Here are the trip summaries from various bikers!

I had dreamed of a ride to Alaska since the 60s but over the years had all but wrote it off ! I found out about alaskabikerun.com ,when I read an article in Rider by Darryl Petrack. I told My Wife I was going to register and if I couldn't get the time off ,I'd just retire ! Like Mo i had some apprehension of group riding .the comaraderie of you fifteen made this ride to Alaska the most enjoyable ride I have ever been on ever ! I am glad You got to Your bike running, Wayne and was able to ride the finish ! Thank You All and look forward to crossing paths in the future !  Ride Safe Lyle Doverspike

UPDATE: I got my bike running on Tuesday. I spent WEDS cleaning and doing routine maintainance. Early on Thursday I rode my ride.the 260 miles back to my break down point. I could not end this great ride in the back of a u-haul. I planted a little flag at the break down point and started my last leg again. One last 500+ day, It was a great last official day of the greatest ride in the history of rides.
Thanks again Mike and thanks to all for a fantistic experience.
 Ride often ride safe
Wayne Cox

Hi Mike, When planning your trips to Hyder, especially  if it is couples, I strongly recommend going the back way through Glacier National Park in Montana, then through the border by passing Calgary & going to Banff & Jasper National Parks.  My wife & I have done this several times & the scenery is 10 times better than Alaska. When we approached Jasper on your trip & you saw Mt Robeson that is what you will see around every curve in the route I have suggested. Banff has many motels, world famous Lake Louise & up the road the Jasper Ice Fields in addition to many other sites. Both places also have hot springs in the vicinity.  Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park is a must for any biker. AT the top where there is a visitor center you can follow the board walk behind the center to a awesome view of a glacier lake. If you enjoy hiking as Jackie & I do, hike to the bottom to see all the trout suspended in the crystal clear water. Their are always mountain goats there within feet of the people. For a couples trip it would not hurt to spend 2-3 days in each area to see the sites. You will not regret it.  Herb Pitzman

To the Spectacular Sixteen, I was glad to here that everyone made it home safe and sound. I've called Bob and left messages but no reply as of this evening. I've been in Clifton Forge, VA since Monday evening and kinda glad to not have to sit on a motorcycle. It has been rainy so the bike cleanup project is on hold until clear skies. My last days on the road were uneventful other than the occasional start button not working but that will be corrected before I head back to Florida  After North Dakota, Minnesota day one and Wisconsin and Illinois on day two I had Indiana (lunch in my first White Castle,like Krystal but the employees never heard of Krystal) Kentucky and West Virginia left. As you can see I broke no speed records and was quite the leasurely rider. Nothing as cool as Ignace and Wawa but took interstate the entire ride and nothing fell off or quit working. I-64 in Kentucky and West Virginia are a fun ride and great scenery. Almost took US 60 near Charleston WV as the bike folks I met said it is a great ride. It will have to wait until next time as it would have added hours to an already long return. (Cound be an east coast reunion site) So... Mike, thank you again for putting together a lifetime experience for this years"Spectacular Sixteen" and to all 15 riders,thanks for the encouragement, friendship, help and humor. When I get home next week and have my desktop in front of me I'll send some stuff. Steve P.S. I'm already having withdrawal because of no daily emails.  Steve Schiff

 I don’t know how I came about the idea to do this trip. Maybe I heard about Prudhoe Bay from the Iron Butt web site, but whatever the inspiration was, I knew this was a journey I needed to do. My wife convinced me that I should not go alone, but finding friends to go with me was impossible. Somehow a search lead me to Mike’s web site and I knew it was the organization I could join to make this trip possible.
     I paid the one hundred dollars with the feeling that if I wimped out before starting I wouldn’t be out much money. I tried to prepare my old bike as best as I could, but I was afraid it might not be up to this trip. Part of me kept my finger on the “bailout” button until my wife started telling everyone that I was going on this new adventure. Now I was locked into it. There was no choice but to become committed to the journey. I had a couple of months to prepare and spent all of them working out bugs with the bike. I wanted to video the trip as much as possible to show some of the spontaneous things that happen on a long distance bike trip. Although the cameras and recorder worked fine during testing they ultimately were too much trouble to work with on the road. This did not detract from the challenge of the ride and the ultimate challenge of fulfilling my original goal of reaching Prudhoe Bay.
     I have ridden many miles on my old bike, but this was the first time I would be riding with a group headed in the same direction. I felt a little out of place being the youngest member of the group, having the oldest bike, and meeting up halfway through the ride. I’m sure there was some concern about a 31 year old motorcycle being able to do the trip. Truth be told the bike probably had more in her than I did. There were a few people who told me I would find my place, and they were correct.  It didn’t take long into the first day before I felt part of a group.
     This ride gave me the wonderful opportunity to meet a group of people that I would have never met without it. Part of me wishes we could have continued together for many more miles, but alas, all journeys come to an end and we return to our previous lives. I found the realization of the end of this trip to be the worst part. I want to thank Mike for providing the opportunity and organization, Lyle and Jenny for the companionship along the fast path, and everyone for the camaraderie, companionship, and friendship. A special thanks to Wayne for allowing me to follow him to Prudhoe Bay and for allowing me to be a part of his journey.
     My best wish for everyone is that this is not their final challenging motorcycle ride, but the stimulus to do more. 
Take care, Paul Glunt
PS. Although the XS Eleven got me home safe and sound I felt it was finally time to upgrade. I'm now the owner of a new FJR 1300.
http://mepaulg.multiply.com/photos/album/1/ALASKA_TRIP

Hey Paul,
     An FJR... hmmm... hoping to catch up to me? Or...? lol I'm sure you will enjoy it!  Congrats, and that is to everyone, for making the trip! I, for one, had a blast and you all made it all the better.
Hoping you all made it home safe and have lots of wonderful memories and stories to share with those you care about.
Jenny 

    As I'm sitting here reminiscing about the trip , I know Steve had a rough time but a quick story I did forget to mention and a lesson for all. Kevin and I were making time after leaving Ignace on our way to Wawa., we pulled into a gas station,I pumped my gas went into the station to pay, The attendant asked which pump I had used as I looked out the window and said pump # 1 I realized that pump number 1 was diesel. Talk about ruining your day. Kevin was able to get cell phone service and thankfully got his mechanic who gave explicit instructions on what to do and not to do. There was half a mechanic there who had a electric pumped and was able to pump the diesel fuel out, flushed the tank with gas , I did about 20 miles near the station and then once again we were off. moral of the story even in hurry PAY ATTENTION. It's all good and just another story to tell and laugh about now,  then I was a cussing.....this situation and my rear tire are the reason we never made it to Wawa, but as long as one can laugh, It's all good.Talk to all soon Billy S.

   Steve sorry about the bike mishap, but you do write a nice novel an as we all know it was not a fiction and remember as the Grateful Dead say "What a long strange trips it been". I had a great time on this trip. I had to get a new rear tire in Canada on the Canada Minnesota border. When I pulled into the dealer they measured and I had 1/32 left on the tire. I asked if they thought I could get 1500 miles out of the tire. After a good laugh, I had a new tire installed. it was about 7 PM and was to late to make Wawa, so we entered the US at the Minnesota border. They were nice to us thank goodness and we headed to Duluth and spent the night in Wisconsin  on the Minnesota Wisconsin border. We got started the next day and headed home as we were on route 80 entering Pennsylvania, Lyle caught up to us, we road the next 100 miles or so together stopped to eat and parted ways. We arrived at the George Washington bridge, which separates New York from New Jersey at about 1 AM. Just as in New York at 1 AM there was a 5 mile back up. We got to Queens stopped for a celebratory beer and Kevin and I parted  ways. I got home at about 3 AM early Sunday morning. total mileage for me was 10,114. This trip was everything one could have dreamed of and it was a great time meeting everyone, Hopefully we can all get together in the future. Again I want to thank everyone for a great time......THANKS AGAIN ......BILLY S.

HELL0 from Alabama, Made it home Sinday nite 9:30.  hated to leave my old riding partnerArthur Wayne Cox  I enjoyed hanging around Wayne about as much asI did the trip.  He truly is a good man. I appreciate the time I had with my new friends.  You were a great groupto take my first ride with...  My little old Suzuki made it home without ahitch but looked sad when I didn't load her up this morning.  I feel bad for the bike trouble and expense they hit some guys with....no mercy on the road.   Iam glad for a safe return and wish you all the best.  Thanks for somegreat memories..God Bless one and all! Tucelli, you are some kind of guy!  You have my deepest admiration. Bryant Mixon

Four of us stayed at the Holiday Inn Exp. in Ft. Wayne, IN. I left around 6 am in a light rain and headed home (west) the weather got better as the day went on, I made it home about 7 ish, with 10,010 miles on the odometer. Been cleaning the bike for two days. Took the rear wheel to the Harley dealer in Lincoln yesterday to have a new tire mounted. They told me I was past due, but they remembered putting on the last new tire for me less than a month ago! Wanted to know how I wore out a new tire in less than a month. But you all know how that can happen!      I have been on my share of long motorcycle trips, but none this long. I can't get this trip out of my mind. I just keep playing it over and over. So how do I share my final thoughts without leaving out something? I had a little fear of going to Alaska with a group of people that I had never met, but as usual, if I don't let my fear stop me all works out good.       Thanks to you all, I very much enjoyed getting to know each of you. Once again I feel that I get more than I deserve. You all ride safe------------- got home from Ft. Wayne last night, good to be home. I had the time of my life, by far the best trip I have been on. I rode a little over 10,000 miles. I am still sorting pictures.-----Mo from NebraskaI

How did a bunch of guys from all parts of the country find a guy out of Florida and follow him to the Northern fringes of North America???   Beats the heck out of me, but it was GREAT!                                         I have been riding for a long time and have taken several weeks in the summer for some years  and just went riding.   From Key West Florida to the upper corner of Maine.   From Death Valley( 2:p.m. in the afternoon with Temps at 126 F) to the Northern Rockies and everyplace in between.   But, I always wanted to ride to Alaska.   Just thinking about the long trek up and back was exciting much less actually doing it.                                                                          Last summer while surfing the NET on Alaska bike trips, came across this guy in Florida that not only did it once but does it every year for the last 7 or so.   He(Mike Tercelli) not only did it that many times but does it to raise awareness(and contributions) for his great cause- the betterment for deaf children.                                                      I saw this as an opportunity to finally get to go to Alaska and who better than to go with than a guy that has been there more than once!     I always have been riding by myself and now I will be sharing this great epic ride with a bunch of strangers.... Well, a bunch of characters we did assembly and all of them are really a nice bunch to know and hang with for 3 weeks on the road.I for one had a splendid time and the trip was more than I had expected- fun, awesome scenery, and of course those famous weather beaten roads- oh did I mention the fun with thegroup??                     If anyone wants to head to Alaska and wants to hang out with a bunch of nice persons, then sign up for the next Alaskan Bike Run by Mike Tercelli and help him raise awareness(and some contributions) for a great cause.   Who knows, you might meet some real nice people too.  C. Haas  P.S. You might even get "Hyderized" along the way!! 

This is Bob's daughter.  He just made it home today, August 1 at around 7 pm.  He had some bike problems and had to get a new starter, and tires in Michigan.  He stayed with family for a few days in Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia before finally arriving home safely tonight.  He says he logged 12,050 miles. It was a trip of a lifetime for him.  He's a picture guy and he took over 1000 pictures of his trip.  We're glad he's back and beside exhausted, he's doing fine. Please forward this to the group for him.  It may take him a couple of days before he reads his emails.  
Thanks,
Mary for Bob

      "Wow, and I thought with being a police officer for 37 years in Miami, Florida, that I had "been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt."  Au contraire mon frer.  Forget your riots and hurricanes, this is the real deal.  I tend to ramble, so I'll get to the point:  All members of our riding company have used this phrase many times until it has become stale and worn, but nevertheless, I'll say it again:  "This was truly the adventure of a lifetime."  Oh, don't get me wrong.  This trip certainly wasn't all sunshine, lollipops, and roses.   And, it is definitely not for the faint-hearted or the novice rider.  You will be challenged in many ways and must be able to keep up.  There will be days that you think will never end and all you keeping thinking of as your grinding out the miles are a hot shower and a warm bed.   Maybe not even dinner.  But,  there will be those days that will be truly magnificent weatherwise and even more so scenery-wise and those few bad days will fade.   Salmon Glacier, Mount Robson in Jasper National Park, bison, bear and moose right up to the side of the road by Muncho Lake, great little "mom and pop" restaurants and hotels, curvy, twisty mountain roads and so on.  In any case, spectacular or not quite so spectacular, each and every hour of each and every day you will be making memories to last your lifetime. 
      I tell Mike that this group of 16 that I rode with was special.  We did have a chemistry.  That's not to say there wasn't the rare personality clash.  But when you put together 16 strong-willed adventurous types that's bound to happen.  We helped each other when necessary and laughed with and at each other when it wasn't.  And poor defenseless (Not!) Jenny. How she put up with the antics of 15 guys (albeit all harmless) I'll never know.   I'm sure that every group Mike puts together thinks they were special and head and shoulders above all others that have made this trip.  With apologies to all previous groups, in my mind it was this group.  15 very special people and me.  So, if you're thinking about this trip and you're up to it healthwise, spirit wise, and experience wise, do it.   By all means, do it.  I'm already thinking about 2011.  And to quote Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, "loonies, and toonies, and liters, Oh My!"  That's an inside joke.  But make the trip and you'll figure it out soon enough.  Regards to all, Russ Kubik"