Alaska Diaries - A Biker's blissful Solitude

We were driving up North from Denali National Park towards Fairbanks on Aug 21, our next stop to try our luck with some Aurora Borealis. As it is, the drive was very fascinating, with the clouds lying low on the road, and we - driving through the clouds. We saw a pullover spot for scenic view; and when we turned into the parking we saw a biker standing there watching the beautiful overlook with sun setting behind the mountains.

There was something in the way he was standing and gazing out into infinity. His face had a serene content smile. We asked him for how long has he been riding; and his response made my jaw drop. Well, it's quite a common thing in USA, where people run, hike, bike for miles together in the wilderness. But I hadn't met anyone in person who did that, so may be that was also a reason as to why I was so intrigued by him.

He introduced himself as Michael from New York. Yeah right, all the way from East to West. As if like that was not enough, he said he was riding 1000 miles as part of a fundraiser for charity. He had started from Prudhoe Bay Alaska, an oil town in the Arctic Circle around Aug 7th (I think) and was on his way to Anchorage planning to make it by Aug 29th. He was asking on how the weather in Denali Park was, so that he could ride a bit around Denali to get to the final 1000 miles milestone.

To give you an idea of the distance Michael was covering.

I was so glad to meet a person like him face to face, I started asking him about all the stuffs he had tied around his bike. He had a stove, tent, GPS tracker, bottles of water, some food etc...He told us about the weather challenges and how he has been resting up or eating etc... but not once did he wince or look tired.

Michael's Bike

We recalled a joke from our Denali Bus incident; the meals on the wheels. And he laughed adding his bit of the story. The other night while he was camping he got ready to cook bacon, and he was in the clothes he was going to ride later. He recalls smilingly that his host laughed and told him, "Well, I wouldn't do that if I were you. The smell of the bacon will sit in your clothes; and well, you will be meals on the wheels for the bears"

Alaska has given me so much more than I had thought I could get from it. But it's a bunch of amazing people I have met on the way that has added more perspective to the place. And seeing Michael, gave a complete different view of how the wilderness can be enjoyed to the core. It's pure blissful way of living life; of being alive in the nature.

Yeah - The height difference! That's Michael and Me.

**Update - Now that I am back in Denver, and with internet connection (Duh!) trying to publish some of these notes I had taken while on trip, I searched in google for Michael from New York biking 1000 miles in Alaska and guess what, below is the link to Michael Wedd's fundraising campaign for Autism. Way to go Michael. It was great meeting you!! https://www.crowdrise.com/cycling-alaska-for-autism/fundraiser/michaelwedd**

-Sarita
Dated - 21st August 2017

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