New York to Pennsylvania

Today marked the beginning of our 66-day motorcycle journey from New York to Alaska and back!

The day got off to an unexpected start when Gracie refused to start. After a moment of prayer and some troubleshooting, we discovered that the battery in the key fob had died. Once we replaced it, we were finally ready to hit the road.

The weather was pleasant overall, but the strong winds made for a challenging ride. It didn’t take long for us to notice that our fuel consumption was much higher than expected due to the constant headwinds and the extra weight of all our gear. Between the additional fuel stops and our delayed departure, the day stretched much longer than we had originally planned.

We enjoyed clear skies for most of the day until we reached southern Pennsylvania, where we rode through a brief rain shower that lasted only about five minutes. It wasn’t enough to dampen our spirits, and we continued on our way.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting a very friendly gentleman at a Sheetz gas station in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. We had a wonderful conversation with him, which you can see in our Day 1 YouTube video. We also had a chance to talk to a young man about God and gave him a bible. He choked up, holding back his tears when Melvin told him God loves him.

By evening, we finally arrived in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, where we were welcomed by family. We enjoyed a delicious dinner together and spent the evening playing Ticket to Ride before calling it a night.

After a long day in the saddle, we were definitely feeling a little sore. It’s clear that we still need to train ourselves for these long riding days, but we’re grateful for a safe first day and excited for all that lies ahead on this incredible adventure.

Miles traveled, memories made, and one day closer to Alaska!