Monday, May 14, 2012

Everyday for 7 Weeks–Day 15/16–Fairbanks

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

For the last couple days, I have been enjoying the hospitality of Richard Machida and his family in Fairbanks. It has been fun to spent time with them. I’ve been relaxing and playing the tourist. There have been lots of visits to local cafés for chai and other tasty treats.

Since Fairbanks is close to North Pole, AK, I couldn’t resist going to get a picture of the place. The main area of the town is decorated like Christmas with candy-cane lamp posts and bus stops.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

There is a giant Santa statue and even reindeer.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

They kind of look like caribou to me

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

 

In Fairbanks, I found this mural. I like how the paint seems to drip into the scene

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

It is just near a little park in the downtown area:

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

Richard also took me out to see the pipeline. I saw a little bit of it along the road from Delta Junction. It is impressive when you think how long it is. Alaska is big!

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

Notice how there are bumpers along the support posts and a rail for the pipe to move back and forth.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

A clever system. The pipeline runs the length of the state from north to south.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

 

My first day in Fairbanks, I went to Julia’s Solstice Café after I had my new tire installed.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

Just as I pulled in, a car did as well. The driver was named Ken and he was from MN. He noticed my license plates and wanted to chat. He was also a motorcycle rider; he has a K75. We chatted for a bit and then both enjoyed our lunch.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

The food was so good, I went back the next day and ran into him again. We had lunch together and chatted about travelling and motorcycles some more. He also introduced me to some of his friends at the café. Everyone was friendly and the food was great. Before he left, he recommended I visit another café on Sunday since this one was closed. He said some BMW riders would meet up there in the morning, and that I should look for a guy name George. Richard knew the place, so we went there this morning.

We chatted with George and a couple other folks while enjoying a hot beverage. It was a good time. George owned a local shop in Fairbanks and has been selling motorcycles for a long time. He told me a lot about his Enfield with a Cozy sidecar. Ken was right, he was fun to talk to. George was impressed that I rode up the Alaska highway without a windshield on my SV650. He said he’d done it more than 13 times, but never on a bike without a windshield. A cool compliment.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

After, Richard took me on a ride of his favorite regular commute route. It was a nice road whose twists and turns quickly made you forget you were near Fairbanks. A short clip of the ride is below.

My SV parked next to Richard’s BMW R100RT.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

Richard is planning to ride his R100RT down from Alaska to California later this year along the coast. Hopefully, he’ll write about his trip on his blog. You can see more on his site: http://blog.machida.us/

 

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 15/16 - Fairbanks

 

I’d like to say a big thanks to Richard and his family for letting me stay with them for these last few days. They were warm and friendly, and made me feel very welcome. I wish they were 3,000 miles closer, so we could visit more often.

 

Day 15/16 Full Flickr Album

 

Video: Riding with Richard Machida

16 comments:

  1. Awesome. I am so glad you got to hang out with Richard and his family for a few days. And you got to ride with him too.

    We haven't had the pleasure of riding with him yet but have managed to visit on a few occasions.

    The soup/stew from the Solstice Cafe looks pretty tasty too. Sounds like there are a lot of friendly people in Fairbanks.

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    1. It was very enjoyable to spend some time with him.

      Yup, a nice root veggie stew. The roobios vanilla tea was also excellent.

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  2. Glad you and RichardM have linked up and he's proving a gracious host...of that of course I had no doubt he would be!

    dom


    Redleg's Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

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    1. I'm glad we were able to meet up as well!

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  3. Good times! Another blogger reunion. Richard is a great guy, and I am not surprised that you were pampered during your stay.

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    1. Looking forward to the next blogger reunion ;)

      He is a great guy. I'm happy to have had the chance to meet him.

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  4. Hey Chris, so does Richard have an Internet2 feed at his house?

    :)

    dom

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    1. Didn't ask. He does have an ACL that turns off the internet at midnight. ;)

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  5. Chris:

    I think it's great to be able to meet others along the way, and have a friend for a day or so. We have yet to ride with Richard but hopefully he will be in Oregon in July on his ride south to CA. It's always hard to say goodbye . . .

    Ride safe
    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    Replies
    1. Yes, indeed. looking forward to the next meetup in Vancouver ;)

      Hard to say goodbye, but then I guess it is that much sooner to saying hello again.

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  6. At first I was thinking... thats sad that they have to put barbwire around Santa to keep people away.. but then... then i noticed that santa is being restrained with guy wires to the chest and etc... and then I realized.. no.... its to keep santa from running away from the north pole and destroying the local economy! .... haha

    But more seriously, the pipe line is pretty amazing... just thinking of a pipe that long, carrying oil at 90-120F .. in an land that gets pretty dang cold (-80f? something like that)... all of the forces of contraction and expansion... not to mention the 4 major fault lines... that the pipe can successfully deliver its oil over that distance consistently...

    Hope Anchorage provides some interesting sites as well.... and super-macroed foods that make me want to come eat there too.

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    1. rofl. Evil santa must be restrained!

      The pipeline is an engineering marvel for sure.

      I spent about 15 minutes in anchorage twice; both times getting gas. lol. the stuff just north and just south on the other hand...

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  7. The kindness of both strangers and 'net friends on the road makes the journey that much sweeter! Name that food--what's the bowl in the picture?! Looks really yummy!

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    1. Indeed. I have met some of the nicest people while traveling!

      Root veggie stew. It was tasty. The chocolate chunk cookie was delicious too.

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  8. That's is good that you got to meet Richard. He and the other people you met sound friendly! Great that you got to ride together and I suspect his riding season is a lot shorter than most bikers.

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    1. I'm glad I was able to meet him as well. Yea, his riding season is a bit shorter than yours, but he could do a couple things to get closer to mine. :)

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