Alaska 2013: Milddogs 1.0: 10 Years After

Ten years ago today it was the day after my first child graduated High School and I set out from home to meet up with DenDog so we could start our adventure to Alaska by motorcycle.

We had three weeks to complete the journey so there was going to be a lot of watching the world go by as we sped (legal speeds, of course) across the continent to meet our goal.  The goal was pretty basic;  get to Alaska (and back – as an implicit goal).  

As younger people we had discussed such adventures, never thinking we would actually do it one day.  Wait, back then, without constraints nor understanding of life, we probably thought we would do it.  We had enthusiasm, no plan, no money and no chance back then.   But things changed.  We became adult people, got jobs, found partners, made progeny and were pretty much regularly employed.   We would still talk about an Alaska motorcycle trip as if we could actually do it some day.

Then it happened.   It must have been sometime in 2011 we decided to make a go of it.  I had the green Kawasaki Versys 650 then but longed for something bigger.  We started planning, saving and acquiring necessary accessories.   I had a friend ask what my budget for the trip was and I answered that there was no budget as a budget might stop us from doing it.

In 2012 I picked up my Yamaha Super Tenere and Dendog acquired the Green Versys from me.  We were set for bikes.  Looking back, I offer the following perspective on the bikes:  the Versys was perfectly capable.  I did not need 1200 cc nor shaft drive nor any of the other “upgrades” the Tenere offered.  Well, the extra cargo capacity helped me bring more stuff.

As our plans started to unfold we would share routes and goals.  At one point we contemplated a quick ride down to Skaqway, AK (or Juneau, AK, can’t quite remember) to visit Dendog’s sister-in-law Sharon.  We decided that would force us into an even more torrid pace and chose not to.  Turns out we actually missed a once in a lifetime opportunity as soon after that Sharon was lost.

The trip began for both of us June 29, 2013 with much excitement and nervousness.   Those definitely came into play when I accidentally went through the Nexxus line at the US Entry point in Port Huron, MI.   An hour later we got out of the interrogations and proceeded on our way.

Our first stop was at a gas station while Dendog doffed his rain gear.  Not sure he appreciated my laughter while he gyrated his way into his shell.  I had splurged on full GoreTex gear so I just had to do up a zipper or two which i also had to gyrate to accomplish but I did not allow laughter at my gyrations.  

After a few long days of riding we knew we would not be able to keep up the current pace and have maximum enjoyment.   When tired, we would remind each other about upcoming corners, stop lights and other road hazards as we were just in the groove and might plowed on.  Ride, ride, ride.

Mrs Milddogs was our travel agent booking great accommodations for us along the way.  We tried to keep the replanning to a minimum.

I’m going to skip many of the details as they are well chronicled in the daily trip blogs .

When we were doing the trip, we would talk about finishing Canada by riding the east coast.  2015 we figured.    When we were in Fort Nelson, BC on the way home, Dendog really lobbied for us to “pop up” to Fort Laird in the NWT.  We had a tight return home schedule and that diversion really would have required us to make up a few days of travel.  “Don’t worry, we’ll get it in 2017 when we come back”.  

Life got different and we never did the east coast of Canada.  We never went back west.  We never went to Fort Laird, NWT.  We did smaller rides mostly around the Ottawa area.  I tried to keep 2 motorcycles in the garage so we could ride together when Dendog visited.  We were able to ride with my son and our cousin. All great little rides.

I don’t think that it is a hardship that we never completed the plan.  We had other great memories together and with our families.  But our Alaska trip in 2013 was just really cool.   We had not spent three weeks together since the mid 1980’s.  

As we know now, Dendog and I can’t ride together any more.  We lost Dendog in September, 2020.  Fuck you, cancer! 

My son and I have talked about picking up a couple of bikes and doing the east coast.  That would be fun.  Mrs Milddogs and I travel about in our van exploring and enjoying.  Well, I enjoy, she gets to spend a month in a van with me, can’t say many would call that “enjoyable”.  

While Mrs Milddogs and I get to enjoy continued coupledom, Mrs Dendog and the Dendogettes have demonstrated tremendous strength as they face their future without him. 

Is there a moral to this story?  No.  Define your own life.  We had fun.  No regrets.  Many of us have a significant hole in our lives that Dendog used to fill.  This story isn’t about seeking sympathy.  It’s just a brief reflection on a great trip and a great brother.  

I still have not watched the final “interview” style video that we filmed on the last night we were together on the trip.   One day, with a build of rye whisky and coke, I shall endeavour to have a look. Maybe in another 10 years??

Have a good ride, we never really know what is around the corner.