Update: Jan and his sidecar rig are ON the ferry, and it left the docks in Bellingham, Washington at 5 pm.
Although.....he does have a campfire story for us about the "drug sniffing dog".
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
When I arrived at the terminal Friday at 8 am, as they open the ticket window, wanting to purchase my ticket on the ferry to Alaska, they put me on stand by. Said to return at 2 am.
My only two other times to buy passage on an Alaska Marine Highway ferry there was no waiting, no standby.... Oh oh... will I not be sailing today? Ok, assess the alternatives? One, wait a week? This ferry makes a once a week round trip, Bellingham to Skagway back to Bellingham. Leaving Bellingham every Friday PM.
Or two, forget the ferry and ride up.
At 1:30 pm I could be found standing around the ticket windows smiling nicely....... trying to be friendly...
Finally they smiled back and granted me a boarding pass and a ticket to get my rig into the boarding queue.
I pulled into line to join the other motorbikes: three Motor Maids from Texas, one guy on a KLR, and a couple on a Goldwing. Mine was the only sidecar rig.
The smile says it all, past security, happy to be in a boarding line, last, but in line.
Now relaxed, knowing I was good to go, so I thought...
Now visiting with my new fellow travels, we see these guys approach. Someone said that's the DEA drug dog. There to inspect every vehicle before it gets on the ferry. OK, no worries...
Why is that dog circling my rig for the second time????
Then the dog stops and stares, won't move. The K9 Officer loudly asks, "Who owns this motorcycle? I need to search it."
Oh crap, not now. Will they refund my ticket?
This officer did not now that earlier, his supervisor approached me. He was in uniform, big badge, big gun, and all. He explained they had a K9 team in training and could he plant a training drug on my bike. Assuring me that he would be shadowing the team to make sure nothing would go wrong.
The dog was rewarded for finding the plant, I was relieved that that no cuffs were part of the training.
Everyone in line waiting were watching the dog with great interest. Only the other motorcyclist knew about the test. All the other vehicle drivers wondered why I was still allowed to board... me too. Is that why the other travelers are giving me a wide berth?
A second K9 team later came around with a different dog. That was the bomb sniffing dog and I had no plant....
Now onboard, and since I did not have a cabin, quickly I searched for a spot to set up camp for the trip. We, motorcyclists were the last to board so most good spots I knew of were taken. Finally found an open couch in the forward observation deck. A five foot for bed for my six and a half foot frame. The last time I slept on a five foot bed was sailing on a banana boat going from Panama City, Panama into the Darien jungle where I was working. Adventure riders all know of the Darien Gap. I lived in El Real de Santa Maria in the middle of the Gap in 1967-69. That's one of my many campfire stories, to which this drug dog story will be added.
What I thought was a wall of mirrors, is actually the dark windows of the lounge bar area... in the evening I kept wondering where the smell of popcorn was coming from.
Looking out the front windows, the view of the Bellingham waterfront.
Short bed or not. Will be resting here for three days before the Alaska riding begins.
p.s. My red Honda/Harrigan rig is still without a name. Any suggestions? Red Dog
CCjon
Red Dog?
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Glad you made it onboard! 😎
Red Dog sounds much better than Drug Runner, and a whole lot better than Walla Walla Pen. 😉
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
With the ferry under way, clouds and fog are now what we see all day. Not noticing a big temperature drop yet.
Life here is not totally colorless, but pretty much so. Here are some photos of the MS Columbia ferry in B&W.
The Solarium deck is very popular, where those of us cabin-less seek a lounge chair. You have to get here fast as the chair are quickly claimed. Since motorcycles were the last to roll on, all these chairs were taken by the time we could get to the deck. Thus I was searching the ship for a couch or reclining chair. Sleeping on the deck itself is seen everywhere, but that is not so desirable at 80.
The people one meets of this ferry are very interesting. Many retirees, former AMHS employees. All with interesting life experiences, all at home with the sea and the ruggedness of life in Alaska.
Two more days till Haines.
No hack in 1973 but it was an interesting trip from Arkansas. Me at the first Yukon border on my Honda CB350. A typical condition of the Alcan and a better portion of the Alcan. I found out that an adventure is not necessarily all fun while you’re having it.
Just so you know, the Alaska Highway between Haines Junction and Dawson Creek is in great shape.. No delays but of course that may change by the time you get there..
Enjoying following along with your quest.
MGV8, Had heard the Top of the World highway has been closed this summer. You have any word on that?
MGV8, Had heard the Top of the World highway has been closed this summer. You have any word on that?
We were in Dawson City 18-22 June. The TOW Hwy was closed 20-21 June because of fires. On the 22nd the Hwy opened at 0600-1100. The humidity was up and the winds were down was the reason given. On the evening of the 21st the Klondike Hwy closed at the intersection with the Dempster.
This is shaping up to be a very bad fire year in The Yukon and Alaska.
Wow what an adventure. Following every minute with great interest. so much happening, Love the pictures
I want to like every post 
The second day on the ferry was cloudy, foggy and grey. Already did the grey photos, here are a few shot from inside the ferry.
Interior hallway
To walk from one side of the ship to the other
Snack area, basically the hamburger and pizza bar. The clam chowder was good though.
Is the ferry empty? No, I got up early as most passengers slept in.
The white table cloth dining area overlooking the stern of the ferry.
The forecast is sunny weather later. Fingers crossed.
We stop in Ketchikan later this morning.
