The Pilgrimage, Boston to Anchorage 2017, Day 12

[@samtuck6400]

Toad River always a favorite stop!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

It was a good stop.

[@chraighe]

Great seeing the summer again, we have a foot of snow coming again tonight.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

We have snow here as well...only three months to go.

[@chrisb5086]

These are great! Really enjoyed listening to the discussion. It’s like I’m on the trip. Thank you and can’t wait for riding season to begin!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheJeepees]

Like a lot all of your videos thanks. The squirrel also seems to love the bikes @ 05:52..

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Yeah, those little tree rats really liked playing around the bikes. Thanks!

[@angelarobson7125]

Keep the videos coming Craig!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thank you!

[@jamielynch4618]

Love following you guys

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thank so much!

[@edjrmorgan]

Awesome!

[@Radioactive_Slime]

I was waiting for the round table discussion on preferred whisky for the end of day maintenance regime. Being Canadian, I’ve a soft spot for the home spirits but your American Whiskies sure do hit the spot. And then there’s Scotch...

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

I think we were having some Wiser's rye at this particular sitting. I was pretty good.

[@alexanderschmidt75]

+1 on the 5 min walk around

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

I agree, especially check your tire pressure...

[@Doug_Morgan]

I love how you didn't say a word while they argued about oiling chains. You have to love the low maintenance shaft drive on the Tenere.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Yeah, not having to worry about the chain is great.

[@weridemotoz5551]

Thanks for the video guys. I've run the k60's upto 25000 km on my 650 gs twin, and have 12000 km on the mitas E07 Dakar rear with at least 50% remaining. The front is done. The mitas are on my Africa Twin

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Your welcome! I am sure I could have gone 1500 or 2000 miles further on my E07s, but being far from home I want to make sure I was on good rubber, so I changed them early. But they are great tires.

[@SteelHorseman]

Ride on!!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thank you!

[@charleshof6394]

Hi I think it is great that you bring to the table the actual cost and as importantly your flexability for your adventure. Event the fact that you created a budget for your trip is great. I think in an an effort to stay within our budget/and reality that it is good to look at our expensises. With that you can more realisticly go touring. CKHof

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks. My goal here is to be honest. Touring is great, I love it, but there are ups and downs and miscalculations. It is all part of the "adventure."

[@daveem7101]

Certainly one of my faves this episode👍

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks!

[@texaslonestarrider]

Love the video!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks!

[@christophepoteaux3932]

I keep rewatching the Pilgrimage..love the videos. About Liard River Hot Springs, did you make prior reservations for the Campground? Or just walked in?

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

We made reservations, which I suggest. It is a very popular campground. If you just ride up, you might end up in the satellite lot, which is OK, you can still walk to the springs.

[@christophepoteaux3932]

Got it. Thanks

[@richardmourdock2719]

A rainy, wet, cold, windy day interrupted by a hot cup of coffee and a cinnamon right out of the oven..... Ah, the memories do make me smile. When we hit Laird after a similar day of riding with high expectations of a good soak. But the campground was full. Just as we were turning around to exit, a fellow saw our plight and told the Park Ranger, "Hey, My wife and I are on a bike... we'll share our site with them, eh?" He refused to let us reimburse him for our share of the site. Life is good on motorcycle.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Richard, you bring up a good point, Liard is very popular so it is best to book ahead if possible. There is an over-flow lot, but it is just what the name implies. Very nice of those fellow riders to share their spot with you. Thanks!

[@gbachnik]

I made it this far but the music is just too much for me! The scenery is so beautiful..

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks!

[@scottlovern2942]

I have to ask...did you get rid of the Victory?

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

No, I still have my Vision. We use it when riding two up and on club rides. These past couple of years have been about getting the Tenere and preparing for the Alaska trip, so the Vision has not gotten much camera time. Thanks!

[@CaudilloSilovik]

Lemme guess. The rejected card was American Express and the best card to carry outside the US is still any form of Visa card.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Yes, you got it!

[@klh3244]

Craig do you feel that you have to ride a dual sport to take this trip? I ride a Harley bagger and have had the discussion with my riding buddies that a dual sport would be a must?

[@orangecrush1976]

I actually rode up there in June. My brother and I rode the gravel roads around Chicken and I can honestly say there were a number of baggers riding both paved and gravel roads. The important thing is to have the right gear to keep you warm and dry. You will just have to take it a little slower. Now if you need an excuse to buy another bike then of course do so, but in reality you will be fine. I wouldn't take a bagger up the Dalton Highway though if that is your goal.

[@CaudilloSilovik]

A Scotsman rode around the world, including what these three did in Alaska, on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. You can find the videos of that on TeapotOne's KZbin channel. I'm not trying to belittle Living Off The Slab in any way. Just giving an example of desire and planning being more important that the specific motorcycle, even with the last bike you would dream of taking. I had to come back and edit this. Turns out, the experts told him he was crazy and they were more right than wrong. He broke the rear subframe by putting too much weight on it. Still, he was back at it again six months later with the same bike or its "brother," probably with less weight on it.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Both of the guys hit the nail on the head. You could easily do this ride on any kind of bike. You will run into a lot of construction with dirty and loose gravel, where the ADV bike has an advantage, but we did not run into any areas that were not passable with a big touring bike; just slow down. We did the Top of the World on a dry day and it was pretty easy. I have head that if it is raining, it can get pretty slick, so that might be challenging on a larger bike. So, don't feel that you need to buy a new bike to do this trip. We did, because we wanted to try a different kind of riding and have the ability to go a little more off road--which we have done on other occasions. If I had to do it again, I would still take the ADV over my Vision, but either would make it fine. Just, check out the roads you want to travel and then make your decision accordingly.

[@LTVoyager]

The bigger issue is do you value your bagger as the roads and truck launched pebbles will be rough on it. I am planning to ride my LT as far as Anchorage and then rent a smaller dual sport for the Dalton. The big limitation on my LT is available tires. I could ride the Dalton easy if dry, but add some rain and my LT's street tires would be a nightmare. And I really don't want to beat up my fairing with the stones and corrode things from the calcium chloride.

[@vrich3733]

👍

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks!

[@michaelbdoherty]

👌👍💪

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks!