Today was a work day for me - I ordered a new rear tire for my motorcycle a few days ago, and it was scheduled to arrive at the MotorQuest Touring Shop this afternoon. I spent the morning tracking down the right engine and gear oils for my antique bike, had to visit 3 NAPA. stores before I found them in stock. I met up with Slo Jon, Greg and Beth at the Honda shop. Jon is getting a new rear tire for his CBR250, too. It should be in sometime tomorrow
Next we rode over to the Anchorage BMW shop. They had some vintage bikes upstairs, and I found this beauty - a1971 Husquvarna 400 cross. I had one just like it, but a year prior with a 250 engine. What a bike that was ! So much power, and either ON or OFF, like a light switch.
Jon rode back to the house for a nap, while Beth, Greg and I eat a delicous lunch at Peggy's Restaurant. It's been open since 1944, and Peggy's owner Nancy still cooks all the pies and even waited on us.
At 5:30 we rode back to the MotorQuest Touring Shop to work on my bike. I am so thankful Beth and Greg came with me, they are such great mechanics. We changed the oils and removed the rear wheel, so our new friend Chief could mount the new tire. We ran into our friend Gary, from Ireland, who we met in Dawson a few days ago. Gary is on an extended tour heading down to South America. He was here changing his oils, too, and was camping at the Harley shop next door to MotorQuest. Here's Gary's Blog - www.garyridestheamericas.co.uk
We had a great time hanging out in the MotorQuest shop after fixing up our bikes. We drank some beer and told some stories, and then a girl came by from the Harley shop with platters of fruit, veggies and sandwiches, left over from a Miss Harley contest the held there today.
This is Chief, a great guy and master mechanic & tour guide at MotorQuest. They take people on motorcycle tours all over the world and rent bikes here in Alaska for people who want to fly in and ride up to the Article Circle. MotorQuest also helps out dumbos like me who ride up to Alaska and wear out their tires on the gravel roads - Thanks Chief !!
These are a father and 2 sons we met from Iceland, who stopped by to say HI. They had just finished up riding to Prudhoe Bay on 3 brand new BMWs.
Here is Gary signing a flag to hang up in the shop. It was amazing all the things up on the shop walls. What a fun place !
But now it is getting late in the Alaska riding season. MotorQuest is only renting a few more bikes out in the coming weeks, then closing down for the winter. I guess it's about time for us to start heading back south !
