looked around a bit and enjoyed the quiet simplicity of this well lived in cabin. The kitchen sink was watered by a fair sized container with a spout at the bottom. Perfect for washing hands. Not ideal for dishes. The bathroom was flushed with collected rain water. Also a different method that I am unused to. However the place was telling a very rich story. There were pictures placed all throughout the cabin. There was even an upstairs which I did not see. Memories and ideas of this man all around. Cooking utensils were not only in the kitchen but in the hallway with the coffee makers. Pots and pans hung from hooks. There was a hall to the back. A room to the left was open with knick-knacks all around and a room to the right with the beer and music. Fun little place. A lot of history of one man whom has a family that is all grown up.
Anne walked in as I was getting comfortable on a stool. She served herself some coffee and we chatted. We spoke about the journey and about my work and other gentle topics. It was mentioned that I would continue on with them. On a schedule undetermined. Inside I was starting to consider taking traveling on as a full time lifestyle.
Everyone else got up at a pretty decent rate. Very relaxed and omit of task other than getting coffee. I enjoyed it myself that no one really had a schedule for waking up. I already live a similar way, just with a 9-5 job is all. I took on an appreciation for waking up to coffee. It gives you something to warm up with and it is quite nice to smell. I even adopted drinking it every morning that I was with them.
A short while later and after having a gearbox replaced, we prepared to leave. We were heading towards Cantwell today. Packing was no chore, more a pleasure. A work of art to get things to fit and to experiment with new ways of packing, a project of finding the most functional layout. I enjoyed it. Everyone else was in warm silence just peckin away at objects here and there to secure. I felt at home.
Mark had left the night before and headed home. Allison had headed to work shortly after coffee. Roger had expressed interest in traveling with us for a moderate distance. The group was more than happy to have visitors along. They beamed in welcome. They were very open to sharing and encouraged anyone to join in their journey. I myself felt compelled to travel with them forever. (I nearly did, but circumstances are... well, circumstances.)
All of us, including Roger, were ready to depart. So we did. We moseyed across the Parks Highway and pulled into the petrol station and general store. We encountered Allison again. She was there working. We greeted each other and got on with filling up gas and getting drinks. We bid farewell to Allison and were again on our way.
What a kind and gentle lady, this Allison. Lovely smile. Open minded and generous. It seemed right for Roger and her to have found each other. Wonderful people. I am inspired by their way of being. Simple living. Caring personalities. Interested in what people have to say. Very hospitable beings.
After we fueled up, we headed north to the grocery store for some food supplies that were not offered at the petrol station. Not at a reasonable price anyway. We picked up food for a short trip and I purchased some fixings to make camp fire bean burritos for my new dinner mates. We were all excited about food. I was glad this was one of my gifts to give to them. My love in the form of cooking.
Next stop was a place to eat lunch. I was leading the pack. Still a nice gentle 35MPH. Ahh so peaceful. I was tasked to find a spot near a river or something nice as requested by Johannes. I was happy to oblige. For I too had wanted to be near a river.
As we motored down the highway, I noticed a large bridge. As suspected the bridge had a river running underneath it. We all pulled in and I rode around some mud puddles, as did Roger. Roger was on a cruiser. He made it through no problem though. Went around the mud, much like I did. The rest however had no qualms going through the middle of it all. I noted in my mind about the stability of a Ural. Mud for standard 2 wheel motorcycles can be sketchy. Riding in mud usually means dropping the bike.
We prepared brunch and had coffee. We may have even had chocolate, but I don't remember. There were so many chocolate breaks throughout the trip I could not possibly count them all in a day. Roger had raised awareness to his urge to depart from the group. He had not even had brunch yet. I bid him farewell. Anne expressed concern about him leaving too soon. She implored him to have breakfast with us all. And coffee. He obviously felt compelled to stay, for we all shared lovely bacon, egg, potatoes and bread breakfast. Coffee was just boiled in a pot and was delicious. Actually better than through a hot drip machine in my opinion.
I poured some coffee in my cup and decided that blazing thing needed a handle. It was a stainless steel Salmon fest 2016 cup. It had no handle of its own. I had to fashion a handle out of a length of strap to drink anything hot from it.
While we were at the river it was a decided bath time for Kaupo. I had heard the girls urging him to bathe a few times up to this point in our trip. He must have smelled funny or something. I didn't smell anything strange. Kaupo went in, clothed in underwear. I joined for a bath in the same way. Felt wonderfully cold. I felt alive. Invigorated. The sand was nice on my feet and quickly dried when I got out of the river. I love nature. We saw a salmon which we first mistook for a snake. Funny. Snakes in Alaska. Would be cool to see though. I like snakes.
After a bit of clean-up and other maintenance, we packed up and headed out. Roger decided he would come with us as far as the veterans memorial. We rode nice and peacefully there with no incidents other than pulling over to let traffic by once in a while.
It was a nice sunny day. The park was clean and service was friendly. The 2 park attendants in the information center were chipper and offered free coffee. They made it known that donations were accepted for said coffee. There were also things for sale. Snack, drinks, maps, informative pamphlets and booklets. A few pictures hung on the walls of the semi rustic shelter of nature authority.
Outside were many boards with stories and organized facts about the war and how Alaskan natives were some of the first lines of defense to the Alaska region. I read all the posts and learned some Alaskan history, but have since forgot most of it.
We dwelled on the grass a while. Pictures and videos were taken. I wandered and found some tributes in the form of stone slabs which I had to look up to see the top. I wandered and found some tributes in the form of stone slabs which I had to look up to, to see the top. Simple, not ornate. Words have a funny way of displaying beauty even on the simplest of tablets.
A short while later we were done with our visit here. We parted ways with Roger. He seemed to have left with his heart full. He had mentioned that he had a hand in building this memorial. What a deep experience it must have been that day.
We then headed north towards Cantwell. We stopped for some petrol and groceries and met a wonderfully accented Australian man. A relaxed fella wearing light clothing and sandals. A real friendly tone of voice. Was a bit scrawny and had a funny posture. He had mentioned an interest in driving through the Denali Highway, but was warned to bring a spare tire. He did not have such thing so he decided against it. He took tons of pictures of the travelers and I believe he offered to give some pictures and contact information to a friend of his whom makes adventure films and the like.
After a short while and a bit of gawking from passersby's we headed east onto the Denali Highway towards Paxson. The sun had already dropped before we departed the station. The high standing mountains made short work of the day time. The temperature was already cold. I was wearing my heated vest and it was nice. Along with my heated grips. We only went in about 8 miles before we found a place to make camp.

Bild

We crossed a bridge and pulled over in the turn-out. Down a path was a camp space close to a stream. The area was soft and comfortably nestled in shrubbery and on the side of a hill.. All of the bikes fit perfectly there. We unpacked and setup fire. We roamed around a bit and checked things out. I found more blueberries. Many more and much bigger than the last batch we picked. I went to pick some for a moment then came back to make dinner.
I got to cooking. I was all over the place after the fire was started. Efy helped me open cans of ingredients and I got smoke in my eyes more than once from the camp fire. There were 3 things going and each had to be stirred in such a way that I did not suffocate from heavy smoke. It was dubbed Action Cooking by Elizabeth. I liked that.
Dinner was delicious. Tortillas, refried beans infused with seasonings. Ground beef turned taco meat. Rice. It was so good and just spicy enough. I was glad for that, for I had learned that Kaupo may develop hiccups if a food is too spicy.
After dinner, it was time for relaxing. We hung around the fire, set up bed, cleaned up, changed clothes, washed dishes, chatted about listening to and playing music, and other things to help us relax. It was then time for bed. Once again under the stars. The night was colder though. We had salvaged a bit more day time as we move away from the mountain blocking the sun, but not for much longer. It was pretty dark. We had reached another climate zone. Just this morning it was in the 70s (F) at the river. Tonight was much lower, near freezing and moist. I had wet my knees when I knelt on my sleeping bag to get in. Moist and cold had allowed frost to form on my pillow after midnight. Kaupo and Johanness offered me their arctic parkas to sleep under and a small blanket. I also wore my jackets underneath and stuffed inside my sleeping bag was 2 blankets. I was bundled, but still not warm. The next night would have to be different. However, the stars were beautiful A modest sacrifice for such a vision of the universe.

Monday
August 29th, 2016

It was Monday. By this time I had already sent communication to my employer. They all understood. They would have to do without me for a little while! (Thanks for covering for me guys!)
It was pretty chilly so I decided to get up and move around. I was thankful for the jackets. They saved my life. I spent most of the morning gathering twigs and branches for fire. Enough to last the morning and then some. I was the first to awaken. No one else had even stirred whilst I treaded back and forth through camp, depositing fuel.
After gathering enough wood I went blueberry picking. Oh glorious blueberries! These blueberries were lightly frozen through. Delicious nonetheless. Sweeter and more plump than the ones at Hatchers Pass. I had a day with it all. I returned after filling up the containers and the party began to rise from slumber.

Bild

Fire was started and coffee warmed. One mention of the word "coffee" anywhere within listening range of Johannes and he would be sure to signal that he is awake. That is what happened when I called it to him. I saw him shoot his hand out with finger pointing an intent that he would be right there. Very alert this one.
We all milled about as they set plans for the day and cleaned up. However that settled down into a passive creative mode, sort of like a trance. We all did something that was our art, so to speak. Well, they did at least. I sat and collected thoughts for a few moments.


(Throughout the journey, stories were shared. Mine to them. Each to me and sometimes them to each other. I felt at awe with the depth of their story telling. I wanted to listen all day long, which I did too. By this point in the journey I knew all was in good hands. I felt safe in this great new way of life. I had confidence in their confidence. Below are some thoughts I collected during my time with them. Please have in mind that the chronology is a bit muddled.)
Kaupo strummed on his guitar. Something I was getting used to. I enjoyed how he would quietly focus on getting each strum just right. Although he was a novice, the music was no less enjoyable to listen to than someone with more practice. A song from Iron Maiden he had answered when I had asked what he was practicing. I don't remember the name though. He had mentioned to me that he had only had the guitar a year or so before it was shipped (along with the bikes) to my workplace. We took care of it in the main office for safekeeping. He cared for this thing a bit, for he had it tuned up almost first thing when he arrived in Anchorage. Kaupo reminded me of "the quiet mercenary" by night and tinker by day sort of guy. He stood tall and with large features could seem imposing if he was lost in thought and you happened to be in his line of sight. Seemed right, that with his features and his demeanor that he would come from a place called Estonia. However when he smiled or spoke, it was always genuine and without waste. The guy seemed to love to dwell within his own mind when tinkering with the bikes, but was never bashful to not ask for Johannes' advice. (I have since taken up a guitar. I found that I do not handle it as delicately as Kaupo.)
Anne. Such a soft spoken woman. Not meek, but chooses her words carefully. I watch her as we pack up and get ready to depart anywhere and she is ready for the road. I see a shift in her personality. Almost as if she enters a guardian state of mind. Her eyes gently cast from place to place taking in information. This group had no leaders. However, her presence was that of a responsible leader. Always thinking ahead, accounting for any situation and also ever attendant to the moment at hand. An active participant in life, now and forward. The Ural was not a possession to her, it was merely an extension of her own will to adventure around the world. To experience what life has to offer and to inspire others to do the same along the way. Keep in mind, she is not selfish. She knows she is not alone in this affair, but I feel she bears quite a mental burden on behalf of others. Anna's voice is light, but not airy. A pretty good touch of German accent. Her words were clear. Rarely did she hesitate on a word to describe to me a thought, but it would only take a few seconds when she did. Elegant in both demeanor and bilingual conversation. (What I am trying to say is I liked to hear her speak.)
Efy. My first impression of her was she was the quite one in the group. I since discovered although her voice conveys modesty and a touch of old fashion, she did not lack in words to share with anyone. Never excitable if bothered or when presented with chocolate. She seemed to approach all things in life with a delicate calmness. Not without the will to assert herself though. She made a conscious choice to be peaceful. She enjoyed having clean hands. A passenger in this journey, in Johannes' sidecar. She carried her own equipment. She was a seamstress. She did the majority of the dishes. She had no problems getting her hands dirty though, for gathering her fair share of firewood and setting up camp gave her no choice in the matter. In her equipment she carried bars of soap. Soap was important. I think she was the pinnacle of hygiene and organization in the group. Although everyone was pretty conscious of such things in their own right. Efy was the one who arranged for laundry to be washed when the opportunity arose. With Efy around it was hard to ever find a reason to be in a bad mood for sure. I dare say anyone having such a mood would feel ashamed when seeing how Efy would handle any given situation. She seemed to be pretty adept at most things and is no stranger to art. The whole trip I spent with her, she consistently worked on a belly warmer knitting. I think I talked to Efy the most. Conversations with Efy left me feeling that I lived in a much richer world. That stories told were stories worth listening to.
Elizabeth was a lively one for sure. Short, petite girl, but not one who is afraid to get her hands greasy. Just as easy for her to do as picking up her camera to snap a quick couple shots. Very, very rich accent that I loved to listen to as she would speak excitedly about one thing or another. A deeper voice than what I would expect to hear from a small woman. Whether it was art, or previous adventure or current situation, if something was to be happy about, she would be happy about it. She had her serious side as well. Not ashamed to show frustration in the errors of man's ways. She would tell a story about a range of events and I would watch her expressions and body language change so sharply. Like a lightly seasoned actress, she could put on a show. Then there were times her mood would be shifted, times when her bike would break down. She hung her heart shaped sun glasses on the fuel tank. Lightly hooked to the strap she herself had sewn onto 2 old military medical bags that hung across the tank. Little things here and there were her personality on the bike and when the bike would fail, she seemed to take it personally as if it were her fault. This showed me truly how passionate she is in life. From adventure to personal relationships. She is the one who had dubbed my cooking "action cooking" after all. She enjoyed my display I am sure. She can also sing! She had showed me a video that she sang in. It was pretty good. (It is partly because of Elizabeth that I now have a passion in photography. I got myself a REAL camera since this journey.)
Johannes is totally the cool dude of the bunch. Not into himself in any way, just has an air about him that is full of freedom and adventure. Though not a head first super hero kinda guy. He was more laid back and thinking about things or speaking in a way he knew one could understand. He would express himself in creative ways to make something work better. If he could not figure it out, he would think about it for a while and see things from another perspective. He could also draw. Characters of which are his own creation I am sure. Something you might see in an action comic. At least from the glances I caught. He taught me a pretty fool proof way to start a fire. Have a Ural fuel tank to soak a paper towel in petrol in. Place it at the bottom of fire and light. He could also put together quite an efficient party platter of food for us all to snack on. Johannes most certainly served as inspiration to my own life. I now confront problems with a much more creative approach. I see tools within common items more now thanks to him.
(Aaaand back to normal chronology.) I counted myself extremely blessed to have met these 5 wondrous people and looked forward to the days to come. Life on the road was sweet.

After a time, it was like deer. We all would start to pack up stuff quietly (start looking at our next direction) and before you know it, we're on our way. Quietly, very few words were spoken during these instances. We make it to the pull out patch just up the path from our camp and discover the gearbox is not functioning in Elizabeth's rig. We pull over. We take off our jackets and settle in. We all participate in assessing the situation. We also joined in some chocolate.
A traveler in a white vehicle pulled over and approached Anne. They both seemed to know the same language and were speaking for a few moments. He left a short time later. I presumed Anne had filled him in on the journey and purpose. The same man came by a short time later with a "Milepost" travel guide. The encounter left me in awe. To witness such thoughtfulness of a stranger, a fellow world traveler I am sure. This book would be of great use as well!
I took some time to rest. It was easier to try to relax when not being concerned about staying warm. I dozed on the dirt for a bit. More parts were tinkered with.

The Urals are interesting creatures indeed. The parts so simple. Like they were designed to be replaced, often. These bikes had proven they could be repaired anywhere in the world. As long as there was a part. Proper tooling and handiness are a plus. However, as these artists have shown me, anyone can learn with trial and error on these bikes. I fell in love with these bikes as I watch each of them express their own personality to me .I have always been resistant to tearing apart a carburetor myself. I will have to do it eventually though, for I am to own a Ural one day in this life! I am certainly adept at learning, but Urals make it extremely simple. It is the mystery of the problem, not the replacement of the problem that is the challenge. Why does this gearbox keep crunching the shift fork? Why are the gearbox covers different thicknesses? Oh and the clutch shaft is a different length with a different adapter on the sealed portion. However! This is a machine that is going around the world and can take you there too!

We are on the road again.The smooth dirt road faded and more loose stuff appeared. Pot holes became a normal occurrence. Over a hundred miles long is the Denali Highway. I had not even ridden a cumulative 100 miles of dirt in my life. I had to stay alert. The pot holes were everywhere and they kept me adjusting my line on loose traction quite often. It was fun to get used to such a way of riding. I was bit tense at first, but got into the feel of my traction. I led the party at about 35 MPH. Not much traffic, maybe a car every once in a while.
I could not relax on this part of the road. There was too much to be aware of. I had to ignore the persistent beauty of the mountains as I dutifully scanned the road up and down for pothole, along with checking my mirror to make sure we are all moving. However there were times we slowed to take it in. Other times we sped up because the road was smooth for a bit. A wonderful way to spend a Monday for sure.
Sometimes I find that the others communicate by intention. Not always by conversation. They always have a process, always an efficient way of doing things. These tasks change hands too, with such an elegant flow. Hardly a word spoken. I felt as if the bikes were merely extensions of the riders. Not as individuals, but as a whole. They are true drifters. I felt like I wanted this life for myself. I wanted everyday to be fresh and new like this. As I glanced in the mirror from time to time I would see how each rider had a different stance on their bikes. Each bike fitting the personality of the rider. Each bike's handlebars were drastically different than each other's.

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We arrived at a good spot to view a beautiful valley with a river running through it. It was hinted to the party that there were going to be northern lights out tonight. There were another set of campers in an SUV at this place. We arranged the bikes and got to work.
A shelter was formed and food was served. The group decided to lend me all of their jackets. I accepted and hoped for warmth. I decided at this moment that I would experiment with different configurations of layering.

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More stories, more hot drink. They shared with me stories about mosquitoes. Having to wear mosquito nets in order to work on the bikes. Bending over to twist a wrench and have multitudes of mosquitoes biting the skin between the shirt and the pants. They had encountered other travelers who had to eat in their sleeping bags and could not walk around without their motorcycle gear because of mosquitoes. I feel fortunate that mesquites are tame where I live.
The temperature cooled off as the light retreated. Darkness came in but was met right off with another sort of light. The Northern Lights had come out. This is the first time the Funktion had ever seen them. The Aurora started off slow, causing an initial, yet subdued excitement in everyone, then anticipation. Finally the Lights build up and we enjoy them as they dance around. Modest colors of green and blues, nothing extraordinary to one who has seen them many times before. After a while Kaupo says "boring". This makes me laugh. I can sorta relate. We have more hot drink.
Our neighbors were a quiet few people. Seemed like a middle aged couple with a friend or brother. They were all set up with multiple cameras and were there to photograph the lights. Elizabeth's tried her hand at capturing these beautiful streaks of color. She was successful. Many great shots she took. A memento of her experience in Alaska that she had not retrieved anywhere else in the world!
We wind down and prepare for bed. The tarp is above us now. This prevents cold dew and ice crystals from layering the sleeping bags and making them wet. I tried a new layering of the sleeping bag, blankets and jackets. Everything worked out great! I already felt warm. I would sleep well this night.


Tuesday
August 30th, 2016

The nights' sleep was much warmer with a proper arrangement of jackets on me. Yet, just as cool outside. I got up a bit sooner than the crew. I wandered around to get fuel for the fire and check things out. On the other side of the road was just as beautiful a view. Another stream and some tall grass to give privacy to those who needed. I took some time to myself here later on.

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A breakfast of muesli with cold water. Added some fresh picked blueberries from our last camp and Hatcher's Pass. Mine was delicious. However some soap flavored sunflower seeds tainted everyone else's pouched cereal. I had not added any seeds to mine. How fortunate because I enjoyed the muesli very much. They figured the sunflower seeds were kept in a box with soap. The actual truth was never determined.
Other food was about. A nice fresh mix of canned salmon and fresh cut vegetables. Sprinkled with some all purpose herb mix. I think we even had boiled eggs. All I remember is that the food was very satisfying.
Anne and Elizabeth cleaned up and got ready to phone in for an interview with a sponsor. Kaupo strummed and tinkered. Efe took up some sewing and knitting. Johannes discovered I had a pair of binoculars after pointing out some caribou. He used them for a while after that and I went to dance. We all took part in an unplanned time to do whatever. Ahh what a life.
The time I had already spent with my new friends was a real pleasure. I had felt a calling to continue with these guys forever. However I had things to deal with at home. Elizabeth had told me that what makes traveling like this easier, is not to have any attachments at home. I don't have many attachments. I just have not been brave enough to set out on true adventure on my own. I eventually chose that I must return home. This day was the last one I would be riding with them.

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After going around some pretty good road, then some really rough, freshly grated road, it got better again. We found ourselves at a nice rest stop with a lovely view. The road leading up to this was paved for about a mile. The road seemed to be paved the rest of the way too. I guessed we were almost done with the Denali Highway. Elizabeth identified the landscape as plateaus. They were certainly illuminated with many fall colors. Gold, green, red, and purple. All very vibrant. The bikes were running better than the crew had ever imagined them to run. Everyone was happy.

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I was handed a small sports camera earlier that morning. I took some time to use it throughout the trip. It was fun. I had used it a bit on rough road and now on the paved portion. I had a much faster bike, so I sped up and got into position to film them as they went past. That was a cool feeling, to be the cameraman for the day. Had no idea how the video would come out though.

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After a spirited ride and only mid way through the day, we arrived at the east end of the Denali Highway. We decided to find camp and part ways the next day. Down a small network of dirt paths we came up to a love camp side right alongside a river. A Lovely spot. We dismounted and Johannes promptly knocked out a fish with large rock. Dinner! Kaupo got a second. Everyone was excited. We shared chocolate and coffee was started.
There was a path between many sites line up along the river. A tall bank separated the land we walked on and the river below, but only by four feet. A walk along the path would lead you through camps lined up on one side and the river down on the other side. Many places for privacy. A short while after we arrived a man came into our camp through this path.
He was a employee of the local hatchery. It was partly his job to collect eggs for future fertilization and spawning. He mentioned that these fish had swam a long way. They were "sex zombies". He explained that they stopped eating about 130 miles ago. They had one thing on their mind and that was not their health. The fish were a deep red with a green head. A small hump on their back. Dinner should be interesting.
Anne and Elizabeth had cut beautiful steaks out of the salmon. We ate. The fish was certainly not firm. For as long as it was cooked, it still pretended to be raw. Kaupu and I felt a bit swirly in the belly, but the feeling passed in about 5 minutes. I know I know, hundreds of years is has been known that it is unwise to each such fish, but I had to find out for myself. We were not turned into zombies. So all is good!
Conversations for several hours. We all had something new to share that no one else had heard before. The night came in calmly and I stayed up for some time longer with Elizabeth. We were both pretty toasted from the Russian vodka and willing to talk for hours about adventures and exciting experiences. She shared with me a story of an adventure she took on mopeds with some of her friends. This is the adventure she met Johannes on and since then they have been a couple. I had no idea people were living this way in the world. What a wonderful way to be.
It was time for sleep. I was exhausted at this point. The bedding was super warm. I was very comfortable. I slept soundly. Safely. I was home in bed.


Wednesday
August 31st, 2016

A morning of sleeping next to a river left me in a very relaxed state. I did not get up first this time. Vodka, conversation and Alaska travel all had me in sync with the rest of the group. We all rose to wake up together. I think Anne was up a bit earlier though. We were in no rush to do anything, however calls were made. Get the coffee going. Wander around. Take an icy cold shower in the river. How refreshing that was. I will take part in river bathing again!
Elizabeth presents me with a book. It was the book she had wrote. It told the story of the time they were going around on the mopeds. I felt very honored. The book is in German. I would have to learn to read this.
We speak briefly about the petrol situation. I was near empty and was unsure where the nearest station would be. Suddenly, mid-morning a man in a big silver Ford crew cab truck drove up to our camp. I approached him and discovered the driver was showing his buddy the spot he usually stays at. Turns out this guy knows the area and mentions a gas station just 30 miles away. (Was actually only 15) Talk about providence! This whole trip has been riddled with providence. Here and there was always the right place and right time for something to happen. Even with break downs. This shows that movement in life brings about more life to move around in.
I had wanted to so bad to be ready to travel around the world with these people. Something about them, but not just them, the journey seemed to call to me. They even offered me to come with them to New York. Even to visit them when they return home. I was ready to say good bye. I had not brought my passport with me. I could not cross the border. Good excuse as any. At least it was true. They told me they would accompany me to the petrol station and part ways from there.

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It was ceremonious. I purchased 6 snickers bars and distributed them. We ate after fill up. Pictures were taken. Genuine smiles shining. I was given a parting gift of a Polaroid snap shot. Hugs were exchanged. They drove off as I recorded them leaving. This was that last I saw of them. (At least up to this point.)
Bound for Delta they were to meet up with Mickey. A local Ural owner, mechanic, dealer, enthusiast. Along with Murial, his significant other. I had called Mickey the day before and set this meeting up for them. Mickey told me he had plenty of spare parts to share and wanted the group to stay a few nights and get cleaned up and prepared as needed.

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I returned home myself. The trip was smooth and very fast in relation to our average speed of 35MPH throughout the adventure. The road was hilly and there were a lot of beautiful sights to take in. I stopped off at Glennallen and found a local farmers market. Someone was selling pizza bread. I bought some and ate it. The roads before Chickaloon was some of the most curvaceous strips I had ever ridden on. So so good. I continued home with no event and made it back safe and sound.
Those past 5 days were spent timelessly for me. The adventurers had things really dialed in. They were guests to Alaska, guests to the USA. Yet, I felt as if I was a guest in their care. We were at home wherever we camped. Sorta like traveling bed and breakfast.
These adventurers are still on the road until about December 2016. If you happen to catch them in your neck of the woods, do not hesitate for a moment to follow them! Even if just for a little while. You will not regret it.
Days after the journey I was in a mist of existence.
Many directions and 1 driver.
My adventuring friends showed me a way.
Now I am finding my own.
Aynchel aus Meddersheim


ich könnte die BIG auch mit 5,5l daher fahren, aber das wäre Spritverschwendung ;-)
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Aynchel
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon altf4 » Mi 07 Dez, 2016 22:37

thanx! eine freude, dieser text...fast schon feinstofflich ^^.
:smt023

g max ~:)
"It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy! Let's go exploring!"
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altf4
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Registriert: Mo 18 Feb, 2008 00:04
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Re: Refresh: "auf dem Landweg nach New York"

Beitragvon kahlgryndiger » Mi 07 Dez, 2016 22:39

Muss ich mal in Ruhe lesen. Zeit suchend ... Scheiß Spiel zur Zeit.
*Keep It Simple* (Keb' Mo') and FCK PTN
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kahlgryndiger
vormals Andreas a.d.k.G.
 
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Registriert: Mo 18 Jul, 2005 16:48
Wohnort: Karlstein am Main

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