Hey Beth - You Out There ? Read This !

"Larry Raphael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... Hey Beth ! A real long time ago, I had a
bunch of questions for you

Quoted message said:

regarding bike riding in Alaska. My friend and I went on the Backroads Grand Canyon/Bryce
Canyon/Zion Natl Park Ride but we had the Alaska trip as one of our top three to choose from. Then
about 1-2 years ago, I was ready to go on another one of the tour rides and Alaska was looking
promising. But my friend sandbagged me as the time for signup was approaching.

Well - this year I told him I was going whether he went or not. So..I'm all paid up. Only
thing possibly upsetting a smooth start to all of this is that I am using frequent flyer
mileage on United Airlines. Already have the E-ticket. Just have to hope United hangs in there
thru mid June !

Hey Larry! That sounds great! Where will the tour take you? Will you be in anchorage at all?

Quoted message said:

Hey Larry! That sounds great! Where will the tour take you? Will you be in anchorage at all?

Hi Beth,

You know I have been reading the postings every now and then on this Board but only recently started
posting responses again and was not aware that by changing the title the posting did not get saved
with the the others in the 2003 organized ride posting.

Anyway..... here's the itinerary: Starts in Anchorage on June 1st (Sunday)and we get shuttled part
of the way toward Denali. The ride ends the next Sunday, June 8th. The ride starts toward Mt.
McKinley & Denali and along the Nenana River, pass the Park Headquarters, enter the forest and then
continue on to Fairbanks. Down the Richardson Hwy to Delta Junction, Tanana River, Delta River
toward Isabel Pass. Ride along Summit Lake, pass Paxson Lake, drop into Copper River Basin. From
Glennallen, Pipin Lake and side trip to Wrangell Mtns and then to Chitina. Stop off at Wortington
Glacier and waterfalls of Keystone Canyon. Then to Valdez and back to Anchorage via a cruise boat on
the last day. It's something over 400 miles.

I am scheduled to arrive a few days early in Anchorage. I will probably take some things in locally,
maybe a hike and/or visit the Seward area.

I am getting real concerned about United Airlines. What with their Chapter 11, trying to recover and
a general downturn in business right now. I am hoping they do not start liquidating resources before
my trip. If it happens well in advance of my trip, well then I'll pay the bucks with another
carrier. Just don't want to get caught in a last week limbo scramble. Ha ! Larry

"Larry Raphael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hey Larry! That sounds great! Where will the tour take you? Will you be in anchorage at all?

Hi Beth,

You know I have been reading the postings every now and then on this Board but only recently
started posting responses again and was not aware that by changing the title the posting did not
get saved with the the others in the 2003 organized ride posting.

Anyway..... here's the itinerary: Starts in Anchorage on June 1st (Sunday)and we get shuttled part
of the way toward Denali. The ride ends the next Sunday, June 8th. The ride starts toward Mt.
McKinley & Denali and along the Nenana River, pass the Park Headquarters, enter the forest and
then continue on to Fairbanks. Down the Richardson Hwy to Delta Junction, Tanana River, Delta
River toward Isabel Pass. Ride along Summit Lake, pass Paxson Lake, drop into Copper River Basin.
From Glennallen, Pipin Lake and side trip to Wrangell Mtns and then to Chitina. Stop off at
Wortington Glacier and waterfalls of Keystone Canyon. Then to Valdez and back to Anchorage via a
cruise boat on the last day. It's something over 400 miles.

i am familiar with all of those places - sounds like a really nice ride. its worth the weight
carrying a camera. but the climb around nenana is a freakin killer. i haven't dared to try it yet.
are you going to be riding an upright?

Quoted message said:

I am scheduled to arrive a few days early in Anchorage. I will probably take some things in
locally, maybe a hike and/or visit the Seward area.

You should borrow one of our bikes and take a ride with me. i will take you on the dreaded toodle of
anchorage. email me before you leave and we can get you my phone number.

Quoted message said:

I am getting real concerned about United Airlines. What with their Chapter 11, trying to recover
and a general downturn in business right now. I am hoping they do not start liquidating resources
before my trip. If it happens well in advance of my trip, well then I'll pay the bucks with
another carrier. Just don't want to get caught in a last week limbo scramble. Ha ! Larry

Beth,

I have a digital camera and was planning on bringing it. I do ride my recumbent most times these
days but I also have mountain bikes and the tour organizer includes hybrids in the tour cost.
So...in some ways , I would probably have a more relaxing trip if I did not have to worry about
shipping/lugging my recumbent there and I save some dough using their bike and they then service it
as well if it has any burps along the way. I probably will soon drag out my mountain bike and get
use to it's seat. It's got a real hard seat, probably harder than anything they will provide me.
I'll do that and perhaps also watch tv for a few hours each night while sitting on a 2X4 ! That will
help harden my butt a bit. LOL

I'll EMail you as I get closer to the date. I was not expecting to ride around Anchorage, given that
I will be riding consecutive days once the ride starts. Thought I woul hike around that Chugach area
or the paths leading out of downtown Anchorage. But....does sound nice to explore by bike. Larry

Quoted message said:

i am familiar with all of those places - sounds like a really nice ride. its worth the weight
carrying a camera. but the climb around nenana is a freakin killer. i haven't dared to try it yet.
are you going to be riding an upright?

Quoted message said:

I am scheduled to arrive a few days early in Anchorage. I will probably take some things in
locally, maybe a hike and/or visit the Seward area.

You should borrow one of our bikes and take a ride with me. i will take you on the dreaded toodle
of anchorage. email me before you leave and we can get you my phone number.