From: todk@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (John A. Gazzaniga  (Sverdrup))
Subject: The DoD at the Arctic Circle:  Title I
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 11 Nov 1992 00:06 EDT  

     Greetings people on the internet.  About a week and a half ago
I posted some information about shipping a motorcycle abroad that
related directly to a trip that I took from Sept.20-Oct.12.  In my
post I mentioned that if there was any interest about my trip to
Europe with my motorcycle I would post the details of my trip.  Well,
with some esteemed members of this electronic community requesting
details of the trip I feel compelled to oblige them :-).

     A word of warning:  In this and attendant postings I ride, and
ride, and ride.  Not only that, but I ride.  In addition, my postings
might seem somewhat verbose inviting comparisions to another poster
currently writing about another European vacation.  If you find these
posts too wordy, don't complain to me, complain to her :-) :-).
Oh yes, since these posts are being composed on the fly I don't know
how many parts it will be in.  If there are enough parts you may be
able to forgo these posts and buy the bound edition at your local
bookstore.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     For some time now I desired to take my 1983 Kawasaki GPz 750 out
on a long journey.  A complete rebuild process begun in 1987 was even-
tually completed in 1991 (more or less).  I thought about shipping the
GPz to Europe even as I began the rebuild.  Going to the Arctic Circle,
however, was prompted by some posts written around May of 1991 on this
newsgroup about a possible ride to points North in Canada and Alaska.
I am not sure what ever became of that proposal but it got me thinking,
"Why not cross the Arctic Circle in Europe?"  This way I could kill two
birds with one stone.

     So, with this idea in my head I slowly inched along with my plans
until time (and money) allowed me to make my move.  It was getting fairly
late in the season to be heading over and North for this year.  But then
I spotted a post by Peter Ahlskog about motorcycle races in Anderstorp,
Sweden on September 26-27.  What better opportunity to suprise the Euro-
DoDer's with an American sort than at a meeting of theirs.  There I could
meet up with some of the more esoteric (to me) members of this electronic
non-club.

     With this in mind I made haste in my preparations.  For those who
saw my earlier post on shipping your motorcycle you may understand some
of the hassle I went through in getting the GPz ready for shipment.  And
for people who don't like Harley's they are good for at least one thing:
  A pallet! :-)   I got a pallet from a Harley Davidson dealership back
in '87 when I first thought about shipping it.  Aside from reinforcing
it with some more 2"x4" 's across the top (or were they 2"x8" 's?) and
installing four eye bolts, the pallet was ready to go.

     The night before the motorcycle was to be shipped was an all-nighter
spent feverishly in an attempt to get all the details on the cycle sorted
out.  Little things, like putting on the wheels with the new tires mounted
and installing the Krauser hard luggage with BMW R-series rear turn
signals...

     Early the next morning (Friday, Sept.18th) I proceeded to the Delta
cargo terminal at Cleveland Hopkins Airport where I prepped the motorcycle
by draining and flushing the gas tank, disconnecting and taping the battery
terminals, draining the oil, and disassembling and packing the fairing all
the while talking to the Delta personnel.  I had eyeballed the GPz before
I put it in the pallet but I was still not sure if it would fit.  Not to
worry!  It slipped into the (former) Harley pallet like a glove.  After
that I used my tie downs to secure the motorcycle at all four corners.

     Next stop - Gatwick!

     With my own flight on TWA leaving Saturday (Sept.19th), I was to
arrive at Gatwick on Sunday and retrieve the GPz.  The flight into England
was uneventful aside from continously setting off the metal detectors due
to my metal tipped boots.  Early Sunday morning (Sept.20th) I got pre-
pared to pick up the cycle.  This was easier said than done as I first had
to go to the North Terminal to reach to the Delta counter where they pro-
ceeded to tell me that they don't handle their own air cargo in England!
That is taken care of by Gatwick Handling Ltd.  So, I take the taxi over
to GHL and voila!  My baby!  Sitting on the pallet just waiting to be
taken off the loading dock.

     It was no suprise to learn that there was still some more hurdles to
jump through before I could mount my steed.  I am informed that Her 
Majesties Customs don't deal with private citizens on a Sunday.  I am given
a choice:  I can cough up approx. $130 now and get my baby back today or I
can wait until tomorrow, cough up a little less money and get possibly more
hassle in the process of retrieving the bike...  I coughed up the money now.

     So, after about three and half hours of waiting the GPz is cleared for
use.  Under the watchful eyes of the Gatwick Handling personnel I put oil
in, reconnect the battery, reassemble the fairing, and put gas in the tank
all the while hearing comments like, "That's a nice looking bike" (Gee,
thanks), or "Why didn't you bring a Harley" (Yeh, if I could afford it: 
or, I did, you like the woodwork?), or "I used to ride" (Well, why not now?
The most common answer?  Rain!).  After making arrangements to have the
pallet put in lockup until I returned I was ready to go!

     I mounted the Krauser luggage (which I checked through on the plane
with me) onto the bike along with the new Eclipse tailpack in which I car-
ried an extra helmet (both Nolan), my camera, and a Dry Rider rain suit
(which I hoped I wouldn't neet that much!).

     Now I was set.  My first destination would be my sister's family who
lives in Beccles, near Norwich in East Anglia.  With the motor sounding
good aside from a somewhat noisy no.# 1 exhaust valve which was too tight
when I adjusted the freaking things before I left, my departure was imminent.
The sky was relatively sunny with the temperature quite mild.  It would be
a good day for a ride.

     Next stop - Beccles via the M25 and the A12

     Will the neo-denizen sucessfully negotiate riding on the left hand side
of the road?  Even more important; will he know in which direction to counter-
steer? (this to avoid misplaced cat's eyes)  All this and more on:

               The DoD at the Arctic Circle:  Title II


John A. Gazzaniga                                  todk@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov