Lucky charms from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Lucky cycling charm – a very thoughtful gift from host Linda to fellow rider Amelia. About to set off for Terra del Fuego, at the tip of South America.
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Lucky charms
September 12th, 2011Alaska… a few facts
September 11th, 2011A few facts about Alaska… some quite surprising…
It’s BIG – about one fifth of the rest of the US
But with a small population – just 600,000 people, half of whom live in Anchorage
Which isn’t the Capital – that’s Juneau. Despite electing Sarah Palin as Governor, Alaskans are clearly a shrewd bunch, choosing to put their politicians on an island. One you can’t actually drive to directly from Anchorage, instead having to travel through Canada.
Alaska is also the northern-most, western-most and eastern-most State. And has over 100,000 glaciers.
The State bird is the willow ptarmigan. Although you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the mosquito…
Barrow, in the far north of Alaska, doesn’t see the sun – at all – for almost three months of the year. 18 November – 24 January. And, between 10 May and 2 August, it never sets.
Alaska’s State flag was the result of a school art project. Eight gold stars.
Getting back on the road
September 11th, 2011Getting back on the road from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Sufficiently recovered after the long haul from Australia, Ken reassembles his trusty steed
Something borrowed
September 10th, 2011If I’d have known I’d have flown to the US, couple of nights in the Waldorf Astoria, spot of shopping, and then back home. Same again some years later to return everything. And still be in pocket. At first I thought I’d misunderstood, firmly adhering to the view that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Except in this case.
Charles was keen to get me to sign up. Gave me a slip of paper to hand to the cashier. I assured him I was sold on the idea, others having already convinced me of the merits of joining REI, a cooperative chain of outdoor shops. Twenty bucks for life gets you an annual dividend of around ten percent on every purchase you make.
But, much more importantly, and with just a few exceptions, you can return used kit, even years later, and get a full refund, no questions asked. Struck me as an unusual business model, but REI’s been around for a while so suppose it must work.
Snow progress in Alaska
September 10th, 2011
Want to ride a bicycle on snow? Dry these. Absolute monsters. Alas, not on Emma. Instead belonging to Anchorage cyclist Lewis.
Bear deterrent
September 9th, 2011
Small print. "Not for use on humans". Probably a wise addition as people have been known to confuse bear deterrent for bear repellant. A few incidences of parents spraying their children with it in the mistaken belief it would offer them protection from Goldilocks and her friends. Bit like insect repellant or sunblock. You’d hope the unfortunate offspring would be exempt the naughty step for a while… once discharged from hospital.
I’d bought a canister of bear spray – it ressembles a small fire extinguisher – and a holster to carry it in. Bear attacks are rare, but when they do occur there may be little warning. Best kept readily to hand. But not my first choice of deterrent. That’d be an RPG, closely followed by phosphor grenades, largely because I reckon the cuddly critters probably aren’t that fire retardent.
Incidentally, it’s a Federal offence to use the spray on anything other than bears. Unless you at least have an honest belief that’s what you’re doing. So, if you’ve any plans to try and mug me, please remember I’m a bit short sighted. Easily confused, especially without my glasses on. Mistaking attackers for one of our furry friends a very real possibility. Despite treating the spray with the same caution as I would a firearm, in a land where guns are plentiful, I’ve absolutely no compunction about deploying it. Not a jot.
Cycling companions
September 9th, 2011Someone who gets other people killed. Indulging in romantic notions, carefree dalliances at the expense of others. Those innocently duped into rescuing them when the situation gets sticky, plans go awry. I stared at my coffee, willing it to cool so I might finish it and leave.
I’d met with a prospective cycling companion in downtown Anchorage. Committed to no more than a coffee. That much I’d been especially clear about, although I’d soon begun to doubt if the other party had quite grasped this. Flighty I thought. Travelling to Alaska on what appeared to be a whim. More klaxon than alarm bells.
I couldn’t quite bring myself to walk away immediately. For one thing, that’d be very rude. And I was unsure how the person might react. Badly. Very badly was a real possibility. For, intrigued as I might be as to her past, I deliberately avoided the subject. Sensing demons. No desire to inadvertently open Pandora’s Box.
I suggested she might be better taking a ferry from Alaska, a more sensible option given her lack of experience of the sort out conditions we’d likely encounter. Her quick rebuff, that it was pretty much pavement all the way to Seattle, only made me all the more nervous.
Somewhat reluctantly, I chose a more direct approach to attempt to dissuade her from doing anything foolish. Bit blunt, but doubtful all the same if anything I said would really register. Explaining I would be leaving in a few days, and could not afford to delay in the slightest. I was ready and she was not. No bicycle. No kit. Things, I added, I’d spent weeks, if not months, putting together. And Alaska was not the place to cut one’s teeth.
Exasperated, I’d eventually managed to draw the conversation to a satisfactory conclusion. An amicable parting. Wished her luck and prayed she’d see sense. Secretly hoping she’d not find someone else who might more easily pander to her whims. And end up far worse for his or her troubles.
It wasn’t her lack of experience that had troubled me. For I’d met a couple of relatively novice long-haul cyclists in the last few months, either of whom it’d be a pleasure to travel with. After all, I’d been one myself not so long ago. What’d impressed me about them both was their preparedness, the research they’d done and training they’d undertaken. Mentally prepared, committed, you knew straight away they would succeed.
Cooking on gas…
September 9th, 2011
Cooking on gas from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Not content with simply subjecting his hosts to his wit and repartie, Ken prepares dinner. Fine English staple of cottage pie and medley of vegetables. Filmed in Aromavision.
Walk on the wild side
September 8th, 2011I’d been glad of the visit to the conservation centre. To see brown and black bears close up, albeit behind the wire. Far from making me feel more nervous about camping, it’d come away feeling quietly confident. Felt I now at least had the threat in perspective, understood the nature and the quality of the risk I’d be taking.
True, the first few nights might be unnerving. I get spooked by sheep. But I felt comfortable with the measures I’d need to take to say safe. And, crucially, was content I could distinguish between brown and black bears. For, in the event of an aggressive encounter, the steps you take are very different.
What I hadn’t quite appreciated was just how far out of Anchorage the centre was. A good hour’s drive. Another example of host Linda and partner Angie’s unceasing generosity.
Caribou
September 8th, 2011
Caribou from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
I’d no idea about this one. Caribou essentially a wild reindeer. Or reindeer and tame caribou. Something like that anyway.
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