[brettgagnon]

A very good friend of mine recently quit his job (after 2 years of planning) and he is riding his motorcycle across the Americas. So far he has done Toronto to the most eastern tip of North America and has come back and is on his way up to Alaska (almost there in fact) to head to the most driveable western tip of NA. From there he will be going straight south until he reaches the most southern tip of South America.

Very neat journey I wish I could accompany him on, but alas the Mrs. seemed to have issues with it.

he is blogging here, it is an interesting read from time to time:

Greg's Motorcycle Adventure | Celebrating Midlife on a Journey through the Americas

[wetpet]

The ultimate Iron Butt.

[Boxer]

Not sure I would want to be driving anything short of an armoured personel carrier through parts of Mexico and some areas just south of there.

[brettgagnon]

I agree with you Boxer, and we had some serious conversations on it. I do 3 to 4 trips per year to our mine in San Luis Potosi and security is always at a premium due to increased risk.

His plan is to stay east and put as many miles south once he crosses over, but all of central america is a risk, one he is aware of.

[Night Life]

I was watching Rush Bio "Beyond the Gilded Cage" and Neil Peart did 55,000 mile sabbatical across Canada US Mexico on his bike (BMW I think) when he lost his daughter and wife. He said it saved his life, brought him back from darkest places of Hell. He loved the open road and scenery plus fact of being totally oblivious to all other travelers on the road. He now bikes to most of his shows/concerts in NA.

[Barry]

A couple of weeks back I briefly met up with 2 bikers (I was on a motorbike myself) at traffic lights just outside Dublin. As I approached them from behind I noticed their registration plates both started with VIC. So I pull up along side... "How's it going lads?" to which I get the reply "Alright mate!"

Sure enough the VIC was Victoria, Australia. In the ensuing 20 second conversation I gathered that they had ridden from home, through Aisa into Europe and were now in Ireland. Where were they going? They had no plan, though at the stage they were at they thought they may as well keep going and do the Americas coming home that way and thus circumnavigating the world. Legendary, what a trip.

Interestingly they were on 20 year old, banged up Suzuki's. I was on a BMW 1200 GS Adventure; a bike that could conquer the Sahara but never goes much further than my office. I rode home with my head full of big plans....

[ryanl]

This blog is great; I really envy your friend going on a massive trip like this. Looks like he's just about done with Alaska by now...