As of 12/31/2010, I made it home to Seattle, WA. Just in time to ring in the New Year with all my friends! Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible by helping me when the going got tough with your support and encouraging words; this trip would not have been possible if it wasn’t for your help. Keep checking back for updates to the blog. I promise to keep them coming at a brisk pace.
Final map, as of 12/31/2010
Little old white haired guy, driving a red Toyota convertible, along with six other bikers, helping you find your way out of Virginia this morning after breakfast. Just read some of your early posts, from Seattle to Boise. Well written; you carry us right along with you.
Also saw on Spot that you made it to the Bay of Fundy. Good trip. We are brothers to the staff in REI in Montana, who know what you are doing, why you are doing it, and wishing like hell we could be doing it, too.
Keep the posts coming in when you can. Rest well tonight.
Great to meet you today Paul! Keep getting out there whether it’s in a convertible, three-wheeler or maybe even two – at heart you will always be a motorcyclist.
I will try to keep the updates coming on a more regular basis now that I am heading into the warmer states.
Hi guys, how are the back brakes? lol. We were wondering if you’ve made it past Maine yet?
Sure did! The brakes are working great and it’s a good thing because I really needed them in Maine. I am now in SC, just past the Tail of the Dragon.
good to hear from you guys, keep in touch. whats wrong with your tracking system, it still shows you’re in maine?
Cool meeting you at the City Lights downtown in Charleston! Looking forward for your updates on your site!
Hunter
Hi Nikita! WOW…if you go any further, you’ll be in the ocean!! Please soak up some warm sun rays for us – it’s cold in Wisconsin!
I will make sure to do just that! The weather here is absolutely unbelievable and for some reason, more so than any other state, people keep asking me if I get cold while riding the bike in Florida… Not compared to what I had to ride through in the last month!
Great to meet you last Wednesday (Charleston, SC). Sorry you missed the IBMWR “Ride to Savannah” rally this past weekend, but hope you had a good trip south to St. Augustine. Hope the weather gods are smiling. Keep the shiney side up! John
I am bummed about missing the rally as well, but then I remember that there is always next year.
The weather here is fantastic! Key West was almost 80F at the peak of the day! Now I am making my way back North to Alabama and then off to New Orleans.
Thank you again for your hospitality!
Great to meet you. (Orlando, FL) God luck Nikita on the rest of your trip.
Thank you!
Nikita,
Absolute pleasure meeting you! (Orlando/Apopka, FL) You are just one of those rare and special individuals…once in a lifetime and inspirational. You make one think about “stuff”! God speed on the remainder of your journey. Please make it back to your loved ones and have a happy and joyous holiday! As I discussed with my brother-in-law Larry (above), I’ve thought about a morale patch to honor you. When you get back to Seatlle I’ll share it with you. Keep the rubber on the raod and your feet on the pegs. Be safe and take care Nikita!!!! Respectfully…..M
You are too kind Matt. This trip made me think about a lot of “stuff” and I am happy that it can do that for other people as well.
Hey Nikita,
It was great meeting you in New Orleans! My wife Alicia and I have been wondering about your progress ever since we left New Orleans yesterday afternoon. And, seeing you again many hours later at DBA, away from the French Quarter, really made our night. I think I got some great black and white shots while I was there, I’ll send you some digital images of them after I’ve developed the film (in my kitchen), and printed them in a darkroom. Your adventure writing is great man, keep it up! I’ll hopefully be seeing you sometime in the northwest. Cheers!
Dan Root
Made it home safe and sound. The blog progress has been a bit slow due to competing priorities, but the updates should come in more often now. Looking forward to those B&W shots!
Hey, forgot to ask what the password is, so we can track your progress!
Dan
Hi Nikita!
My husband Dan Root & I met you in New Orleans this past weekend (Dec 10th.) at Cafe DuMonde. Just wanted to drop you a quick hello. It was fun chatting with you at the cafe (and thereafter) and especially cheeky running into you at d.b.a. bar later that night! Have a blast on the rest of your trip, and please be safe on that bike!
Cheers,
Alicia & Dan Root
http://www.danrootphoto.com
franklinbowlesgallery.com
It was great to meet you guys as well! I had a blast cruising the French Quarter with you guys. The fact that we ran into each-other at DBA was icing on the cake.
We enjoyed reading your blog until it stopped the day before we met you! And it looks on your tracking map as though you are permently stopped in SC! Anyway, wherever you are, we wish you safe and Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, too.
Thank you! Just posted up the day I met you guys. More updates coming soon!
Drove from Kayenta to Tuba City with horrible high winds and you behind me. You must be getting close to the end of your trip. You’re a strong rider but be careful!
The winds were very strong indeed! The worst part was that they were not consistent – one second it would be almost completely calm and then a sudden gust of wind would push me half way across the lane before I got a chance to correct. Crazy weather! Cars help break up some of the wind which is most likely why I was following you.
Can’t wait to see you on Christmas!
Hope you feel better! Your nurse to the rescue! xoxo
Hi, it was nice to meet you even briefly at the grand canyon yesterday ! I really like the purpose of your trip, it’s just so cool ! “les voyages forment la jeunesse!”
I hope you continue to have nice experience, safe drives, and meet nice people ! hopefully the weather stays ok too !
Merry christmas !
Aline (the french girl in blue in the Grand Canyon)
update your blog soon !
Hey! It was great to meet you too!
Just posted up another blog entry.
Hi there,
I saw your bike traveling north towards Seattle last night around 10:30pm. I was on the road and noticed you had a lot of gear and maybe just come back from a camping trip. Then, I saw the “48 states, 48 days” stamps. How cool is that? Welcome to Seattle and best of luck on your travels!
Thank you Elsie! I enjoyed the trip very much.
I am actually a Seattle native and you caught me on the very last stretch of the trip. I must have been literally a few miles away form home, with over 16,000 miles behind me.
Have you made it home yet? We are looking forward to seeing all the pictures and hearing more about your travels. happy holidays! Hope to hear from you soon.
Happy holidays to you too! I did indeed make it home. Now that I have settled after the trip, the updates to the blog should could come in on a regular basis.
Thanks for following!
Nikita- Evan here, met you last summer at entiat with Jim Newark. He informed me of your journey and the website you have about it, really enjoyed reading up on your trip and it looks like you had quite an experience! I envy you for being able to do this, sounds like so much fun. Take it easy man.
Hey Evan! Sure I remember you. Good to hear you are enjoying following along. Are you coming up to Montana with Jimbo and the rest of the gang next month?
Hi Nikita
Glad you made it home ok and on time for Christmas. I know your family was glad to see you. Hope you continued getting better after you left us. You were really under the weather for a couple of days.
Did you receive you package yet? I had to wait a couple of weeks as I couldn’t find a cylinder tube to mail things to you.
We will be looking forward to hearing from you and viewing the rest of your trip.
Your other mom & dad from Louisiana Billie & Phillip Alford
Hi Billie and Phillip! Yes, I did receive the package. Thank you so much for sending it out to me! I am now looking for a matching frame to hang up one of the blueprints.