The bike is OK! The adventure can continue. Spent yesterday putting it all back together and she looks fine. She? Haven’t decided on sex or name yet. ‘Old Yella’ might be appropriate apart from fact that the dog of the similar name dies at the end of the film… OK so not Old Yella. Suggestions? And Stu, no probs with the oil. A little came out but nothing to worry about.
I’m staying with Ron and Barb Bliss in Anchorage at the moment. They belong to the warmshowers.org network and if the rest of the people on it are like Ron and Barb then it’s going to be a fantastic trip. You couldn’t meet two nicer or more generous people. I mean, they don’t know me but they are happy to lend me their cars! Crazy! But great. And here they are…
Off in a moment to get the last of the bits and pieces I need for the trip.
The whole idea of using my iPhone to navigate may be in jeopardy. There are no pay as you go contracts for iPhone in Alaska and even if there were there’s little or no coverage outside Anchorage. So I’m trying to find a GPS/navigation app that has maps I can access offline. Anyone got any suggestion?
It’s all coming together and I’m excited to be heading off tomorrow. I hope to set off about 1000 and make it to Whittier about 75 miles/ 120 km away by about 1800. There’s a train/car tunnel to negotiate just before Whittier, and it doesn’t allow bikes, but I’m told it’s quite easy to hitch a ride on one of the ubiquitous UTE’s. If I don’t make it before 1800 it doesn’t really matter as it doesn’t get dark here. At all! 2330 yesterday and it was like early evening. Crazy!
I’ll sign off for now, but please leave comments. It’s great hearing from you and keeps me connected with ‘the real world’!
Love
Pete
Patagonia Pete 
2nd attempt from halfwit friend…
Just checking in on you fella,
Cool beans
good luck with the first leg.
ATB
Theres a few apps in the app store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/offline-topo-maps/id376535806?mt=8#) , but unsurprisingly i dont have any experience of the US centric ones – i use MemoryMap in the UK for when walking. You could screen grab map tiles when you do have an internet connection and save them as jpgs? No navigation that way though, but surely mainish roads and asking would do?
Glad the steed is ok!
Hi pete, sounds like your having fun!
Check out oMaps (offline maps): http://itunes.apple.com/app/omaps-offline-maps/id318954474?mt=8 for your map problem! Check that openstreetmap has maps for the remote places youll be travelling but should be ok!
Your Nephew,
Tom C
P.s. Seen any bears yet?
You could try ‘Tank Girl’ for the bike’s name, there’s certainly something hardcore and military about it! Can’t quite remember what happened at the end of the that film though, did she die as well? GF x
Hey, do I get to speak to you in person before you head off into the wilderness? x
Hey small badger,
Don’t reckon you’ll make Whittier. Mildly Amusing perhaps, Occasionally Titillating possibly, but never Whittier.
Keep on keeping on
Martin R
Your first resting place looks lovely, so nice to see real generosity without any hidden catches (unless the cameraman was actually a rubber clad gimp with ‘needs’?!)
Glad the bike is all good after the flight, it seems like a proper bike, not like my pathetic road racer, my gear lever sheared off yesterday so i’m stuck in gear now with 2 days to sort it before Brighton, great timing, shouldn’t have bought Italian, hey ho.
No ideas about the Iphone problem mate, sorry. I’m pretty sure a wet finger in the air while the other hand on the chin will see you through though
keep on posting and go carefully
PS, I think you should call the bike ‘Steve’
And another thing…..
In the picture, are you goosing Barb?
Hi Pedro
Go buy a paper map and a compass and get old school. Just use the iPhone to help when you get lost. GPS is great but a map won’t let you down….
Steady and safe travels and good luck……
HI Pete
Good to see the big grin on your face! are you in some kind of log cabin there? Is it bear-proof?
We think you should call the bike The Mile Muncher. Or Gladys…..
Much love Bin
Hi Uncle Pete! Im scared that you might die or something. Please promise me you’ll be OK.
Love Helen
Bin, how about Bernard? Bernard the Bike? No, maybe not. Nothing comes to mind at the moment apart from Very Heavy Bike. Maybe that’s it – VHB. Not particularly anthropomorphic though. The search continues…
Helen, don’t worry about me. I’ve been told all about avoiding bears. The main one being – “pedal faster”! Anyway, it’s the moose you have to worry about. Very unpredictable apparently. But what they really hate is people hanging their hats on their antlers. So as long as I don’t do that I should be fine.
Love
Pete
Pete,
Sounds awesome so far. Catch me a bear when you have a chance please.
Those mapping aps? Well, I did a quick University of Google course and saw this come up a few times so might be worth a try
http://trails.lamouroux.de/
It claims to do what you want but I’m too cheap to spend $5 on it myself!!! Cheap? Who me?