2007 HOG State Rally…Fairbanks – Part 1

Went to the HOG State Rally, which was in Fairbanks (pretty much rotates between north & south in Alaska for now) this year.

Lots of the same familiar faces as well as some new ones! Minx and I always appreciate going to the rally as it’s a great place to meet & greet as well as hookup with many people we have not been able to connect with (for whatever reason). We can all let our hair down and enjoy three days of fun.

We took off Thursday morning. A little chilly, but warm enough that it wasn’t a bother. As usual, we left Anchorage and had breakfast in Wasilla (we normally eat at the 49er at four corners, but it has been closed this year) at the Trout House – formerly Windbreak Cafe.

From there it was a short hop to Trapper Creek for gas. As before the roads were good and they were still doing work on the bridge just before Trapper Creek.

The ride from there to Denali park was awesome! Sun and clear skies. Just on our side of Denali by the Grizzly Bear cabins (mile 231) they have it to one lane with a traffic light. Be careful as it’s on a blind downhill curve!

The road to Healy was, well, the road to Healy. I know that one day soon…it will be repaired. Bumps, frost heaves, tar patches and tar snakes. Luckily, no rain.

All the way to Nenana….sun and clear skies.

It wasn’t till Esther that we hit the rain.

It was pretty good too. By the time we rode from Esther to Fairbanks (roughly 5 miles) it was bad enough that with a full face it was getting difficult to see.

That’s the reason Donna (who was riding behind me) lost it on the off ramp.

We were at the final stretch. The exit to Airport Way…and the stop less than a 1000 feet from the Fred Meyer where we would gas up and relax after a good haul.

The Airport Way off ramp is a roundabout that you have to slow down for and with the weather being what it was I was slowing down to less than 25mph. Just because it was a flat turn and it was slick with oil.

That didn’t help Donna enough though. She high sided at the corner. Took me almost two minutes to get back there – I should have just rode up the off ramp <sigh>.

When we got there she was in pain (of course) but conscious.

Luckily, her grand daughter – whom she was packing until Nenana – had gotten tired and we put her in the truck.

As we were seeing Donna in the ER, another friend walks in. As I begin to ask if he’s here to see Donna, I realize he’s covered in dirt and limping….so I grab him and get him admitted.

By the end of the day Thursday there were five bike accidents (some on the way here and some in Fairbanks).

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June 20, 2007 · Filed Under Clubs, Road Reports

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