Dirty-Dog-Day! ...Even Double-Dirty-Dog-Day!! Four years ago I rode in the 2010 Hoka Hey, from Key West Florida to Homer Alaska and back to Phoenix. At over 13,500 miles, it was my longest ride and a dream come true for me, one I had had since a teenager. Afterwards, I dreamed of doing it again and expanding it. This year, the Hoka Hey, and probably their last year, are headed back to Alaska. Unbeknownst to my dear wife, over the past several months, I have been planning and preparing the bike and buying what I needed for the trip. I’ve also been getting up at 4 and 5am everyday, doing everything around our new home and yard, planting trees, doing the irrigation system etc. so the home could be livable for Julie and property could be left for a month or more. I have been doing everything I could, a little at a time, to prepare, so as not to raise suspicion from her. I was waiting until I had everything done and worked out before telling her. Well, I couldn’t put it together and yesterday was my last-last-last hope of going. I’ve ridden some fine rides so I have no right to complain. Besides riding to Alaska, I’ve ridden down the Baja Peninsula to Cabo San Lucas, down through main-land Mexico to Guatemala, British Honduras, the Yucatan Peninsula, the Gulf of Mexico, Ive ridden the entire PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Fugit Sound Washington to San Diego California and lots of interstate rides (totaling over 250,000 miles--all done camping out next to my bike) This ride, at about 22,000 miles, starting from home, heading to Key West Florida, to Homer Alaska, and then crossing Canada to Glass Bay Nova Scotia, entering the US through Maine and then tour much of the US on my way home, was going to be longer than my two longest rides put together. It was also going to be my last big ride. Well, I think I recognized my opportunity to make it happen, too late and it was only a poor opportunity at that. My heart is broken, my dream is dashed and I am totally in the dumps today--something I seldom do. With the kickoff in three days, on July 20th and there is no way I can make it happen. Not trying to solicit sympathy and I’m not being ungrateful for what I have had the chance to do. I also realize that if you don’t ride, you don’t get why anyone would even consider such a ride. And, keeping things in perspective, I certainly recognize that going on this ride is a matter of no consequence. Guess after having that dream inside me since the first Hoka Hey four years ago and with the last several months of dreaming, scheming, hoping, planning, working, preparing, believing and then crashing, I just needed to vent. The good news? I have a Friend. A very special and very good Friend. He is one I can go to anytime for anything. All I need to do is look up and reach out. …Look at that! …I feel better already! :) Pic info: 1-Me at Portage Glacier, Alaska—Day 11 of 26 days riding. 2-Me (Arizona) and two other retired cops (Massachusetts and Texas) referred to as “The Posse.” From left to right: Stray Dog, Smile’n Bob and Lizard. 3-The long, lonely but very beautiful ALCAN (Alaska Canada) Highway. 4-Riding alone, headed back south, leaving the Yukon.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:59:11 +0000
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