ALASKA AT EIGHTY - FINAL STAGE OF THE UCC North to South 2025

We are about to raise the age bar on IBA’s Ultimate Coast to Coast challenge,
Am in Homestead, FL tonight. An easy130 miles in the morning puts me in KeyWest in less than 30 days.

then there is time to reflect and analyze what went 
well, what to do different next time?

One thought that still makes me pause, how in the h*ll did I complete the UCC IN 2013 on a simple little RUSSIAN URAL sidecar rig?

Last day of the challenge.

The finale...

The beginning gas receipt in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, back on July 19th, 2025. 18,793 miles




Ending Gas receipt, Key West, FL, August 6th, 2025, 24,985 miles

The first of the two "end of ride" witnesses, the Chief of Police, Key West, FL. Note the four gold stars on his collar.



6,192 miles ridden in 18 days (based on start and end times), 4 rest days. Avg 442 miles a day. Was not looking to set a UCC speed record, and didn't. Just raised the bar as the oldest person to complete the challenge.

Age is just a number. If the mind believes it, you can do it. Don't listen to those who say you are too old, poor health, out of shape, etc, etc, all excuses. They are standing in your way of you reaching your goals.

You're doing it or not doing it is all in your mind. Believe in yourself and do it.

Who's next? Who is going to raise that bar even higher?

Ride safe, Ride far

CCjon

p.s. I lost 19 lbs on this ride. No crying over that.

ALASKA AT EIGHTY - CANADA and south, UCC NORTH TO SOUTH 2025

The last couple of photos taken in Canada and all of those take in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado are coming out very fuzzy, out of focus. I wonder if all the vibration of the Haul Road and since has affected the camera on my iPhone. I installed the vibration model QuadLok before starting this trip just to prevent that as had read their earlier model did have an issue with vibrations damaging the camera focus.

The up close photos of receipts and odometer are sharp, but the landscape photos are not like they were earlier in the trip.

Will carefully try a few photos tomorrow to test the focus.

As for now, rain is still flollowing me, crossed into Montana at Sweet Grass, two days ago. After a wet night in Great Falls, rolled south passing through Billings to reach Casper, Wyoming. Why this route? Have been watching that heat dome in the mid-west. Decided to ride south along the eastern slope of the Rockies where it is a cooler, then turn east somewhere Mid-state in New Mexico, Clovis, maybe???, then angling down to go along the Gulf coast. It is hotter in Dallas than in Houston.

That's the plan, but maps and weather reports are studied nightly to make adjustments as warranted.

Am on schedule with an anticipated arrival in Key West with days to spare.

About the iPhone camera...

I knew it. The Montana lens broke loose... the other two are fine.

Hopefully is under Apple warranty, Just got that iPhone in February.

 

Maybe Mama geek was right, turn off the phone and restart it....

These photos look better.

The mascot for the University of Texas is the Longhorn. With the expression "Hook 'em. Horns"

For those who have never ridden in West Texas, here is a frequent sight. Typical longhorn, don't get too close, their reach is a bit more then one might expect.

Who is that shy white one behind the boss? A short horn?




Nope, not short at all. Might even have longer horns that curled forward instead of wide.



Even the ranch horses are smart enough to be cautious when working around these critters. A quick nod of the head and you're gored.

They might not be a wild animal, but they definitely are not anyone's pet.

Arrived in Cypress for a couple of night as a pit stop on this journey. Red Dod the rig needs some TLC before we make the last leg of the UCC ride. Minor issues, nothing that would end the journey, just issues that create a nuisance: parking brake is not working, gas flap has a catch issue.

CCjon

ALASKA AT EIGHTY - Fairbanks, UCC NORTH TO SOUTH 2025

Crisis in Fairbanks. 

When I arrived at the Fairbanks hotel that night, I went to pay, my credit card was not in my wallet.... Oh cr*p. 

You know how your mind races when something like that happens... finally traced it back to when last used, in COLDFOOT. 
250 mies back up the Haul Road. One has to give your credit card to the cashier before they turn on the gas pump. I also told her I needed a room for the night. When I returned after filling all my fuel containers, she handed me a gas receipt and a key for the room. Then proceeded to tell me how to find the room and where to park. She failed to give me back my card and I did not notice.

Now what to do. Tried calling Coldfoot. No service at this time. OK, to be safe, will cancel the card. Called the 800 number. I get a machine answering the call, IN SPANISH. It kept asking for my Social Security Number... no way am I giving that number to a machine, much less one that only talks in Spanish and will not connect me to a live operator. Hung up. 

Maybe I can go to a local bank branch and cancel it. Checked, no branch office for Bank of America in Fairbanks.

Tried calling Coldfoot again. Still no service.

Called the wife in Houston, explained the situation. Maybe she can cancel it. Nope, she is not on that account. We have her card, my card, and our card. Each with a different bank to keep things straight.

Okay, I have some cash and a back up credit card, so could keep traveling. But the idea that a credit card is out there, in who's hands, is worrisome.

Nope, no Bank of America office in Anchorage either.

It's been several hours now. Do I ride back up to Coldfoot? That's taking two days from the UCC ride.

At 8:45 pm I call Coldfoot one more time, and get an answer. "Yes, we have your credit card here."

Me: "Can you send it to me here in Fairbanks?"

"Not sure how fast the Post Office can do that." Remember the photo of three days a week service?

Me: "How do you send your stuff to your home office in Fairbanks?"
"Oh," then she turns and talks with someone there. 
"Ok. a pilot here is flying to Fairbanks tonight and can take it. What is your phone number?"

After agreeing to that, I hang up relieved. Then I think, I just agreed to them giving my credit card to a stranger who says he will fly it to Fairbanks and drop it off somewhere.

What can go wrong?

Am awaken at 12:46 am with a called from someone who says they have my credit card, but they are closing in ten minutes. They give me an address where to go when they open at 7 am.

At 7:10 am I have my credit card safely back in my wallet. All at no cost. Who do I thank? Never met the pilot.
Been riding the Haul Road in dry weather for four day, and now this, thank you Lord.

Next day...

July 21, Maintenance Day, laundry and rest.

Have been riding six days straight, time for maintenance. Had scheduled an old change at DELTA Powersports, the Honda dealer. Arrived early and they got right on it. Had me out by noon.

While there, a sorry looking BMW GSA rolls ( sort of) in. More like limps in with a thud-a-thump, thud-a-thump.



What's that on his front wheel?



Seems he wrapped duct tape around it to hold the tire to the wheel. Why??? It's not holding air.

What's with the rim?

His story is he hit a deep pothole on the Haul Road and flared both sides of the rim out! That must have been quite a hit. Says he was able to keep the bike up.

The dealership has no new wheels or used ones for the GSA.

Have no idea how he is going to get this rental bike back to Anchorage agency.