Sunday June 2, 2013 Anchorage, AK

The end justifies the means, right?  Doesn’t it?  That’s what I was always told.   The alternative is to drive up here and not have to put up with the nightmare that is air travel.  I understand the business logistics to having one fly to Houston from Cleveland to eventually wind up in Anchorage.  I get it.  Funnel everyone you can to one location to fill up a profitable long distance run to Alaska.  What I don’t get is why load everyone on the plane when your pilot and crew are still in the air from another city?  We sat on board for over 1 ½  hrs without a pilot to get us going.  …and then they had the gall to try and charge us for snacks.  GRRRRRRR!   This was supposed to be a new plane, and carpeting was coming up at the seams, and the “new” seats are hard as a rock.  Either that or my butt has gone from blubber to boney, so the cushion effect is nonexistent.  The attendants didn’t seem too pleased to be there either, judging from the way questions were (or weren’t) answered.

OH WELL – I’m here.  So far the lone employee I’ve had contact with from MotoQuest (Alex) has been nothing but accommodating.  The hotel is clean, and it looks like I have a room to myself for the first night.  I’m getting picked up for dinner in a few minutes and have a chance to meet the rest of the team and participants.  Looking forward to a beer and a good nights sleep.

I can tell you they know how to make beer in Alaska!!  GOOD BEER!!  The filet mignon was just melting in my mouth, and all the while I’m feeling guilty for ordering a piece of meat that is about the same as the entire weekly budget for groceries.  ….and then I had DESERT!!  I guess I wasn’t feeling all that guilty.  You learn to take advantage of free meals – it’s the only freebie on the trip.

We must have looked like a motley group as we unloaded from the vans and into one of Anchorages finer restaurants.  We’re all in boots, jeans and sweatshirts while the guests are mostly slacks and polos – I guess that’s why they put us in the back room.  …and shut the door!

We seem to have a good group of guys that meshed well with each other, and the leaders from MotoQuest were very adept at making sure there were plenty of stories to tell and keep us entertained.  We get picked up at 8 in the morning to get the bikes, and since I’m working on about 4 hrs of sleep since Saturday morning, (and a few beers) and think it’s time to say “nightnight”.  Hope there’s more good stuff to come.