Photo for July & August

Here is a photo of FrankL and his Silver Wing at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. One of the very few scooters to ride to the end of the road at the northern most point in North America. Given the scorching heat this time of year in the rest of northern hemisphere it might be a little refreshing to fantasize riding far above the Arctic Circle. Note the tastefully applied duct tape holding the Front Cover to the Inner Cover.

Hmm, even though there is no apparent snow, Frank does look a bit stiff & frozen though.

Now if only we could get a photo of one of our Eurofolk and their Silver Wing at Nordkapp...

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

Now if only we could get a photo of one of our Eurofolk and their Silver Wing at Nordkapp...

All the direct ferry routes from the UK to both Norway and Sweden stopped operating many years ago. They usually took 24 hours or longer, and were expensive even before you'd factored in the extra cost of a berth in a cabin and meals. Some Norway ferries arrived in port late evening so you had the option of another night in your cabin before disembarking the next morning.

For all their scenic splendour Nordic countries aren't a budget option for UK visitors, so unless you were part of an organised bike tour or had a booked a selection of hotel rooms, you'd likely be in a your tent or a campsite hut or cabin. I've read touring articles saying the road surfaces in Norway are particularly abrasive to tyres, so plodding all the way up to the Nordkapp and back you'd be better off fitting fresh rubber.

So really whatever the advantages of mountains and fjords, it's still  a long and expensive way to travel to the far North just for the bragging rights and the two obligatory photos. One with your bike or scooter beside a road sign showing you've crossed into the Arctic Circle, and the other that monument at the Nordkapp, which may or may not be shrouded in mist when you get up there.

Counter to Meldrew's morose enthusiasm is that nutter, JAF Fernandez, who rode his Vespa from Spain to Nordkapp last January.

https://vespaextreme.blog/tag/jaf-fernandez/

Effort = Results

I'm not morose about anything mate, when I lived in Cumbria it was only about a 150 mile ride over to the North Shields ferry terminal. I've used the DFDS ferries to to travel to Gothenburg, Hamburg, and IJmiuden. I never quite got round to going to Norway before they stopped the ferries. Anyway nowadays I can fly to any of the Scandinavian countries in 2 to 3 hours very cheaply so why take a bike or scooter there.

Why on earth would I or anyone want to be riding on two wheels in Norway in winter where studded tyres are compulsory and there's only a few hours daylight? For me a few days in freezing New York this January was bad enough.

Having just been over the Arctic Circle recently in Alaska I can appreciate what a feat this really is.  We were in a Toyota FJ Cruiser and the roads were muddy and full of potholes. Loads of adventure bikes headed that way but fuel is the problem.  Lots of extra fuel must be carried so I am guessing this guy had a support vehicle, but perhaps not.



Picture of my son and his wife!  His FJ Cruiser.

Total respect to FrankL and IMHO a photo worthy of being a forum header.

I flew that route a couple times in our C180 back when the pipeline was under construction and can vouch even at this later date a ride up that road on a Silverwing or any two wheeler is an accomplishment for one's bucket list.

I like the new picture!

I have no need to ever ride to Alaska. None. It is one of the states I won't be riding a motorcycle in.

Modernman1953 wrote:

I have no need to ever ride to Alaska.  None.  It is one of the states I won't be riding a motorcycle in.  

Sheesh,..Where's your sense of adventure? Especially since the PNW is so close --well, close, relatively speaking.

I talked to a pastor at my son's church and he and two buddies rode the Al-Can on motorcycles. He has a Goldwing and they were on Harleys. If they can make it we can too LOL.

Having ridden a lot of miles on both the Goldwing and Silverwing scooter I'd agree totally. In fact I'd rather be on a Silverwing in loose gravel.

Looked for other submissions from FrankL and didn't find much and nothing recently so I hope he is still enjoying his scoot. I have nothing but admiration for those who two-wheel it to that extreme. I'm thinking FrankL could write a fantastic book about his adventures. Kudos, Mr. FrankL!!!