My mother recently sent me this email. I thought I would share it with all the rest of you.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said,
“My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.â€
“The other is Good -Â It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Song of the Week: “Dylan’s Hard Rain†–Ryan Bingham
Book of the Week: “Road Feverâ€-Tim Cahill Road Fever
Quote of the Week: “BEAR! That’s a bear. Yep, right there!â€Â -Craig Johnson, driving on Hwy 16 West from Jasper to Prince George. We saw 4 Black Bears on the side of the road.
We ride again. After over a month hiatus off the road we returned to the highway for our voyage north to Alaska. We’d, again, like to thank all of those that supported us in our fundraising efforts that enabled us to finish the expedition. It means a lot to us, and is greatly appreciated.
From Denver, Steve, Celeste and Craig ventured north to Loveland to stay at Steve’s Mom, Judy’s, place, while I headed to Rocky Mountain National Park with an amazing female for one last adventure in Colorado. We met up the following morning for a delicious breakfast prepared by Judy and her husband, Tom, said our goodbyes, and got on I-25 North headed to Bozeman, Montana. A ten-hour trek in the trucks got us to Allan and Jen Sheldon’s home that has an incredible view of the Bridger Mountains. We had a blast hanging out with them in Bozeman for the couple days we were there, and can’t thank them enough for their hospitality. They’re great people, and we were very lucky to spend time with them on our first stop as we headed north. We couldn’t have picked a better place to regroup and get ready for our push through Canada.
From Bozeman we headed through Missoula and then north to the Canadian border, where we crossed with only some simple exchanges of a hello and a thank you to the border agent. From there we went on a four-day exploration of the Canadian Rockies wilderness, staying in the Kootenay, Banff and Jasper National Parks, and staying at the Dry Gulch Provincial Park, Two Jack, Whistler’s and Snaring River campsites. We were amazed at the scenic beauty of the mountains and lakes, and even more surprised at the length of days. It seems like the sun just doesn’t want to set.
The first night in Canada we stayed at the Dry Gulch Provincial Park, just south of the Kootenay National Park where the following morning we checked out the Radium Hot Springs. From there we headed to the Two Jack campsite on Lake Minnewanka in the Banff National Park. It was one of the best campsites any of us said we’ve stayed at, as it was right on the water, with mountain ranges surrounding the entire lake. The reflection off the water seemed unreal, and the length of the day added to the magical experience. A stop at Lake Louise, named in 1884 after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the sixth child of Queen Victoria, was our last stop in Banff National Park.
Jasper National Park, just north of Banff on Highway 93, enabled us to find Whistler’s campground. It was here that we battled the effects of Mother Nature. A steady, cold rain mixed with near freezing temperatures made for an interesting night of camping, to say the least. We pulled through, however, and were welcomed in the morning with some sunshine as we headed to the aesthetically pleasing Snaring River campsite named for the river it’s on. Shoppman prepared a splendid meal of spaghetti and we retired early to prepare for a busy following day.
We awoke and went to Maligne Rafting Adventures to gear up and get ready for our trip down the Fraser River. One can’t beat a day on the river, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. River guide, Aron, and bus driver/photographer Drew skillfully maneuvered and documented our trip, and were great guys to chat with. We got to see a great view of Mount Robson, and laughed when we saw the back of Drew’s shirt, which read, “Paddle Oar Die.â€
From the banks of the Fraser River we made the 300 kilometer trek to Prince George on Highway 16 West, which also could be known as the Wildlife Sightseeing Highway, for we saw bears, elk, deer, and a variety of birds. The highway led to a little slice of heaven known as Rosel’s Bed & Breakfast in Prince George, British Columbia, run by Rosel and her husband, Wilf. They graciously accommodated us, and did so because of their caring hearts, for publicity or advertising were not even needed for them, because they are retiring after this year. I always look back on a day to think of its purpose, and when I look back on yesterday I know its purpose was to meet Rosel and Wilf. They are very special people, and we all feel very fortunate to have been able to get to know them.
We’ve traveled 1,500 miles, and have 2,205 miles to go reach the northern most point of Alaska, Prudhoe Bay. We’re on our way.
Photos that showcase the week:
A drive in the Canadian Rockies
Campfire in the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Wilderness
Shoppman shows that its a big world out there
Celeste enjoying herself in Bozeman
Craig is most at home by a body of water
Finding some time to read
The bear that Craig was referring to in the Quote of the Week
A Bighorn Sheep says “hello†to the Toyota Tundra
Today officially marks the farthest north in North America for the expedition, but more importantly it also marks the farthest north for any of the crew. Right now we are in Jasper National Park in the town of Jasper. At 52 degrees, 53 minutes, -1 seconds North, this is the most North any of us have ever been in Canada. Here the days are long and the wildlife is plentiful. The mountains are grand and the lakes are numerous. It all really hit home for us when we had our first day camping and the sun did not fully set until 11pm. It stays light out until around midnight.
Since we have spent so much time close to the equator recently, and then back in Denver for a little while, our days end quickly. And while the sun dives quickly behind the horizon at home and in the tropics, here in the North, this time of year provides a sunset that last for hours instead of minutes. As we carry on farther north, the days will continue to get even longer until the sun never drops below the horizon. It will be interesting to see how well we all sleep in tents with the light on all night.
Right now Craig is working on getting permission from the oil company to let us drive the last eight miles of road to Prudhoe Bay. Soon after we will be meeting with some Native Americans for some local Alaskan culture, heading out into the wilderness with a guy named Coke Wallace to check out the bus from the book “Into the Wild†with a few lessons in survival, and much more. We will also be visiting the town of Talkeenta, which inspired the TV series “Northern Exposure,†to get an idea of how Alaskans feel they were portrayed in the show and on our way back down we will cross into Canada on the “Top of the World Highway.â€
With only a week under our belt since we left Denver, the scenery has already been breathtaking and while it is not some exotic country halfway around the world, I think the great wide open of the North will continue to prove to be just as interesting as anywhere else we have travelled.
We’re finally back on the road on our way to Alaska. Our first stop is Bozeman, Montana, with Steve’s friends and our very hospitable hosts Allan and Jen. Thanks to our new friends and sponsor Taboot Art for outfitting us with some hoodies and t-shirts for the final leg of the expedition.
We have been very fortunate to have been accommodated by some great hostels as we traveled through Central America and Mexico. These amazing places showed immense hospitality, had incredible services, thoughtful staffs, and were a great place to rest our travel-tired heads as we ventured across their countries.
A stay at Luna’s Castle was the beginning of my part of the expedition, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start. This hostel, in a beautiful, three-story colonial home has an aesthetically pleasing interior, creative artwork covering the walls, and balconies that give a stellar, immediate view of the Casco Viejo neighborhood with the downtown skyline across in the distance. The chill and peaceful atmosphere give the hostel a great feel, and the helpful staff make you feel right at home. The community kitchen is perfect for cooking meals, the commons area is a great place to eat and talk with other travelers, and the “chill rooms†give a person a chance to relax, chat, or just have a thought. Rooms are reasonably priced, and their variety of services make it a perfect stop for travelers. The movie theatre in the bottom level is top notch, and their plans for a bar in the back patio will really add to the already incredible hostel. Do us a favor and stop in to say “hi†to Daniel and his crew for us. Luna’s Castle is a special place in Panama City, and you won’t be disappointed.
The next hostel we had the privilege to stay at was La Casa de Dante in Guanajuato, Mexico, run by the namesake, Dante, and his wonderful family. Their gracious hospitality was amazing, and we couldn’t have asked for better hosts. Dante helped set up an interview with the local paper and aided Shoppman with some translation during the interview. He also was able to get us on a local radio station that his friend worked for. Those were both far above what one would expect, and just shows how much they care about their guests. Their hostel, located along the mountainside, in Guanajuato, offered us everything we needed. The rooms were great, breakfast in the morning was more than delicious, the wireless internet helped us while we worked, and the panoramic view of the city was gorgeous. Dante and his family were wonderful hosts and great people. Stop in and you’ll be welcomed with a warm smile, and able to enjoy great food and views of the city. It is a must stay in Guanajuato.
As we made our way to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we were happy to be able to stay at the Oasis Hostel. They were able to set us up in a room all together equipped with nice bunks, a great wall fan, and even cable television, which is not the norm for your average hostel. The cleanliness, however, set this hostel apart from most places we’ve stayed at while traveling in Central America. It was spotless, had great facilities, and even had a place to park our massive trucks. The location of the hostel was another great characteristic of the place. It was a short taxi drive from the craziness of the downtown area, which made it a nice and quiet spot to stay. The top level patio gave us picturesque views of the surrounding area, and was a nice little spot to chill and hang out. Go and meet the great people at the Oasis Hostel.
The last hostel we stayed at before we entered the United States was the Monteroco Hostel in Monterrey, Mexico, run and owned by a great man, Mauricio. This couldn’t have been a better place to get ready for our push north to the US border. Mauricio set us up in a great room, with high speed internet, and a couple huge fans to keep us cool, but if it got too hot all we had to do was take a dip in their pool in the back of the hostel. The colonial home, that is now is hostel, is a great combination of style, comfort and chillness, and is a must visit if you’re in Monterrey. Craig and I had a great time in the lounge area of the hostel having a wonderful conversation with Mauricio and playing ping pong. He and his staff are more than helpful, led us to some great places to visit, and made our time in Monterrey that much more enjoyable. Get to the Monterocco Hostel for some fun, a place to lay your head, and some great chats.
We’re very thankful for these gracious hosts helping us out, and were amazed at their hospitality, service and staffs. They made our stays in those cities even more enjoyable, and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you. Good luck with your travels, and if you make it to the fine cities in which these places are be sure to check them out. You will not regret it.
We did an interview with Daryn Kagan a while ago, a former CNN news anchor gone independent. Â She now has her own website with “happy news” and we were the latest story that she has put together. Â It is nice to see that some people are doing a great job reporting on positive news instead of the sensational sad stories regularly out there. Â She has many other great stories like ours, so watch the video below and if you like it…go to her website for more. www.darynkagan.com
It has been over two years that we have been on the road, and while we have made it back home the journey is not yet over. In some ways it has just begun. In three days we will leave for Alaska to start the final segment of the expedition to the farthest North point the road will take us in North America. This means that we will have driven from the most southern and northern points of the continents. The excitement of the crew is through the roof, but we realize that it was only possible with the help of all those who supported us for the last two years.
Locally, we have a handful of sponsors on board including Stevinson Toyota who helped to get us the trucks, Toytec Lifts who redid the suspension, and Performance Wheel who gave us the new wheels and tires for the journey. The excellence of all their products where essential to the success on all of the horrible roads we crossed for thousands of off road miles.
We had many other sponsors on board, which you can check out by clicking the sponsors link at the top of the screen, but much of our support also came from the aid organizations that we worked with along the way. Without their on the ground knowledge, hospitality and willingness to work with us, we would probably still be stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere central Asia. All of the people that allowed us to interview them truly has given us an interesting perspective of the world and certainly given some very interesting content to the documentary and book we are currently working on.
Our recent fund raiser helped us to raise just over $2,000 and while we did not have quite the turnout we were expecting for the event, it was still an enormous success with the generosity of our supporters to help us finish this task. Many have still been making contributions via the web or mail to make sure we have enough to finish the journey and start working with schools here in the USA. One friend even made a $1000 contribution who requested to remain nameless; what a great person to give anonymously. Also we would like thank all of the local companies that generously donated items to the silent auction, it was a fun time for everyone. While we still have some work ahead of us for the funds we need to finish, we would like to thank those who attended very much for your support and attendance, it was an amazing night!
Those of you who were not able to attend the fundraiser/exhibition or did not get to see the displays can still check out many of the materials that we had on display with the links below. As soon as I get to a faster internet connection, I will have the latest video from Ushuaia up on the web, along with the slide show. The other videos that were played are all available on the videos page (just click the link above).
Most of all we would like to thank our families and friends who have been such awesome supporters for the last two years. Both financially and emotionally they have helped us with the rollercoaster of the expedition for the entire journey. None of us could have accomplished this without their help.
So we still have 9,000 miles and two months left in this journey and we do need more sponsors. If you are interested in supporting us you can click the link on the right to donate via paypal. TabootArt.com, one of our most recent sponsors, has agreed to give a World by Road t-shirt to anyone who donates over $50. If you have a local business that would like to sponsor us or the speaking tour please click the sponsor us link at the top for more information.
Again thanks to everyone for your continued support, we will keep the content coming as we make our way to Alaska, and check out the latest video!!
I have been spending a lot of time recently trying to get to the point of where we have all of our photos up on the website. Unfortunately, the world was just so damn cool and we had a shutter happy bunch of crew members so trying to sort through over 27,000 photos to caption and upload is taking quite a bit of time. That’s right, 27,000 photos. Obviously we can’t put all of them up on the site and nor should we for certain reasons, but we have a lot of new photos coming your way. It has been nice to have the comfort of a nice desk to work on and the luxury of a highspeed internet connection thanks to Steve’s sister Katie, so I have been able to push through a get a lot done so keep checking back to the photo gallery for regular updates.
First up though is one of the coolest places in one of the coolest countries we went to, and it just so happens that we were doing one of the coolest things we have done on the expedition. The World’s most dangerous road. With the opening of a new bypass around the death road, it is a lot safer than it used to be although 43 people had already lost their lives on the 40 miles stretch of road that year. With less traffic to contend with, thrill seekers are heading down the death road for an amazing 63 kilometer descent on mountain bikes. The company to go with is Vertigo Biking Co. and the man is Pablo Paz. We had a great time with Pablo and his Vertigo crew members and scouted out the death road to the point of deciding to drive the Toyotas down the death road a few days after our mountain bike descent. It was a crazy time and we have some great pictures as a result. Thanks Pablo and thanks death road!
We ride again. After over a month hiatus off the road we returned to the highway for our voyage north to Alaska. We’d, again, like to thank all of those that supported us in our fundraising efforts that enabled us to finish the expedition. It means a lot to us, and is greatly appreciated.
hrough Canada.
sixth child of Queen Victoria, was our last stop in Banff National Park.
ince George on Highway 16 West, which also could be known as the Wildlife Sightseeing Highway, for we saw bears, elk, deer, and a variety of birds. The highway led to a little slice of heaven known as 
Today officially marks the farthest north in North America for the expedition, but more importantly it also marks the farthest north for any of the crew. Right now we are in Jasper National Park in the town of Jasper. At 52 degrees, 53 minutes, -1 seconds North, this is the most North any of us have ever been in Canada. Here the days are long and the wildlife is plentiful. The mountains are grand and the lakes are numerous. It all really hit home for us when we had our first day camping and the sun did not fully set until 11pm. It stays light out until around midnight.
Steve on the road from Banff to Jasper
