25. Almost there!

date: 27 Sep '09
week: 16 of 16
day: 109 of 113
weather: Windy!
country: USA
nearest town: Chicago
latt, long:
distance traveled: +30,000 km, +19,000 miles

After 4 months of traveling we are almost there, seeing the Chicago skyline was like a dress rehearsal for the final arrival in New York City.

Our 3 nights in Chicago were taken very easy with a party, sightseeing, restaurants and bars.

View from the top of the John Hancock building on the side of Lake Michigan.

Other views along the Chicago River...

24. Montana, Wyoming & South Dakota

date: 24th Sep '09
week: 16 of 16
day: 106 of 113
weather: Cool, sunny, some showers
country: USA
nearest town: Chamberlaine, South Dakota
distance traveled: +30,000 km, +18,500 miles

Wild West country! Yesterday we passed through the site of Custer's last stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, North Cheyenne and Sioux country.

If you look closely you can see Injuns amassing on the horizon.

The Presidents in South Dakota....

23. Jasper National Park - Alberta, Canada

date: 19 Sep '09
week: 15 of 16
day: 100!of 113
weather: Cold and sunny
country: Canada
nearest town: Jasper

The Jasper National Park, one of the most scenic rides in the world......

The challenges of Mongolia and Siberia are now distant memories.

22.Back down to Yukon and British Columbia

date: 17 Sep '09
week: 15 of 16
day: 99 of 113
weather:Cool and Sunny
country: Canada
nearest town: Dawson Creek, British Columbia

Fantastic scenery and empty roads in the Yukon Territory

A little busier in British Columbia

21. Alaska

date: 10 Sep '09
week: 14 of 16
day: 92 of 113
weather: Cool, blue skies
country: USA
nearest town: Anchorage
distance traveled: +22,000 km, + 14,000 miles

Yesterday was a long ride of 440 miles (700 km) from Beaver Creek, Canada (on the border with the US) to Anchorage in Alaska. But, the border crossing only took approx. 10 minutes and even included jokes with the official (Turkmenistan included no jokes and took 8 hours).

After an initial icy start (we took our time over breakfast to let things warm up a bit) we had a beautifully clear day, with fantastic smooth twisting roads and amazing scenery. That was pretty much it - great roads and scenery, oh yes and many beers that night in Anchorage.

These three pictures were all taken from the same spot, I stopped the bike on the side of the road and took them - across the road, in front and behind me, didn't even get off the bike.

20. Canada

date: 9 Sep '09
week: 13 of 16
day: of 113
weather: Cool, rainy
country: Canada
nearest town: Beaver Creek

A very civilised breakfast on board the Inside Passage Ferry, going North from Vancouver Island, and to think a couple of weeks before we had been sleeping on the side of the mosquito ridden Trans-Siberian Highway.

The roads and scenery through Canada were fantastic, this is on the way to Beaver Creek, our last stop in Canada before crossing back into Alaska. 

19. Seattle, USA

date: 01 Sep '09
week: 12 of 16
day: 83 of 113
weather:Sunny, cool
country: USA
nearest town: Seattle

A 10 hour flight later and we are in Seattle, USA. 

This has nothing to do with Seattle (actually we stayed in the 

unexciting Seatac - halfway between Seattle and Tacoma) or riding a bike. But on the way to the mall (as you do once you arrive in America) I noticed that AC/DC were in concert at the local stadium. AC/DC tickets in Australia are normally  sold out within minutes of going on sale, however I picked up three tickets for that night! Great concert, but the boys are getting on a bit!