Saturday, July 10, 2010

1114pm Anchorage time

Friday, July 9, 2010

Last morning in Alaska.... flying out 730 this evening....lay over in Anchorage then on to Denver

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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Too many pics to post until I get home....

The Finish Line !!!! Hoka Hey!



"Alaska" -Alex from Anchorage and I.. we rode through 3 states together and after separating so I couls take Curtis his Challenge coin we didn't meet back up until Missoula,. Mt. (where the ER doc told me no more riding and I started in the chase truck)



The bike : after one wreck and lots of miles. This is when they took her out of the trailer in Homer.




My friends Dave and Linda Jadwin, who I went to church with in Lake wales about 15 yrs ago. They met met at the finish line. Fed me Halibut for the first time, best fish I have ever eaten.



At Starting line - Key West

Riders meeting : This many started


Escort team and Pastor Ernie and his wife,
Starting line prayer and song by Jim and Lakota family.




Starting line Sat. evening June 19th.


Found WiFi spot !!!

Sorry everyone that I didn't find it sooner. Well on July 3rd. I was number 170 to cross the finish line. Due to injury to my hip, I was not able to ride across but I did limp acroos the line. I promised the only way I wouldn't cross the line was if I or my bike was totally incapitated. When Jim asked me what I was going to do after Doc said no more riding I told him.... " Finishing is the prize" and I would crawl across if I had to.
I became a support truck driver for two different support crews. First one of the riders was trailering my bike and the second was a bike builder from Long Beach,Cal. two on the first team got married after the final ceremony.

Final ceremony had a prayer -via phone link - by Grandfather Red Cloud, current cheif of the Souix nation, in the Lakota language. He prayed to the Creator !!! Giving thanks to the Creator and thanking Him for all the riders who made the journey safely. He told the Creator They are here. Then he thanked all the people from across the land and the world for helping the Lakota people. He ended his thanks saying in Lakota - Mitakuye Oyasin -( we are all related)

Stats for the ride as best I know :
753 started
195 finished( in the time frame) some still riding in - but finishing
3 died (Ledger sports section said 2 and one was from Ocala- 3rd one was on 7/4)
30+ went to hospitals that I know of, ( me included)

Jim Red Clouds' brother and nephew sang two of the songs they sang every day riding asking God to watch over the riders and then Jim had a moment of silence and the prayed for all of the finishers and the families of the 3 who died, thanking God for strength and peace for the 3 families .

Please pray for me as I try to find a way to get back home. The trailer that was to bring my bike and I home broke down in Kalispell,Montana. I will have to fly back (I don't like to fly) and wait for my bike to get to South Dakota which takes about 2 weeks. The added expense is making funds very tight.

I thank all for their prayers and please keep Curtis in prayer for healing as well.

God Bless,
Jeff - Bodybag

Sunday, July 4, 2010

veiw in Homer....

Saturday, July 3, 2010

standing very still helps

Thursday, July 1, 2010

leaving Ft nelson going to

leaving Ft nelson going to Ft nelson then to Whitehorse.....

riding in chase truck has

riding in chase truck has some advantage.... Kenny (k-bob) is a great driver and wrench. He comes from Ga. He is good guy .

a little cool

just got on the alaskan

just got on the alaskan hwy