A North Forker Goes Far On His Motorcycle

The Story Of A Man Who Went To The Artic, Oregon and Back

By T.J. Clemente

Lot’s of people go on cross-country trips. They zip through towns and places they have never heard of and see strange, new and interesting things. There is a North Fork resident however, that did this on a motorcycle and also traveled to The Arctic on it. To do this on a motorcycle would even add to the adventure with all the openness to truly experiencing it all, but this story is beyond that. This is the story of a 60-years young, former police officer who decided to fulfill a dream. The dream was to motorcycle to The Artic circle starting from his home on the North Fork.

Retired Suffolk County Police Officer Tom Maguire of Cutchogue has just recently completed an adventure of a lifetime, after talking up the trip of riding to the Artic Circle, after his lovely wife Joanne practically “shoved him out the door,” to make his dream become a reality. Not being a mechanic, Tom took the precautions of locating and scheduling maintenance stops along the way. He also worked it out so that he could be ready for the grueling physical demands he knew were coming. Tom had already crossed the United States on a motor cycle 5 times. Tom used a two-year-old Ducati, which he reportedly believes to be the “sexiest” because of it sleek lines.

For this trip, Tom Maguire chose a route that took him from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, back to New York leaving the U.S.A via Messina, N.Y. thus entering Canada. Then Tom went across the top of the Great Lakes through Ontario. He re-entered the U.S. to travel across the northern parts Minnesota and South Dakota.

He didn’t plan on trouble in South Dakota, but with some local kindness, a flat tire had him stuck looking for a Ducati tire. Getting to the final repair shop and from a diner where he got the flat, ended up only costing him $30.39, including having a kind someone transport the bike to be repaired. In Montana, he won a BMW long-distance motorcycle race even though he was riding the Ducati. After entering Wyoming, he went back into Montana through Glacier National Park and Idaho before reentering Canada crossing Alberta, British Columbia and racing up the Yukon Territory. Taking the Alcan Highway to Dawson City in order to catch a ferry for the last 240 miles to the Top of The World Highway, which Tom Maguire reportedly calls, “so remote but so beautiful.” This also tested his motor skills due to the fact it is mostly unpaved.

Proceeding through Eagle, Alaska he headed to Fairbanks to get on the Haul Road, which took him finally to the Artic Circle, passing many miles of oil pipeline. Dodging high-speed passing trucks on 250 miles of unpaved roads was difficult, dangerous, and trying. Rocks dust and debris often headed at him from huge trucks going the other way at the high speeds.

After attaining his goal of getting to the Artic Circle, Tom turned his wheels to visit Denali National Park, home of Mt. McKinley just over 20,000 feet high the highest point in all of North America. From there he went through Anchorage and then using the Cassier Highway, Tom spent time watching grizzlies catch salmon. After all of this he took a victory lap through Oregon, California, Nevada, Azizona and Colorado and Kansas before a call from Joanne had him on Route 70 directly home.

Tom reportedly had plans to do a lot of camping out, to see the stars and get in touch with nature but the need for a hot shower and a soft bed caused him to do less camping than he wanted. However, he enjoyed the stories and real life experiences of the people he did meet. He reportedly calls Eagle, Alaska the area of his fondest memories of the whole trip because of its difficulty and beauty.

After an adventure like this, one might think Tom had had enough of motorcycle traveling. Not true. He is now planning a short excursion to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Quebec with his lovely wife, Joanne. (It is important to note that when retired Suffolk Police Officer Tom Maguire has to get around the North Fork he also drives a Dodge Pickup truck and a Mazda Miata.)

Tom found some advice that he wanted to share on this trip. Follow lifetime adventure goals and dreams. He reportedly says “Just do it…life is not a dress rehearsal… carpe diem.” What he might also say is life is to be lived and dreams are to be obtained while you can do them. The North Fork of Long Island with its farms, small towns and many wine vineyards is a place to live, enjoy life, and make plans. Tom Maguire did all of that, and then some.