Where to head to. This sign at Pioneer Park aka Alaskaland suggests the "MOOON". I guess their router doesn't have spell check. I took this photo on Sunday evening when we met my cousins from Watsonvillle who decided to start the reunion early from Fairbanks. They treated us and my mom to dinner in an early celebration of her birthday. We went to the Alaska Salmon Bake which is always a treat.
On Wednesday morning, I headed down to Anchorage on the Ural loaded with food and supplies with Bridget and my youngest son in their cars all packed with more food and supplies. On Thursday morning, we went to Sam's Club and filled up the ice chests with perishable items and headed for Seward. I believe the most recent count is 58 attendees for the family reunion which starts tomorrow late afternoon. We opted to rent a house instead of staying at the Seward Hotel so that we have a kitchen and a place to stage food out of. Tomorrow, we are providing a light dinner and on Saturday I'm doing an outdoor cookout at a rented pavilion on the beach.
On Thursday afternoon, I rode from Anchorage to Seward and this road is really one of the most scenic in Alaska. Every way you turn there are more snow capped mountains. There was a pretty stiff headwind and the Ural was wide open and just able to maintain 55 mph. The speed limit was 65 but the wind was keeping most of the RVs going at Ural speeds. In fact, I even passed up two of them. I stopped at Turnagain pass mostly to check the cylinder head temperatures after the climb. They peaked at right around 425°F on both sides which is right at the upper limit.
About 25 miles out of Seward I stopped at Moose Pass to pick up some water. But also to add a fleece layer as the temperature had dropped and it started to rain. The rain was intermittent but occasionally heavy but let up completely by the time I arrived in Seward. Since I didn't have the address of the house, I wandered through the streets until I saw Bridget's Prius. More pictures later as the 2016 Machida Family Reunion ramps up...
Now wouldn't that be a sight, a Ural on the moon! Have fun with your family!
ReplyDeleteSome serious engineering would be needed to reduce the weight, add a reliable powertrain that doesn't need air and seriously expand the dealer network...
DeleteSounds like a lot of socializing, and cooking and perhaps Ural rides for the relatives!
ReplyDeletePerhaps… (I brought a couple of extra helmets)
DeleteHave a great reunion with your family
ReplyDeleteThank you! It should be fun though it may be a little wet.
DeleteEnjoy your family outing, Richard. Maybe you'll get some guest monkeys?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, unless it's really raining...
DeleteWow, that is a lot of people for the reunion. I bet you will have a great time, and you'll enjoy cooking at the beach.
ReplyDeleteI think that some of the reunions have been much larger than this one. Partly due to the cost of getting to Alaska and the long trip. We just picked up my cousin from Japan and their flight was from Narita to Los Angeles, then Seattle to Anchorage. Then hopped on a train to Seward. A long time to be on the road.
DeleteRichard, have a great time with the family! Good thing you had the Ural rig to assist with all of your supplies that needed transporting.
ReplyDeleteIt was pointed out to me that my truck may have been a better choice for transporting things.
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