Russ Kubik
Lake Placid, Florida

Bike:  Honda Goldwing

     Like Lyle Doverspike, I'm 62 year old, retired, and will be doing the trip on an 08 Honda Goldwing.   I'm a retired police officer from Miami-Dade County (Miami's county) in South Florida.  I spent the majority of my 36 year career as a motorcycle officer.  I started riding as an officer in 1969 on a '63 Harley with a tank shifter and a "suicide clutch."  I rode Harleys for my entire career and have probably logged in over a half of million miles on those "Milwaukee Shakers."  

     My first motorcycle was a Cushman Eagle (I'm really dating myself).   My longest trip was on a Harley Road King up the east coast from South Florida to Maine and then west through Canada.   I had hoped to make it to Yellowstone, but it was mid-October and an early winter storm front chased me home through Michigan and the midwest.   The two most memorable events on this trip were a visit to the "Wall" in D.C. (sad but inspirational) and a motorcycle climb up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire (white knuckles for a flatlander from South Florida like me).  Since I was between bikes when the opportunity to make this trip came up, I took my time to search for the perfect motorcycle which, for me, will be a cross-continental trek.  I kept coming back to the Goldwing.  While I truly love Harleys and always will, this is one awesome motorcycle.  

     I have always wanted to visit Alaska.  To have the opportunity to be able to do it on a motorcycle was just to good to pass up.   Since I'm not that far away now, I will probably start my trip a day earlier in Key West, at the southernmost point in the U.S.  To ride from Key West up the the arctic circle would be quite an accomplishment.  Once we get to Alaska, I'm thinking about a sidetrip down to Wasilla.  Maybe I'll get lucky and run into Sarah.