Epilogue

Now that I have been home a few days, I am getting used to normal food, sleep and surroundings that do not give you a sore behind. Actually my new seat was quite comfortable and I could still feel my behind when I finally got off the Bmer
With all that nature threw at me and some challenging roads there were only 2 little things I needed to repair.
Change out the Low beam bulb and fix my front left turn signal. A rock from a passing vehicle hit it and shattered the lens.
The new tires were a must on the back roads that I took.
The drive was 6764 Miles and the boat ride 1200+ miles.
The people I met along the way were fun to be with and we vowed to stay in touch after the completion of our tours. My companions were so concerned about my solo adventures they called 3 times to check where I was and how things were with me.
My other new friends form Germany as well as the folks who hosted my breakfast all helpful and friendly...good people all of them. I am thankful that I got to meet them!
Animals big and small from Whales to the the birds that I got to see and hear were awesome.
The landscaped from the hauntingly empty Arctic mountains to the bucolic settings of Southern BC and further south to the desert that met me in Nevada all of it impressive and beautiful in its own way.
Then there is my mode of transport, my bike. It performed flawlessly and got me through all situations in good shape.
All in all a great ride and one that saw me return healthy and a little richer for the experience!

In life as whole the saying goes:

It is not the destination but the journey that counts.

Mmontana/Idaho/ Nevada/ California

So here we go again . I wake up, pack up and ride off in the rain and cold fog along the banks of Flathead Lake only 40 miles from Glacier National Park but I see very little at first. As the day progresses I ride up a 12,000 ft pass past a beautiful ski area into Idaho and the weather is clearing, still cold but clearing! Heading down Hwy 93 along the Salmon River (of Lewis and Clark Fame) brings me to Twin Falls Idaho and out onto the high desert of northern Nevada. Call it a halt in Wells NV( you guessed it another Motel 6) and crash. Upload my pictures, call my Bea and drift off to sleep.
Wednesday dawns cool and clear as I leave Wells still on Hwy 93 at almost 7000 ft and freezing temperatures. I ride for 200 miles before a stop for coffee and a roll. Call mom and make a dinner date with her and for the first time since Haines Alaska I do not need my "Arctic Gear" What a joy to shed all of it!
And on I go past Las Vegas into California past Victorville Corona through heavy traffic I arrive safely at Home at 5 PM. Being greeted enthusiastically be my Bea and little Miss Heidi.
The ride is over.....all I have now is memories of a great adventure....a dirty bike and a wonderful and loving home!

I am Blessed!

From Jasper to Banff

Well we've made into the Rockies again and...the sun is shining and it is warm which is nice as I am heading south on Hwy 93 from Jasper to Banff and points beyond.
The road is fantastic long sweeps up the mountain passes all the way to the "Ice Field" a glacier that you can walk to and walk on . All of it on marked trails. After seeing the Juneau Icefields and its glaciers this one is a little bit of a let down.
We take pictures and continue past mountain sheep and bears with stunning views of the Rockies all the way to Lake Louise and Banff. I find a great camp ground and am looking forward to enjoying my surroundings. That is until a park Ranger recommends that I leave and head south as they expect the weather to turn bad, cold sleet and even some snow in the next 10 to 12 hours.
So with much regret I get on my "Stinger" and head out again. The goal is to make Kalispell MT which is another 250 miles to go.
It is a wonderful ride over 2 more mountain passes and I exit the Rockies at Radium Hot Springs BC.
Sure enough the sky turns grey and there we go again, cold and rain. I cross into Montana and find out that I am now in Mountain time zone and instead of 6:15PM it is 7:15. Undaunted I ride to Kalispell find a Motel 6 and crash after a quick bite at a neighborhood diner!
Tomorrow could be nicer....maybe!

To the Canadian Rockies we ride

Leaving the springs I ride southeast past a still mostly frozen Muncho Lake. The Ice is emerald green and glistening in the early morning sun, past Fort Nelson to Chetwynd. Heading south along the Peace River Valley we end up in Prince George for the night.
Again wash bike do laundry, make a call to my Bea and go to Denny's for my senior discount dinner.
Actually was petty decent and the weather for once seem to hold out! No rain for the last 3 hours!

Dawson City South to Campbell Highway and beyond

So off we go down the highway along the Klondyke River to Carmacks for an early lunch fill up and then 300 + miles on the Campbell Hwy to Watson Lake. It is a gorgeous route devoid of traffic leading through Central Yukon past lakes, mountains, rivers, and of course a few more bears eagles and a huge bull elk. Unfortunately by the time I get my camera ready to "shoot" he disappears into the forest. So sunshine temperatures in the high 60s a road, though dirt, wide open and along we roll singing "Oh what a wonderful Morning">>>>> and then Clouds cold and rain set in again for the last 100 miles. Needless to say the road turns a bit slippery and my song switches to "Raindrops keep falling on my head" So no camp again tonight in Watson Lake but a motel room with shower etc. Additionally I learn that my planned route via the Cassiar Highway is closed due to forest fires. At this point 14 forest fires are active in the Yukon and I have to detour along the Alaska Highway. The great thing about this is I get to Camp (REALLY) at Liard Hot Springs and spend some quality time in HOT WATER! Best remedy for a sore back and rear known to man.
Her too I meet some wonderful fellow campers who invite me for a great full breakfast at their site.
They'll be in Alaska for the whole summer and have more equipment than most people moving up there.

The Arctic Circle and heading Dawson City again

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So it is morning I leave my heavy gar in the room and take off north for the "Arctic Circle" and beyond! The wind is even blowing harder snow flurries turn to snow and the temperature is a balmy 18 F. At this point the decision is made to turn around fill up and head south , back to the friendly confines of Dawson City and a campground recommended to me by a local biker. The ride proves much easier on the bike me and my gas and after a field refueling we arrive at our camp. Set up tent, wash bike, inspect for damage, do laundry and head into town for a dinner at Klondyke Annies. The food was mediocre but hot and I enjoyed my stroll through the town especially when I saw Maximilian's Empire Store!
Again an early night and then the trip south really begins in earnest! By now I have encounterd many bears , both Black and Grizzlies, Moose, Deer, Martins and more Eagles!
Martins by the way are like a huge Ferret with a very pretty brown coat. It is the reason they are so rare now as they were trapped and hunted almost to extinction, but due to some good efforts by the Canadian Government they have made a very nice come back!

The Noertnern Adventure from Chicken AK to Eagle Plains YK

So here I was heading northeasterly on a wonderful dirt road called"The Top of the World Highway" through valleys filled with streams and active gold mining claims across the Border into BC again down across the Klondyke River to Dawson City, a town that owes its fame to the "Gold Rush" Now it is a tourist stop with nice information centers, shops and restaurants. After a brief break where I was informed that I would not be able to go all the way up the "Dempster Highway" as the ferry crossing the rivers were still not running due to too much ice still on the river!
Well so I made the snap decision to run up the Dempster all the way to Eagle Plains and spend the night there. Leaving Dawson City at a balmy 72 F I headed north, straight north this time and soon the weather changed. It got very cold and windy and "Stinger" my trusty bike got a real work out. I used all my tank plus 2 gl reserve of fuel and made it with a sigh of relief. At this point we had snow flurries and winds for the north at 35 MPH so again a motel room was in order. Eagel plains is a stop on the ICE HIGHWAY in the winter but now only a few crazies come through as no trucks are running.
Went to bed early darkened my room with and extra blanket as we now had 24 hours of daylight and snoozed until 5:30 AM.

The Northern Adventure

The Ride is on... a phrase used many a time before came true as I left on June 26 heading NORTH to points unknown, unless you count my preparatory reading and map studying. I t was 5:30 AM getting through LA without too much delay. Believe it or not it actually happened! Two and half days later I arrived the the Alaska Ferry Terminal and the real "soft" part of the cruise began cruising the Inland passage all the way to Haines Alaska! Great weather and new good friends made this a very fun experience. Add the scenery Whales, Porpoises and Eagles to the stunning landscape and you have a tremendous beginning of the Adventure!




After passing Juneau with its cruise ships Haines was only 6 hours north and the ride began in earnest. The Highway leading out of AK into BC was very scenic over mountain passes and valleys shaped by the Juneau Icefields. Then came the first time camping at a provincial campground called Million Dollar Falls!
Setting up my tent for the very first time took a bit but it was well worth the effort as the tent is big and comfortable! While at the site I noticed there was no water supply so off I went to borrow some from campers a little better equipped with a beautiful motor home parked a few spots from me. As it turned out they were Germans, a retired Lufthansa Pilot and a Master Violin Maker from Frankfurt. Instead of just getting my water we ended up "talking story" drinking beer until there was none left!
Again leaving very early on I went to Tok AK. The high winds prevented me from putting up my tent so I got a room at the local hotel and met up with friends, bikers from the ship for dinner!
And then it was on to the TOP of the World Hwy north to Chicken AK and Dawson City!

A Fall to remember A Christmas to Enjoy

Hey By now all of you have heard about our Heidi's health issues.
In August she was diagnosed to have Mat Cell. 3 surgeries later, the stress, the medications took their toll and her system totally collapsed to the point she could not even hold up her head!
But thanks to my Bea, yours truly, some really caring veterinarians and their staff along with all of you visiting and praying for her recovery, Heidi did not give up and began a long and painful fight to regain her health. Sleepless nights, discomfort, labored breathing all followed but finally last week we saw some real improvements.
First she scooted, then she sat up, and at last this week mom and I came back from our exercise walk, there she was standing wagging her tail and greeting us at our condo door! Yes we did have tears of joy in our eyes as did everyone at Acacia Animal hospital as well as at PAWS when they saw her walk, haltingly at first but with more and more confidence as time goes on.
She can now walk as much as 75 feet, does her business on her own and is starting to react to the sound of the fridge door! She is a Mueller after all!
She is being treated with Insulin as well medicine for Cushings disease and various vitamins.
All of this is now making her feel better and we notice a daily improvement in her stamina and balance.
Imagine 7 weeks not being able to move at all and then walk again!
Our little black furry family member is coming back and soon will be back to her old loving self!
12 years and she never asked for more than love from all the people she met and she deserves all the love we can give her.
For me this experience was very humbling and I pray should I ever be struck like her I will have the grace and determination of that little dog.
We love you very much Miss Heidi!
God gave us our Christmas gift a little early but it is the best gift we could possibly get!

A Fall to remember A Christmas to Ejoy

The Happenings in 2010

Hey as stated earlier though old age is creeping up on me there is still a fire for adventure and fun in me that needs assuaging! To that end I have used my new toy the earlier mentioned R1200GS (aka the Stinger) to explore new roads and some that my "Blue Flash" aka K1200GT would have had a rough time handling. Tackling those primitive back roads was nothing if not addictive and leaves me with a whole new Arizona & who knows what else to explore.
Add Mom's and my adventure drives and hikes in the Chiricahua Mountains in our trusty ICE Bear and a wonderful stay at the Sunglow ranch, mix in adventure and great dinners with all of our Tucson family (led by the Great Maxini), a visit by our Hawaiians here in Dana Point where Megan and Rachel lit up our days, one could say that would be a full first half of the year but alas.....




The Ancient one needed one more adventure, so he with a trusty band of Canyon Crazies took off for Utah and a canoeing/camping and hiking trip down Stillwater Canyon of the Green River all the way to the Colorado!
What a wonderful experience to glide down this canyon surrounded only by unbelievable nature and good friends. I was transported back to my youth ( although my bones and muscles told a different story) enjoying God's creation.
Sitting by the river at night watching stars so clear and close that you felt as if you could touch them, hearing the sounds of the lazily flowing river and the songs provided by our friends, human and birds alike made me think about an old German saying:
"Warum in die Ferne Schweifen, wenn das Gute liegt so nah!"
Why do you have to go afar, when so much beauty is so close!
I may never see some of the other continents but our own country has so much to offer and to enjoy that it would take lifetimes to see and appreciate it all!

One more little philosophical thought as ramble on:
The rocks we were looking at were billions of years old at river level and they were covered by layers created by earth movements, shallow and deep oceans vulcanic activity and alike. What makes us, the human race think, we are so important? Imagine if by our human stupidity we render the earth uninhabitable for a thousand years or more, Earth and the universe will continue evolve as in eons past and we humanity will be just a fraction of an inch of layered rock barely visible by whoever comes after us!

Anyway we are now back in Dana Point enjoying civilization good food and friends and looking forward to adventures and fun things to happen!

Note:
It has almost been 4 years now since I RETIRED and I can honestly say that there has not been a day that I missed my job. I only wonder how I ever found time to work at all for those 37 years of schedules quotas and 4 door sedans!

Opa's New Toy

I know I am getting older but probably not too much wiser as I succumbed to a purchase fever of yet another motorcycle. After watching "the Long way around" the "long way South" and reading the "Investment Biker" there I was searching the internet and my 2 favorite dealers for a late model R1200GS. I even test rode one and as you might have guessed fell in love with the bike.
That being said I called Iron Horse in Tucson and "LO" they had one there as well a 2008 version with all the good (necessary) equipment at a price only $800 dollars above the 2005 model I test rode. So after 36 hours of thinking I did it and bought the bike in Tuscon after reading about the upgrades on the 2008 models! More HP improved brake systems and new trip computer and improved suspension all of which I will use on my back road trips in AZ and beyond.
So if you see banners of dust on some back road trail in AZ NM and beyond it might just be your "silly Opa"
Wish me luck!

A new way to see the world on a BMW

Well, finally I started to read the book "The Investment Biker" Around the world with Jim Rogers.
I don't really know why I took so long to read it but once I started I was hooked. Here is a man who made a fortune on Wall Street, retired from there taught and still teaches economics at Columbia University, giving it all up for 22 months and spends it as an "Eco" as in economic traveler, going around the world with his fiance on BMW motorcycles.
Since he did this in the early 1990s things have changed of course but his description of financial opportunities along with the travel log shows a world few of us will ever experience. From the safety of the US to the dangers of the Sahara the jungles of central Africa the immense landmass of Russia and China to emerging countries of South and central America.
One thing is found throughout the book....."the less Government interferes with the economy, the more successful the countries become."
Sadly though he points to our country as one that is going more and more toward Statism and regulations. The fact that any country that loses its freedoms and its dedication to free trade is doomed to become a third world country.
His description of the countries and the people is marvelous and the closing paragraph of the book really hits home:
" If there is one thing I have learned in going around the world, it's that societies become rich,swagger around for a few years, decades or centuries and then their hour is done. The other thing I have learned is that when all the wealth is gone, life goes on.
More important,I've also learned that if you've got a dream, you have to try it, you must get it out of your system. You'll never get another chance.
If you want to change your life,do it!"

This is one professor that I would have loved to be my instructor as he practiced what he teaches!

Thanks Philip for letting me have this book!

2009 in Review

I realize that it is the middle of January 2010 as I am writing this but nevertheless the past year was truly memorable for Opa and Oma Mueller!
First off we were able to welcome our latest Grandchild Rachel. Eric and Melissa now have 2 little Hawaiian princesses. One sweeter and prettier than the other! What a joy to have been with them and spoil them.

Then of course there was our Tucson grandson ( The Great Maxini, emphasis on great!)
All year long he amused us entertained us and amazed us! He is growing so fast and is a real little boy now, no longer a baby!

Marisa and Guy took a huge step toward a family as they announced that they have started adoption proceedings! As Philip said some little girl somewhere just won the parents lottery!
We hope and pray that the process will be speedy and without problems.

Then there were the travels to Arizona Hawaii, twice to Alaska! One solo ride by Old dad and one wonderful cruise with my Bea!

Add to that marvelous hikes beautiful dives, great hikes bless it with GOOD HEALTH AND LOTS OF LOVE and you can see:

Opa Mike and Oma Bea had a great 2009 and are looking forward to the upcoming year again full of promise!

Oma Bea's Birthday 2009

Well another special occasion of the Season:

OMA'S BIRTHDAY

We celebrated in Style at an new Italian Ristorante called Amici's. Gathering there around 6 we stayed and celebrated until almost 9PM when all of us left filled with great food and yes quite a bit of very good Italian wine.
Max behaved as usual and was the hit of the place when his heartfelt laughter proved to be the cause of much laughing to the table next to us. Of course he got to ride the elephant around the restaurant and was just an all around good boy.
Oma had a wonderful time with all of us and we celebrated to our hearts content!
Note too that Oma has a new toy! Her very own computer to stay in touch electronically with all of us!

Happy Birthday my BEA!

In Edward Abbey's Footsteps & Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Morning and Philip and I are off on an new adventure. This time we are heading south to a place 15 miles East of Nogales called Atascosa Lookout.
This hike has special meaning to us as we both read the writings of one of the most controversial yet entertaining writers of the Southwest Edward Abbey. He spent a summer as a fire lookout in a cabin on top of the Lookout mountain not Atascosa peak which is actually NE of the lookout.
We got there on a gravel road and had a beautiful hike to the top where aforementioned lookout cabin is located.
The view as advertised in some hike descriptions is phenomenal. South deep into Sonora , to the west Baboquivari rears its stony head, north you see the Catalinas and Rincons and to the east the Santa Rita and Huachuca mountains.
Outstanding and the cabin is still in tact and open. I have slept in worst places on quite a few hikes!

We had a light lunch and set off back to the car an Tucson where we went to feast at Marisa and Guy's house and enjoyed the blessings of family with a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.
I am truly thankful to have a loving healthy family to celebrate life with and it is my wish and prayer that all of us feel as blessed as I do, not just during these special holidays but all the days of our lives.
Thank you all and Thanks be to God!

Rachel Lokelani Mueller and Family

Well we did it again. Grandparents for the third time. We feel blessed with the arrival of Rachel Lokelani (Rosalie in Hawaiian) born to Eric and Melissa at Queens Hospital on October 16,2009.
Rachel is a beautiful healthy baby and a a true Mueller! She gained 2 pounds in 15 days and now weighs over 9 lbs! Wow!
Of course Oma and Opa had to visit Oahu ( I know it's tough, but someone had to do it) to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Our stay included lots of baby time, lots of "Swimming" "Elephant (Opa) rides" dinners in and dinners out and a few beers and Mai Tais along the way.
Oh I almost forgot Eric and Opa did mange to get some diving in as well and one of them was a drift dive along the Porthole Wall near Hawaii Kai!
The Hawaiians are busy and their construction project while not done yet is making progress.
The new garage, carport, lanai addition will be really nice along with having the whole house painted in the process.
Another Highlight was our Family lunch at the Royal where our friend Dottie waited on us for the 15th time!
Of course Mom and I had to climb Diamond head which was fun as always!
Little Megan is a good big sister and very loving indeed. We all had a great time trick or treating with her as a Hoola girl and Rachel as a Bumble Bee! ( One wonders who thought of that outfit?)
We are now back in DP and fell blessed to have some more wonderful memories of our ever growing family.

Havasu Falls Supai Hike and bike

Well as Mitch our hike leader says he loves to hike with us even though we are a little crazy. Could it be that Philip and I add to the 5 day adventure by riding our trusty bikes, or that we rarely shy away from challenges even though the elder Mueller is in his mid sixties. Well enough of that let's talk about Havasu Falls region of the Grand Canyon area.
What can you say about a hike that begins at 5600 ft on a cliff in a windstorm of up to 70MPH and ends down around 2400 ft surrounded by rushing aquamarine waterfalls ranging in height from 50 to over 200 ft. with colorful names like 50Ft, Havasu, Mooney and Beaver Fall.
Camping out, dining at the reservation Cafe on treats like Indian Tacos and Fry bread seeing wild Bighorn Sheep and swimming in the pools around the falls.
All of us took many pictures but I do not think that you can do justice to the grandeur of the surroundings.
The ride up there and back was great and an adventure of its own, but the hikes were the main event.
We averaged over ten miles a day with packs ranging up to 60 pounds that was quite an achievement but well worth it at the end.
And so it goes:
Approaching the end of the trail I was greeted by a Supai Indian:
"you've done good, Grey Hair!" so now you know my Indian Name.

The Great Alaska Cruise

Well folks we've done it. Mike and Bea went off to sea..... to see exactly what?
Southeastern Alaska of course a place you can only visit by boat, cruising or on the Alaska Ferry system.
Our choice was the MS Amsterdam a beautiful ship by any standard with all the comforts of a 5 star hotel and the food ranging from scrumptious buffets to fine dining and best of all room service at no extra charge. This we made use of every morning of the cruise by having our breakfast in our room looking out over the ocean or the beautiful coast line gliding by. The cabin was right aft of the Navigation bridge and thus I got to rate the nav crew's performance. ( only kidding of course) It is amazing how these experts handled the 61,000 tons ship in some very tight quarters.
Enough of the ship though, let's talk a bit about the landscape and the tours we did,boat rides to canneries and a salmon hatchery a float plane flight of the Taku Glacier and 5 of its counterparts and the highlight of the trip Glacier Bay.Hubbard and Turner Glaciers are actually advancing and threating to close the channel to Yakutat. What that will mean is that the river will reverse course after filling up a lake and run south into a different bay. So what you say, well the salmon from the Yakutat river will no longer be able to find their way to their spawining grounds and unless the local hatcheries introduce samon to the newly formed lake and river, this species will die out. We cruised to within 1000 ft of the Ice walls and heard the thunder of the calfing process and did actually see some huge chunks of ice break off into the water.
If you melted the ice and drank the water you would be drinking 5000 year old water because that is how long it takes for the ice to reach the sea. Seeing all this beauty makes you humble and you really want to make sure we keep nature so generations after us can enjoy it as well.
The towns along our route were small and fun to walk. It was interesting to note that jewelry is a bigger item than salmon for the local merchants. The stores there are the same ones you might find in the Carribean and that's where they ship their inventory after Sept 30, when the last cruise ship departs for longer days and warmer climates.
Highlights in Juneau were the tram to MT Roberts the governors mansion. Sitka boasted St Michaels Russian Orthodox church and too many shops which mom like and made me a bit grumpy (imagine that)
Ketchikan is a fun town to walk and shop but we only had a few hours there though we did visit Creek Road built on stilts and saw the salmon run up the river.
Last not least Victoria BC. we were late getting in due to rough seas but did get to enjoy HIGH TEA at the Empress Hotel and a stroll through this quite European town.
Alas it is over now and though mom did not gain weight I am now paying for the sins of eating a bit much.
All in all a great and relaxing trip, one we really enjoyed and would recommend to all of you.

Butterfly Trail vs mini camera

Well, Sunday;s paper described a beautiful high altitude hike in the Catalina mountains.
It is called the Butterfly trail and it leads you from the visitors center on Catalina Hwy past the peak of Mt Bigelow to the eastern flank of the Catalinas. Philip had done this hike before and I used his description and advice to plan a 4 hr hike and try out my"new"mini camera that was sent to me after the failure of the last one failed about 1 hr into my Alaska trip.
In the Valley it was in the 90's but at 7800 feet a comfortable 78 F. Fortified with food and lots of drink I set off camera in hand, and yes you might have guessed it it just did not work right and of course without glasses ( in the truck) I could not figure out how to fix what was wrong. I lost this one!
So I went on down the trail which leads you through some badly fire damaged areas with great views of the San Pedro valley and the Galiuro Mountains to the east. I went from 8000 feet elevation down to about 7200 and reached my destination for the day a little stream and a trail to an a crashed F86 super saber jet that crashed in the late 50s. The engine, some canopy parts and a bit of fuselage is all that is left from what in its day turned the air battles over Korea in favor of the US and its allied forces.
As I stopped for lunch at the creek I pondered just sitting here peacefully and a multi-ton object crashing near by. An unsettling thought to say the least.
Well it was time to turn around and since I had my I pod with me I listening to some of the songs I have recorded. This made the climb back up to 8000 feet that much easier but a thought occurred to me.
Imagine you walking along a quiet mountain trail and all of a sudden you see and hear an Old Geezer schlepping his tired butt up the mountain singing the Marseillaise at full volume! Because that was what I was doing. Realizing what was happening I toned it down so other hiker would not be put off ( all 7 of them that I saw that day)
Reaching the saddle below the peak and the way down to the parking lot a sign beckoned to go to the top of Mt Bigelow. So off I went for the extracurricular activity and was rewarder by a beautiful 360 view of the area.
One question remained as I got back into "Opa's truck"
Why is this trail called the Butterfly trail? I saw about 5 butterflies but at least 100 lizzards.
So I vote to have the trail renamed Lizzard trail! A nice if a bit strenuous hike. but next time I will bring 2 cameras my glasses and instructions for my little camera with me!