The story starts to get a bit darker as my mood changes:
http://patonabike.blogspot.mx/2012/0...go-panama.html

Cheer me up with a donation to Unicef if you can please: http://www.justgiving.com/patrickmccarthy

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K...0/SAM_1277.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m...0/SAM_1289.JPG

A difficult one this time - and I�ve debated back and forth with myself for a while now whether to post it - but for completeness here it is (albeit an edited version).

http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...id-panama.html

Ride safe mate.

Your story is a reminder to us all that our loved ones should not be taken for granted and I just gave my kids (18 & 16!!) a hug.

So sorry to hear of your loss and enjoy your journey.

On a lighter note I just spent the last two days in a sales seminar in Switzerland. By far the most useful thing I did was to create a dotted line around the European map in the back of my Black n' Red book with stop overs to accomodate my European colleagues who sat around the table - I plan to go in 4 years - March 2016 - let's see if I have the knackers to do what you're doing!!!

Many thanks for the post and the kind words.

Your plans sounds great. I did a 14 countries in 11 days tour of Europe in 2010 - and was surprised how easy it was. Hang on to that Black n� Red book - and make it real!

Cheers
Pat

I'll keep my sketchy route and develop it. Sort of a big clockwise plan starting with Scandinavia, Estonia squigling South stops in Romania, Hungary then through to Turkey, Greece, S Italy, Sicily, Corsica etc, back to Italy, Swiss, Austria, Germany etc then France quickly through to East Spain, Morocco , Spain, Portugal, France slowly - home! Told you it was sketchy. Dummy run for the Pan American as my original African dream looks a tad risky at the moment - lets see in a few years.

No more close shave stories please and I'll be visiting the UNICEF website assuming today's trip to a show in London to celebrate the end of exams doesn't bankrupt me.

Back on the road - here is the latest from Costa Rica.

http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...osta-rica.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i...0/SAM_1297.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...0/SAM_1310.JPG

I love surprises - and Nicaragua delivered so much more than anticipated (and it was cheaper than Panama and Costa Rica!). Hope you like the latest in my ongoing scribbles.

http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...nicaragua.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C...0/SAM_1346.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P...0/SAM_1340.JPG

Through Honduras in this latest episode - and did I get ripped-off... of course I did!!

http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...ras-to-el.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q...0/SAM_1354.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/SAM_1357.JPG

Here is the link to the latest entry - we�re now in lovely Guatemala. Read on!
http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...guatemala.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...0/SAM_1373.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S...0/SAM_1413.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...0/SAM_1418.JPG

Here is the latest episode. Viva Mexico - but there may be troubles ahead...

http://patonabike.blogspot.ca/2012/0...an-mexico.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V...0/SAM_1441.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t...0/SAM_1474.JPG

A request for help this time round - more on the trip soon.

http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...-not-been.html

Thanks
Pat

Back on the road - and it�s the end of Mexico � but not the end of me, despite shoot outs and hurricanes. Read on...
http://patonabike.blogspot.com/2012/...ar-mexico.html

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...0/SAM_1481.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...0/SAM_1493.JPG

where are you now?

Alaksa - and time is running out (work on 1 August!)

didn't realize you were that far north, gonna miss you, i head out again july 25th but the furthest go north is Colorado heading west and then Toronto when i head east but i won't be there until Setp 20th

I hope the last few weeks of your ride is kick ass...just make sure you yield (give way) in both directions to the trucks on the dalton highway (haul rd) that means coming towards you and coming from behind, some of the loads they carry are so heavy the literally can not stop or will not stop by the time they see you, just pull off to the side of the road and let them go by

and watch out for the riendeer right by Prudhoe, they are as dumb as they come, they will run next to you then just turn and run at you, just be aware when they are close to the road, from a distance not a problem

Cheers fella - hope the fires are out in Colorado by the time you get there.
Pat

i'll know real soon as i'll be there in 2 1/2 days

Its onwards and upwards in the latest episode of Pat Around the Americas... well more like onwards and sidewards as we head more west than north after finally arriving in the good ol US of A.

http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...-paso-usa.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z...0/SAM_1511.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J...0/SAM_1517.JPG

Pictures like this inspire songs like this...
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N5akOOlGTI

The Triffids - Wide Open Road

Well the drums rolled off in my forehead
and the guns went off in my chest
Remember carrying the baby for you
Crying in the wilderness

I lost track of my friends, I lost my kin
I cut them off as limbs
I drove out over the flatlands
hunting down you and him

The sky was big and empty
My chest filled to explode
I yelled my insides out at the sun
At the wide open road

it's a wide open road, it's a wide open road

How do you think it feels
sleeping by yourself?
when the one you love, the one you love
is with someone else

Then it's a wide open road
It's a wide open road
And now you can go any place
that you ever wanted to go

I wake up in the morning
thinking I'm still by your side
I reach out just to touch you
then I realise

It's a wide open road
It's a wide open road

Thanks fella - there is nothing like the open road to inspire all sorts of feelings - and where better to record them than in a song. :partyondude:

I've also set up JustTextGiving for my Pat Around the Americas fundraising in the UK.

Using your mobile phone, it is quick and easy and (aside from the donation) won't cost you, me or Unicef anything.

Just text PATA50 �5 (with the amount you want to donate - �5 is shown as an example but it will work from �1) to 70070, and you'll get a receipt and the option to link to Gift Aid (which I recommend if you are a UK tax payer). Simples

http://www.patonabike.blogspot.com.e...xt-giving.html

Go on pick up your phone and take a second to help out those kids now. :eusa_clap::109:
Thanks
Pat

Great continued report...

:)


.

Some great riding through New Mexico and Arizona to find some lost family (well, not lost, you know what I mean) - but only to finish with a true loss.

http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...oenix-usa.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...0/SAM_1530.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...0/SAM_1531.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5...0/SAM_1558.JPG

Heading into northern Arizona I realise first hand why so many tour companies run trips around this incredible landscape. Catch up on the latest episode of...
http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...staff-usa.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6...0/SAM_1550.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o...0/SAM_1572.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...0/SAM_1627.JPG

There I was riding along minding my own business and all of a sudden this huge pothole appeared! Lucky that Idris has some stopping power. Read all about it in the latest episode: http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...anyon-usa.html

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...0/SAM_1648.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...0/SAM_1656.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...0/SAM_1687.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I...0/SAM_1709.JPG

A bit of a delay uploading this latest post as I was spending quality time with Mrs Pat, but here is the Monument Valley episode. Enjoy!

http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...rings-usa.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K...0/SAM_1741.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...0/SAM_1746.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/SAM_1779.JPG

Here we are with the latest episode... and the one in which I get to Yellowstone. I�m in awe of the place.
http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...zeman-usa.html

Please share the blog with as many people you can, and help boost the fundraising.
Thanks

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-y...0/SAM_1783.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S...0/SAM_1789.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_...0/SAM_1819.JPG

Still reading....keep it up....

:)


.

Here is the episode where I don�t go anywhere... well, not true. I go to the pub! Have a read.
http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...zeman-usa.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/SAM_1841.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/SAM_1845.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r...0/SAM_1849.JPG

Thanks all for your ongoing support!

Into Canada, YEY! And my wheel almost falls off - BOO! The journey continues, and so does the story. Read the latest here, and don�t forget to share with your friends.
http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...re-canada.html


As usual, here are a few taster shots of what I saw these days:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...0/SAM_1879.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...0/SAM_1869.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_...0/SAM_1887.JPG

My apologies to all for the lateness in uploading this episode of the journey - not far and not long to go now. Don�t know about you, but I�m getting excited!

Big mountains and big sights this time out. And a big thanks to one and all as the stats mount up. 28,000 kms on the trip so far, and over 23,000 hits on the website. You�ll also see more updated stats for the journey if you click on the stats tab on the top of my website.

Now, if only the fundraising stat could match some of those. So pleeeease, if you haven�t already given to help the neediest children of the world, there is no time like the present. Guidance on how to do that can be found by clicking here: http://www.justgiving.com/patrickmccarthy

http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...ge-canada.html

And the usual taster photos:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...0/SAM_1929.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...0/SAM_1945.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...0/SAM_1951.JPG

Go on, share the website link with mates, like it, share it, +1 it, promote it and help raise awareness and funding for this great cause.

Cheers
Pat

30,000 kms gets clocked up in this latest update of the ongoing saga of (what seems to be) my 4 month battle against strong winds!!

Lots more to see and do though... but will I make it to Alaska?

If you like reading the scribbles as much as I enjoy writing them, have a think about how you can help Unicef enable loads of kids have more fun too (through your donation).

See link: http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...se-canada.html

Cheers
Pat

Oh. Almost forgot... here are some taster shots from this episode:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z...0/SAM_1982.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...0/SAM_1999.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l...0/SAM_2005.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F...0/SAM_2020.JPG

Dawson City, as close to a living wild west town as you will find anywhere today - and I loved it.

But things were really getting hard, read about it by clicking on the link:

http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...ty-canada.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...0/SAM_2037.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n...0/SAM_2052.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e...0/SAM_2075.JPG

These were important days in my trip - no surprise why - read about them in this latest eposide:

http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...laska-usa.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...0/SAM_2080.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...0/SAM_2127.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...0/SAM_2134.JPG

nice piccies man

We have magical McCarthy and the Haines Highway in this latest episode of the journey. Only two more chapters to go... read on.

http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...laska-usa.html

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...0/SAM_2160.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...0/SAM_2230.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H...0/SAM_2233.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...0/SAM_2236.JPG

As I load up this penultimate episode from the trip, I noticed that I�ve just racked up 30,000 hits on the website. Very many thanks to you all for your interest and I hope you like this latest offering:

http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...ngham-usa.html

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...0/SAM_2250.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...0/SAM_2274.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...0/SAM_2277.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...0/SAM_2283.JPG

The last episode from my trip is now available - http://patonabike.blogspot.co.uk/201...1-to-home.html

After over 20,000 miles of solo travel, please give what you can to Unicef at: http://www.justgiving.com/patrickmccarthy

I�ve also uploaded more information on The Gear, with reviews and recommendations. And work is already underway uploading reviews of the bike and Idris' modifications. So more info to come.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r...0/SAM_2296.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...0/SAM_2297.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1...0/SAM_2293.JPG

Well the story might be over, for now, but the flow of information continues.

If you are interested, I�ve finished uploading the reviews of all the gear I took along with me here: http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/p/gear.html

And reviews of the bike and all the modifications, here: http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/p/bike.html

Hope these views on how things held up prove of interest to some.

Cheers
Pat

Simply....excellent...

Thank you.

If you're ever up this direction there's a beer waiting for you!!

All the best

:)


.

In this last post about the trip, I wrap up the story with some thoughts looking back... and looking forward.

http://patonabike.blogspot.com.es/20...-epilogue.html

I continue to update the supporting pages of the website - and have, for example, just finished calculating the final full costs (I was putting that bit off). I knew I had blown my budget. By the time I got to the USA and encountered those baking hot days, it was all I could do but dive into some aircon powered motel! Nevertheless, it wasn�t quite as bad as I thought. And it gives me a firm target for my fundraising - so please feel free to give to UNICEF if you haven�t already.

Work on the book is well underway, and I hope to be bouncing drafts around in the coming months - so watch this space on that front also. And, just like the blog and website, the book will also be geared towards raising funds for UNICEF. Please do what you can.