The Fastest Man Around The World - May 6th 2005

BIKE LOST !!The R1 went missing in transit. Now being redirected.
Just had news that while Nick patiently waited for his bike in Anchorage , the bike with a mind of its own was on its way to Korea ! After a lot of frantic activity to locate the bike, we'd been told that because of weight issues on the United flight, it got bumped off, and was mysteriously put on a Korean airline. It is now being redirected back Alaska . Talk about delays!
Latest updates on Nick and his progress on the around the world challenge.
Friday 08 July 2005This is why motorcycling around the world is such a serious undertaking. Not that motorcycling long hours and coping with constant weather, landscape and cultural change is hard enough, you also have to have the patience to deal with the logistics and organization of the entire journey. The latest delay, the most unexpected of all so far, has been the fact that Nick's R1 went missing mid-transit. You entrust your bike to people who are professionals at freighting, and hope things will fall into place. Mostly they do, and sometimes … like now, they don't. From what we understand, the bike was booked onto a United Airlines flight to Anchorage from Auckland , due to arrive in on Wednesday. It didn't. Not suspecting anything serious, and with the now usual “another delay!” attitude, we just decided to wait another day. But soon we realized something was amiss, and indeed, the bike was missing! After frantic activity and many phone calls, not to mention panic, we now know that for weight limitation (we suspect over booking) on the United flight, the bike was bumped off the flight. For reasons not explained to us, it was then put onto a Korean airline ... on its way back to Asia ! The freighters now assure us that the bike has been located and is being redirected to Anchorage . It is expected to arrive in Alaska on Sunday evening. This freighting delay from Auckland to Anchorage will now be longer than what we thought was the worst ever 6 day delay from Istanbul to Mumbai. Times like this you wish you were Richard Branson, with your millions and a fleet of airline behind you. On the flip, how dull would that be? The funniest bit though, is that by the end of the trip, Nick's R1 would have traveled more miles than Nick himself!


NICKS DIARY UPDATE
Latest Update : 06/07/05
In Anchorage, Alaska
I have just heard about the terrible bombing in London . Just wanted to say how terrible I feel about this and both Jiten in the office and myself on the road offer our condolences to everyone concerned. This is a cowardly attack and surely cannot be in the name of any God. I have traveled around the world many times and have found Muslim people to be amongst the most courteous of people, I think you will find that they are as upset as is everybody else. Journeys like this - motorcycling around the world, anybody who goes around the world overland - ordinary travelers - must also never stop because all of us return with a more comprehensive understanding of people and people's needs and are ambassadors for a better world. My condolences.

H.Q UPDATE

BACK ON THE ROAD ! Stage 6 begins as Nick clocks 600 miles in the first 12 hours.
Finally after flying to Korea and China; on Sunday the bike arrived in Anchorage. After a quick service, our man is now on the road. In the last 12 hours he has done 600 miles. If he keeps up this pace for 6 days, Nick would have set up a new record for riding 7000 North American Miles in 6 days. This would also bring his Fastest Circumnavigation of Earth record well within grasp
In Anchorage, Alaska
The USA AND CANADA ROUTE

FROM........................To.................... ...........Miles
Anchorage via Fairbanks.Tok.............................525
Tok.................Dawson Creek..........................1300
Dawson Creek....Eureka (BC border)....................680
Eureka..............Jnc Hwy 90.............................180
Jnc Hwy 90........Salt Lake................................530
Salt Lake ..........Jnc Hwy 70.............................150
Jnc Hwy 70........Hwy 191 - 180........Hwy 10.......600
Hwy 10..............El Paso..................................230
El Paso..............Chihuahua Torreon...................500
Torreon..............San Antonio............................500
San Antonio..........Houston.......................... .....200
Houston..............Louisiana border......................130
Louisiana border.....Mississippi border...................260
Mississippi border.....Mobile................................1 00
Mobile...................Montgomery............... ..........170
Montgomery...........Atlanta...................... .........170
Atlanta.................Greenville................ .............175
Greenville...............Charlotte................ ............100
Charlotte...............Washington................ .........400
Washington..............New York..........................250



NICKS DIARY UPDATE
12th July 2005 I left customs at 12:30 and went straight into Don's Motorcycle shop where a bike service was done remarkably quickly. Tyre change, oil change and new front & rear sprockets and a new chain … all this in 1 hour. I left from there at 1:30 pm and then rode to Fairbanks carrying on in the easterly direction and then turned south east towards Tok. I've just done 592 miles in 11 hrs riding, but we have to put in 1 hour of service. The record clock does not stop for service. So I've done almost 600 miles in 12 hours. Bang on the 1200 mile day schedule. It's now half past Mid Night, the sun has just gone down. I am now going to ride through the night to reach Dawson Creek by noon today. Dawson Creek is at the end of the Alaskan Highway . I feel really good, really focused. I realize what is really necessary and the efforts involved. This was the half day of what is going to be 12 half days

[Red ones]

Originally Posted by chewy22

Tyre change, oil change and new front & rear sprockets and a new chain … all this in 1 hour.

....or all day if he goes to my local Suzuki dealer! (What's the phone number for this place, it may be quicker for me to go there!!!!)

Great stuff - keep it up!

NICKS DIARY ENTRY

Latest Update : 13/07/05
On the Alaska - Canada Highway, North America
Did 1700 miles in the last 35 hours - Anchorage to Fairbanks and then just 300 miles short of the full length of the Alaskan Highway . There were lots of road construction so I couldn't manage the last 400 miles as it was late so I checked into a hotel and have started being a bit more clever in looking after myself – i.e. my second hotel room on the whole trip! - 4 hours sleep and then off to catch up with my schedule. As long as I am in Salt Lake City for 09.00 Thursday I am on schedule for 3 x 1200 mile days - which means 300 miles tomorrow morning and then 1400 miles over the next 26 hours, 2 thirds freeway and no construction. I filmed a lot today in Alaska but am not filming at all tomorrow. Am on the wireless internet in my room, 12.30 midnight will sleep between 1 and 4 then off when I get to see what animals are out there - that's the important bit, the locals say this last part of the Alaska – Canada is the worst for animals and knowing when to back off keeps you adventuring for a long time. Welcome to the team, Dave Marsden and his company Z Power. Dave is a friend and has invested money into the production of the Broadcast Film and DVD. Dave is the worlds largest supplier of Kawasaki parts for 1970's and '80's Kwakers and wants me to ride a Kawasaki - what do I do?! I Feel very confident. I Am on the verge of grabbing back 200 miles from my 1000 miles deficit. This will happen. I haven't come this far to go home empty handed.

Originally Posted by Red ones

....or all day if he goes to my local Suzuki dealer! (What's the phone number for this place, it may be quicker for me to go there!!!!)

Great stuff - keep it up!

Had my bike serviced up there a couple of years ago nice guys.Also they are the ones that Ewan and Charley used if you look close at the DVD.
I think they claim they are the most northan bike dealers in the world.

STAGE 6
3500 MILES IN 72 HOURES NICK IS GOING STEADY AND GAINING BACK LOST TIME AND MILAGE

Stage 6: Going steady, Nick is slowly gaining back lost miles and time in US.
Now well into the penultimate stage, Nick is steadily clocking up the much-needed miles as he rides south to the border with Mexico. However, since it could take 4-6 hours to get across the border, Nick may skip his quick dip to Torreon and Monterrey and stay ‘Stateside'. On last call he was to reach Salt lake city in 4 hours.





NICKS DIARY UPDATES


On the Alaska - Canada Highway, North America
After 1980 miles since yesterday, one three hour sleep and the full length of the Alaskan Highway, I found friends. Heidi and Charles met up with me and kept me talking and they are such great mates whom I've known since my first expeditions in 1996. I usually end up on a sofa, which is better than any motel (see http://www.alaskahotel.com ). I'm behind on my schedule so I'm going to have to ride all night to get to Salt Lake City for my tyre change; that'll teach me. It's really hard catching up stray hours at this part of the project but meeting good friends, real live people who think and care about you, is the closest I get to a normal life just now, so it's important to me. But I'm late, really paranoid, got to go!

Latest Update : 15/07/05
In Salt Lake City, USA
I'm at Wright's Bike Shop in Salt Lake City; great people – they are being so helpful. Tyre changed by Tim in minutes plus oil and filters. Back on the road in 40 minutes flat. have just worked out that I have ridden a confirmed 3500 miles in 76 hours, two thirds on the Alaskan Highway and crossing the Rockies, one third on the Interstate. Tomorrow it's all Interstate, so I hope to ride 600 miles in a 12 hour period. I have actually hit the 1150 miles a day schedule; that means I have clawed back 550 miles, so now I'm only 450 miles down on the record. Have to go, more later.

Stage 6 Over and in great style!! 6800 miles in just over 6 days and 3 hours.
HQ UPDATE
What a fabulous biking blast from Anchorage to San Antonio and back up to Toronto. Probably the fastest ever 6800 miles in North America, ever, at a mind blowing daily average of over 1100 miles a day. After a last minute changes to the route, Nick skipped his short dip into Mexico, and then for freighting issues, had to end his stage in Toronto instead of New York.


NICKS DIARY ENTRY



Latest Update : 18/07/05
In Toronto, Canada.
I have never felt so pleased with my biking performance as I do now. In six days and three and a half hours and I rode from Anchorage, down the full length of the Alaskan Highway and then descended across the USA to the Mexican border. Then from El Paso to San Antonio I headed in a straight line to Toronto - 6800 miles. It just wasn't easy. Since Monday 12.30 till now, sometime Sunday Central Time, I have had seven hours of proper sleep. The rest has been cat naps and as soon as my head hits my tank bag I sleep on my bike I am asleep in seconds; that is how tired I have become. More than this , today I started falling asleep on my bike as I was riding. Every few minutes I would fade out and for a brief few seconds, I would be riding my bike on the highway, asleep. I have a strange awareness it's happening, but not initially. For the first two or three seconds I am out for the count – just sitting, balancing , holding the accelerator grip firmly but well asleep. And then I wake up, catch the bike just before it starts to veer off somewhere and carry on. It's a type of madness that motorcyclists understand; I don't know who else does. This has been amongst my hardest ever riding. I will get this record by a few hundred miles and a few hours, but right now we are head to head almost to the hour. Never mind the filming etc; but what a great job Kevin and Julia did when they set their record in 2002 . I haven't smashed it, more like snatched it at the last moment, although it's not over yet, but the hardest work is done. I'm too tired to write more. I just want to thank anyone who has been watching. Let's make the last week enjoyable.

and double

Keep it up dude.

still readin it all chew..keep it up.
very very interesting....there are people interested out here.just dont wanna derail too often.

Stage 7 soon :
The global journey
nears its end as Nick prepares to do
Lisbon - Calais in
under 24 hours.


Stage 7: Nick on his way to Lisbon. Adrenalin levels high for the final sprint.
Nick now prepares for the next stage in Lisbon. He will be riding from Lisbon to Calais in less than 24 hours to reclaim the record. This will be the most thrilling end to a global journey, that with its ups and downs, fast rides and shipping delays, filming, flying, waiting and the endless test of human spirit to endure, has been truly epic. Our prayers and best wishes are with Nick

NICKS DIARY UPDATE

Latest Update : 20/07/05
In Toronto, Canada.
I am still taking in what happened on the last stage from Anchorage to Toronto. I honestly didn't believe I could ride like that. I thought that at a certain age your abilities decline but at 47 I am riding twice as well as I ever have. Six days is a phenomenal time for that leg. The Alaskan highway was full of slow road construction works and the Midwest suffered the effects of the latest hurricane - I was riding in rain that was so heavy it was like a curtain. That lasted on and off for two days. No tickets, not one, thankfully. No trouble with the bike. I am at Toronto airport about to board a flight to New York to connect with one that will get me to Lisbon for the start of the last leg. Depending on the total number of miles ridden we will decide whether to ride Lisbon to Calais via San Sebas tian or via Valencia, the latter being about 300 miles longer. I intend to fly like an albatross, so I'll be riding safely and smoothly but quickly.