Well everyone, I am home! What a trip this one has been. It's funny, I have done nothing but think about this trip for the last year strait and now it's over. I have to go back to work and all the daily things that go on in ones life and I feel wierd that it's over. I am so glad Zach and I finaly made it to the ocean but I am sad that will be the last ride together. I miss my rideing partner so much, it was very strange to leave by myself and ride off into the unknown like that. It's funny how you get so used to someone being there all the time and then they are gone and makes your life so very hard to do the thing you love to do so much. But I noticed on my trip how much he has affected me. I met so many strangers along the way and I had no problem just warming right up to them and in turn I made some new friends. Pretty cool how a couple of bikes and some good people can come together from thousands of miles away. Normally he would be right there next me making me laugh the entire way or go way out of my way to hit the twisty road. Not to mention keeping me motivated, it's hard to stay motivated by yourself. Luckly for me my phone worked most of the way and my loving wife did what she could to keep me going. Thanks baby!!! So if you all give me a couple of days I will break the trip down by day and update this thing proper like. I want to thank Lisa and Chris for giving me the time to do this and supporting me all the way. To Paul and Mike for camping with me in Destruction Bay, to the Sikmo's for making my first day in Alaska graet, to my Aunt and Uncle for flying me out to your lodge and letting me hang out for a couple of days. To Mark and Comet for taking me in and showing me around Anchorage, and to all the other wonderful people I met along the way. I had a great time in your state and will be back someday!

Well I am sitting here in Alaska in the middle of no where at my Aunt and Uncle's fishing lodge. Isn't technology great. They flew me out in a Cesna 206 landing on a grvel air strip right next to there lake. They put me up in my own cabin right off the lake complete with two bedrooms one bath and a living room. Pretty kick ass. Planes come in and out of here like a downtown parking garage, both on and off the water. It worked out pretty well, I had to drop the bike off at The Cycle Shop in Anchorage for a new chain and sprockets, oil change and to see if they could do something about my bent right bar that is giving my wrist and shoulder some grief. There lodge is off the hook, just amazing!!! I sent Lisa my card out of my camera so she will have some pics by tomorrow of my trip up the Dalton Hwy. For all of you Ducati people out there before she post any pics I wanted to warn you all that they are not for the weak stomach type. The bike looks pretty bad in quite a few of them. But I am having a blast and I wouldn't change anything. This state is so big that pictures really don't do it any justice at all. It really is an incredible place, it's probably a good thing that Canada is in between, otherwise it would be way to easy to come visit. Just so you all know other then the way the bike looks it is running like a swiss watch!! The guys at the Cycle Shop couldn't believe she had over 67,000 on her. Another 3,000 home and it should put us over the 70,000 mark. I have racked up about 4,000 or so right now. A big thanks to Lisa for taking care of this for me, I really apreciate it. Well I am off so I will chat with you later! Oh and if Mark is reading I will be calling you tomorrow.

To Prudhoe & Back

He has started his way back home, with a few pit stops to make on the way. And I have PICTURES!!

Nathan took the tour of the oil fields and Arctic. He didn't fill me in on any details about his tour, so I am sure he will add some to his blog when he returns home. He was able to find a peaceful place to spread Zach's ashes and make some peace with it.

(7/7 - 7/8) Nathan and his new friends, Larry & Gary took off Monday morning, starting their trek back. They followed the same path back down to Fairbanks, where they stopped to clean up, repair and relax. Nathan was telling me about how beautiful it is...then the rain came. The Dalton was turned into a mud pool and was ready to challenge Nathan's 13 years of riding experience. Unfortunately the mud won. Nathan got to experience the bike’s tires running side by side and he tried to correct and come out of it, but he went down. HE IS OK!!! His wrist was a little sore and he had a knot on his arm, but the Yellow Duc took a little more then he did. One rear and front blinker were crushed the handlebars bent and later he noticed that the rear brake line was rubbing on the tire. He felt a lot of guilt for the damage the Duc was dealt, but I told him if Zach was here he would be riding along side of him. The bike we can fix, but his body is a different story.
(7/9) Today Nathan said his goodbyes to Larry and Gary and started his way to Anchorage. He has met so many nice people on his trip and we are both thankful for it. One in particular that I had an opportunity to email with is Mark. Nathan met Mark on either the Desmo NW or ADV Rider site. He is an AMAZING individual, who has opened his home and offered his guidance to Nathan. I wish the world was filled with more people like Mark and some of the other individuals Nathan has met. When I had thanked Mark for his kindness, he replied back with, this is the Alaskan way. Alaska here I come!

Nathan arrived in Anchorage later this afternoon, where he met up with his Aunt and Uncle. Tomorrow he will get a chance to take a flight lesson (lol Nathan doesn’t like flying) with his Uncle. He is planning on catching up with Mark at some point tomorrow or the next day. After all of this his next stop will be home. WOW! Does time fly by?!