Ketchikan or Bust (Tom's Adventures in Alaska)

by Matthew Green

  “You finish this. It’s great,” she says as Tom takes a bite. “I think if we push it we’ll be able to make it to Prince George tonight.”

  “Do you think we’ll be able to get that far without our bodies falling apart?” Tom asks. “That’ll make almost eight hundred miles in a day.”

  “I’ll tell you what, if we do, we’ll get a room and I’ll make you forget all of your aches and pains!” Swan says bluntly. “If we hadn’t started so early this morning we’d never make it, but at the pace we’re going I think we can.”

  “You’re pushing the bike pretty hard! I hope it doesn’t blow up on us. I’m not sure that it’d be worth saving a day to end up walking,” Tom says.

  “We’ll worry about that if it happens. Are you trying to tell me that you haven’t been enjoying the ride today?” Swan asks. “It seems like you have! I haven’t even threatened to smack you for playing with my tits!””

  “So are you riding this next stretch?” Tom asks “Or do you need a break?”

  “If you don’t mind, let me ride until my arms fall off. I’d like to be able to tell Grandpa that I put in a good day.” Swan says. “Don’t you like being my bitch?”

  “I’d like it a lot more if I could make your nipples hard all the time!” Tom says with broad grin. “I think every time I tweak them you crack the throttle harder.”

  “Are you done? Let’s go. Why do they call this place Pink Mountain anyway?” Swan wonders as she gets up.

  Tom pays for the meal and they head out to the bike. Swan hops on the seat and kicks it started. Tom assumes his position behind her and she pulls onto the highway. Tom looks back and sees the man with the scruffy grey beard walk out onto the porch and wave at him. He can see the smile on the man’s face as he nods. Swan revs up the bike and the miles begin to tick by again. Tom sits behind Swan to enjoy the ride.

  “I can’t believe we made it!” Swan says as she jumps on the bed. “Come here lover, come get your prize!”

  “I can’t believe how perky you are after the day we’ve had!” Tom says as he struggles to get his boots off.

  “Oh, don’t tell me that you’re turning into an old man on me! Throw on some shorts and let’s go sit in the hot tub for a while. I’ll go leave a twenty at the front desk and we’ll order pizza. We’ll stay in tonight and get you rested up. Do you want ice cream? There’s a store next door, I can run and get some before they close.”

  Tom splashes water on his face to get rid of the dust in his eyes and then washes his face with a hot cloth. Swan looks over his shoulder into the mirror. She smiles broadly at him and slips her arms around his waist. He smiles at her in the mirror and suddenly feels more awake.

  “Pizza and ice cream sounds great. I’ll go with you to the store and then let’s hit the tub until the pizza’s delivered. It’ll be good to be relaxed and fed before I strip you naked and toss you in bed.” Tom says.

  “Honey, you can toss me anywhere you want as long as you toss me hard and toss me all night!” Swan says while pressing her breasts into him.

  “What time’s check out?” Tom asks with a wry smile. “How far do we have to get tomorrow?”

  “Don’t worry buddy, you’ll be able to sleep…..on the ferry! Maybe!” Swan laughs. “From here on out it’s going to be a wild ride, all day and all night until we get home and probably after that also!”

  Tom turns to face her and sweeps her into his arms. She climbs up him and thrusts her tongue in his mouth passionately. He carries her to the bed, tosses her in the middle and crawls to her.

  She pulls him in close and whispers in his ear, “I had to change my panties two times today because they were sopping wet from thinking of you. You were so close but I couldn’t have you and it was driving me wild! You can take me now and not eat tonight or we can quickly shower, order pizza, share a tub of ice cream and make love all night. I’m ready for you now, but I also don’t want you to burn out when I’m only half satisfied!”

  “Can we have a quickie in the shower?” Tom asks as he kisses her neck.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Tom digs in the rooms bar fridge for a piece of leftover pizza. He sits on the edge of the bed trying to eat it without making a mess.

  “Come back to bed Honey, I’m not done with you yet!” Swan says lustily.

  “You’ll have to be patient for a few minutes. I’ll need to pay for another night if we’re here for much longer. The maid has already knocked on the door twice to remind us of the time,” Tom says.

  “That was the maid? I thought it was the neighbors trying to tell us to keep it down,” Swan says with a smile. “It seems like they were doing that all night!”

  “The neighbors left at six this morning,” Tom replies. “They banged on the door and said something about some people needing sleep.”

  “As much as I’d like to stay for another round and another night, I think we’d better hit the trail and see if we can get to Prince Rupert today. How far is it?”

  “About four hundred and fifty miles, give or take a few. About five hours if you’re riding, eight if I do,” Tom says while smirking at Swan.

  “Well then, we’ll have to take shifts and see if we can make it in six!” Swan laughs. “Give me a couple of pieces of pizza! I’ll get things packed up while you go comfort the maid and let them know we’ll be leaving shortly. Should I leave a ten dollar tip for the mess we made?

  Tom shakes his head as he tosses the pizza box on the bed in front of Swan. He showers quickly and packs his stuff before going to check out.

  “I hope everything was to your liking,” the woman at the counter says with a broad grin. “We were wondering if you two were going to need another night.”

  Tom smiles and hands the woman a hundred dollar bill. “Oh, I’m sorry, but I was alone in the room,” he says as he turns around and walks toward the door.

  “Sir, your change?” the woman says in a different tone.

  Tom turns and sees the shocked look on her face. He takes his change, gives her a boyish grin and opens the door to leave. He walks across the parking lot and checks the oil on the bike before going back into the room. Swan is on the bed pulling her boots on. She’s showered and her freshly dried hair cascades around her shoulders. She gives Tom a sideways glance as she tucks her pants into the boots.

  “I can’t wait to put these leather pants away and put on a pretty lace skirt,” Swan says. She waves Tom to her and looks up into his eyes, “I don’t feel pretty in these leathers. Here, help me up.”

  Tom hoists her off the bed. She stands next to him and slips her hands around his waist.

  “Are you ready?” Tom asks. “Or do you want to wait here and I’ll pack up the bike. You look like all of the miles from yesterday just caught up with you.”

  “It’s not the miles Tom; it’s the lack of sleep. Are you going to be alright to ride to Prince Rupert? Swan asks.

  “We’re going to find out,” Tom says. “Do you want to take the first shift? The wind will wake you up.”

  Swan grabs up an armload of her things. “You get the last of it and grab the helmets. Hell yeah, I’m riding first and maybe last. I think the pizza just kicked in.”

  Tom gives the room one last look as he closes the door. He saunters over to the bike and sets the helmets on the seat. Swan takes the things he’s carrying and stuffs them into the trunk.

  “We either need to throw some of this stuff out and buy new clothes or find a laundromat. If we’re caught in Prince Rupert for a couple of days, we’ll have to clean things up a bit and sort this shit out.”

  Swan starts the bike while Tom locks the saddlebags and trunk. He ties the gas can on the trunk and slides in behind her. He slips on his helmet and waves to the woman he’d paid in the office as they roll out of the parking lot. Swan runs through town and swings the bike onto Highway Sixteen to Prince Rupert. She rides like she never wants to see the town again. Tom hangs onto her and finally wraps his arms around her waist. She leans back
and smiles. They ride along the cut through the forest and enjoy the morning air. Tom feels the weariness escape from him as the aches and stiffness work themselves out. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks, he enjoys being passenger on this trip.

  Tom sits watching the scenery roll by and remembers the things they’ve seen. They’ve been through many mountain passes and canyons, run along lakes and rivers. They’ve had light frost in the mornings, fog at all times of day and sunshine every day. Other than the odd deer and the momma moose with her two calves that ran out in front of them, it’s been a pretty trouble free trip. It’s been good riding everywhere they’ve gone and traffic has been light because of the approaching winter season. The mornings have been crisp and refreshing and the cool days have been perfect for riding. They’ve been lucky not to have any rain or snow and most of the wind has been at their backs.

  From Vanderhoof the mountains rise up before them until they are surrounded. They stop in Burns Lake for gas and lunch before heading for the coast. They pass through South Hazelton and Tom looks out over the Skeena River. From looking at the maps in the gas stations he knows that they will follow this river all the way to the coast. Swan and Tom lean into the corners and Tom can tell that they are both enjoying the ride. He holds her tight and relishes these last few miles because he knows that it will be about the last few miles of road before they enter the confines of the ferries on the Alaska Marine Highway System to Anchorage. Swan pulls into a gas station in Terrace and steps off the bike. She turns to Tom and helps him pull off his helmet.

  “Well, Tom, I think we’re going to make it today. I figure we’ve got about ninety miles left. I’m getting kind of worn out; do you want to kick it the rest of the way to Prince Rupert?” Swan asks as she runs her fingers through his hair and pulls him in for a smooch.

  Tom runs his hand behind her back and hoists her up to him. She sits in his hands and wraps her legs around his waist. He kisses her neck and whispers into her ear. “Honey, if it means a repeat of last night, I’ll push this thing over the mountains myself. There’s nothing like the thought of a week of wild and kinky sex to help a guy through the last bit of highway.”

  “I never offered kinky, but I’m up for any challenge!” Swan says as she tightens the grip with her thighs. She lunges at Tom with a passionate kiss.”

  “If you were my daughter I’d grab you by the ear, drag your ass home and lock you in your room!” the woman filling her car on the other side of the pump says loudly.

  Swan looks at the woman for a second. “If I was your daughter I’d be fucking your boyfriend and planning with him how we’d dispose of your body!”

  “Watch it you little bitch!” the woman says as she walks past them to pay for her gas.

  “Or what?You fucking welfare queen!” Swan calls after her.

  Swan looks at Tom as the door closes. “She was wearing cheap rings on each finger, no wedding ring and she put three dollars worth of gas in her car. Twenty bucks says I’m right about her!”

  Tom sets her down and pulls her in close. “I’m sure glad you’re on my side! Do you want to eat here or wait until we get to Rupert?”

  “Let’s eat here, the bag that trucker’s carrying is soaked with grease. I’d like a big greasy burger right about now!” Swan says as she steps away from Tom. “You fill up the bike and I’ll go chase the Busy Ditch out so that we can eat in peace.”

  “How about you wait for me so that I can watch the catfight and break it up if need be,” Tom says as he pops the fuel cap. “You pump the gas and I’ll check the oil.”

  Tom runs the motorcycle around to the side parking lot and Swan carries their helmets to the bike. She hangs the helmets on the handle bar and signal light, grabs Tom by the ass and nudges him toward the sidewalk. Tom grabs her around her waist and they walk up the steps arm in arm. Tom opens the door as they step in and wipe their boots on the mat. Tom pulls out his wallet to pay for the gas.

  “You wouldn’t believe what that little bitch said to me out there!” the woman says with a snide tone. “I was minding my own business when she said that she’d like to see me dead.”

  Tom can feel Swan tense up from the words and knows that she’s going to react. Swan releases Tom and slowly strides over to the table where the woman is sitting. She sits at the table with the two women and stares at the woman from the pump before looking at her friend.

  “Your friend here said that she’d like to take me home, lock me in a bedroom and fuck me with her strap on all night. She got all offended when I told her no thanks because I have a boyfriend who can take care of me better than some small town dike can. I didn’t take too much offense to it though because I have lots of women come on to me, and I’ve even taken a quite a few up on their offers! Just not from someone this nasty,” Swan says calmly.

  Swan pushes away from the table, stands and walks back to Tom. She takes his hand and leads him to a table right across from the women. They sit at the table and look at the menus.

  “What can I bring you two to drink? I take it you need a few minutes to look over the menus.” the waitress says.

  Tom looks up from his menu and looks at the young woman’s name tag- Amanda. “Thanks Amanda, I’d like a coffee and I think I’ll have the all day breakfast special with extra sausage and please tell the cook to put a little color on the hash browns.”

  “I’ll have a Caesar salad and a double bacon cheese burger with cheddar and fries. Oh, I’ll have a large strawberry shake,” Swan says. “I’ll decide on desert after I finish that.”

  “Are you actually going to serve those two? You should call the cops and have them thrown out here! After what she said to me, she should be locked up!”

  “Now, now Mary, you and I both know that if we threw out everyone who offended you, you’d be our only customer and all you do is come in here and drink water. Feel free to leave if you feel that strongly but they’re paying customers and it’s not like we’ve got a line up out the door right now,” Amanda says.

  “Fine, I’ll take my business elsewhere! Come on Linda!” Mary says angrily.

  “Nah, I’m going to stay here. Jim’s almost off work and we’re going to have supper here. I’ll have another coffee, Amanda,” Linda says.

  Amanda goes into the kitchen and Mary gets up to leave.

  “Bitch!” Mary says.

  Swan looks up briefly. “Hole!”

  Mary throws out a huff and storms out the door.

  “Sorry about her,” Linda says, “she acts like she’s the local moral squad and tries to control the town. Enjoy your stay in Terrace. It really is a great town.”

  Amanda sets Tom’s coffee and Swan’s milkshake on the table and starts to walk away. She turns to Swan. “Dinner’s on me. I like what you did to Mary, it’s about time someone put her into her place.”

  Chapter Twenty Three

  It starts to sprinkle as they ride out of Terrace. The sky is overcast and the wind coming in off the ocean is cool. Tom slows down as water collects in the truck ruts in the road. Swam inches forward on the seat and crouches behind Tom to get away from the driving rain. Tom feels the tires hydroplane and slows down until he has control all of the time. The rain gets heavier so he pulls into a turnout and then into the trees out of the rain.

  “What’s up? Do you want me to ride the rest of the way?” Swan asks when the bike stops.

  “I’m ok, I just need to put my raingear on. Do you want yours?”

  “Nope, not yet! Grab me a bar of soap and some shampoo. If I’m going to put on my rain gear, I’d like to clean up and change into my jeans first.” Swan begins to strip.

  Tom fishes the soap and shampoo out of the trailer and joins Swan in her rain shower. They stand on the fly from their tent and help each other lather and rinse. Goosebumps rise up on Swans skin so Tom holds her close to share body heat. They sneak back under the trees, and out of the rain to dry off. It’s a sensual dance as they get dry, dress, and finally slip on their rain gear. Swan h
angs on Tom and slips him her tongue. They kiss passionately until they’re both warm and steamy in their rain suits.

  “Let’s take this on the road and see if we can find a hotel for the night. I’m up for the ride into Prince Rupert if you are.” Swan says. “Oh, and thanks Tom, I’ve always wanted to have a shower in the rain. I think I’ll remember this for a long time and it’ll probably give me wet dreams until I’m an old lady,” she says. She stops to embrace Tom. “You’ve made me feel so alive since the moment we’ve met. You’ve shown me how to live for the first time in my life. I feel like I’ve given you nothing and in a way I feel ashamed for taking advantage of you like this.”