Here's the best news: Our friends Chris and Matt graced us with their presence this evening. Matt is a volunteer, and he rode along with us in India, and Chris is on our advisory board and has done a whole lot for the expedition. These guys are super cool.

Tomorrow is our return event, and, like I said, if you are in the area and don’t stop by, you are MISSING OUT.

Sunnyvale, at the Parkinson’s Institute, from 11:00 to 1:00.
(N.O.)

You're invited: Monday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Be there or be square!
(N.O.)

So, after snapping some photos, we headed off toward a local news channel’s building. On the way there, we saw a handful of Eyewitness News vans covering a nurses’ rally. Seizing the opportunity for a chance to get on the news by stealing another group’s thunder, we did a drive-by. A few cameras pointed in our direction, and the reporters shouted, “Who are you?” to us as we cruised past. We sent young Mark Cope and our very own Todd Borgie out to talk up the expedition, and just as the reporters were getting interested, Gov. Schwarzenegger appeared and took the media attention we had rightfully stolen. The reporters ran away from us to capture the action at the governator’s press conference. Schucks! We were so close!

We did laps around the building where the governor was speaking, and we wond cheers and applause from another group of kids, but we decided to pack it in before the governor reappeared. We dropped in on two TV stations and a newspaper, with little luck, and then we did a final drive-by at the press conference. The governor was already gone, but we bumped into his political advisor, and he invited us up to his office.

That visit spawned a beautiful friendship with George Gorton and his son, Steve Moore, who were both advisors to Boris Yeltsin’s campaign and can claim responsibility for his successful election. They’re a couple of highly successful political gurus, and we got to hang out with them for the rest of the evening. They brought us over to the Hyatt, where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver live, and we loitered there for a while. When he failed to appear, we went over to the Capitol building to roam around outside of his office. No luck there, either. It seems our man had left for L.A. So we hung with our new friends and enjoyed the rest of our evening. We didn’t meet the governor, but we were successful, nonetheless.

Tomorrow, we either head south, or we’ll hang out a bit longer in Sacramento.
(N.O.)

For now, though, we are in Sacramento, and we’re hoping to get some face time with the governor. So wish us much luck! THAT would be an extraordinary experience. The governator. How exciting!
(N.O.)

This evening, we hooked up with Nancy’s Aunt Penny and Uncle Bruce and went to their favorite Thai restaurant, Sivalaya. There, owner Jose treated us to a whole lot of food and Thai iced tea, on the house. It was delicious! Mealtime was a perfect opportunity for the team to present the birthday boy with his gift…Mark and Nancy had gone searching for a perfect gift for young Borgie, and they found it! At a local Army/Navy store, they happened upon a Mexican wrestling mask. Realizing that they had found the world’s most perfect birthday gift, they bought the object and brought it to dinner. There, we frightened a few of the patrons by trying on the Gimp-ish mask and laughing uncontrollably. Tomorrow, we’re off to Sacramento!
(N.O.)

We actually went back north to Seattle to shoot a quick interview for KOMO, the ABC affiliate there, before heading south to Portland. Portland is a beautiful city, as cities go, and the team is anticipating two good nights here. Todd has friends in the area, and Nancy’s aunt and uncle are here, so it’s really feeling like we’re getting close to home.

See you all soon!
(N.O.)

We arrived in Seattle in time to pay a visit to Land Rover Seattle, where the folks there held a wonderful reception for us. They were great, and we made some fantastic new friends. After that, we had another amazing reception at Land Rover Bellevue. There, we even got to drive their short little off-road trials course, where the Land Rovers demonstrated the wonders of traction control on a 45-degree uphill, and where we navigated a sweet little articulation obstacle and some nice down hills. It was fun letting the Landies show off some of their amazing off-road capabilities!

After those visits, we paid a final visit to Land Rover Tacoma in the city of Fife. They cooked up some fantastic BBQ for us, and we had a great time mingling with the patrons and employees. These are the folks who handled the immigration of our vehicles back to the U.S. from Russia, and they’re the ones who did some maintenance for us and then shipped the vehicles to Anchorage for our start. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude. Thanks, Land Rover Tacoma!

Thank you to all of our Northwest Land Rover dealers. You sure know how to uphold the brand and promote the feeling of family that makes Land Rover so special. This was a good welcome home to the U.S. for us!
(N.O.)

Tomorrow, we will re-enter the U.S. and have a reception at Land Rover Seattle.
(N.O.)

After meeting Jim, we all donned our new North Face jackets for a standup interview with Vancouver’s City TV. Nick, Nancy, and Todd gave interviews, and they filmed the Land Rovers. After that, we had another interview with Channel 9. Both went well.

Somehow, those interviews took most of the day, and then the team was left to their own devices. Nick and Nancy had an unbelievably delicious dinner at a local restaurant called Bouzyos, The Greek Taverna. We met Iva, Melanie, Natalie, Debbie, and owner John. John bought a couple of rounds, and we enjoyed some wonderful Canadian/Greek hospitality. I’m still dreaming about that delicious meal.

Tomorrow, we have a visit with Land Rover Richmond in B.C., followed by some car cleaning.
(N.O.)

16 February, 2005

Dear friends of Drive Around the World,

After 16 months, four continents and countless cans of Red Bull, your LONGITUDE Expedition has some exciting news to share. After reaching the northernmost point of the journey Feb. 5 at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, our Land Rovers turned south and are pointed toward the finish line at the Parkinson’s Institute in Sunnyvale, Calif.

We’re coming home!

If you’ve followed our journals and dispatches, you know where we’ve been. From California all the way to the road’s end in Tierra del Fuego. Across Australia’s Gunbarrel Highway. Through the muddiest parts of Southeast Asia, the highest roads of the Himalayas, the most treacherous parts of Pakistan and the coldest corners of Siberia.

You also know who we’ve met. The Dalai Lama, for starters (though we couldn’t tell anyone until we made it through China)! We’ve rallied celebrities like Michael J. Fox, Jay Leno and James Cameron to our cause. We made friends on the streets of Bangkok and the reed houses of Bolivia.

And we met with people around the world who live with Parkinson’s disease. Don Tito, a sheepherder from Patagonia, can no longer climb into his saddle and tend his flocks. Wang, from Singapore, gave up his career as a commercial pilot. Naomi, from Australia, thirsts for literature but cannot hold a book.

Their hands may tremble, but their hearts do not. The determination and strength of these people touched us, inspired us and reminded us that Parkinson’s disease does not recognize international borders. It is a disease desperately in need of awareness, at home and especially abroad. In Laos, a country of over 6 million that likely has thousands living with Parkinson’s, we found just one person who had been diagnosed with the disease.

Our expedition has been about bringing hope to Parkinson’s sufferers. It’s been about promoting cross-border understanding. In the most essential sense, it’s been about raising money to fund research to find a cure for PD, which the National Institute of Health believes will happen with the proper funding.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the virtual ride as well, but the expedition isn’t over yet. The truth is, this final leg is the most important of the expedition. We need your support to reach our fundraising goal and make a sincere difference in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

Land Rover Certified Pre-Owned and 60 other companies have made contributions to defray the expedition’s costs and ensure that 100 percent of funds raised go directly to the Parkinson’s Institute. To donate, visit www.drivearoundtheworld.com/support.

But more than anything, our drive around the world has been about making a difference. I felt helpless when my big sister, Jackie, was diagnosed with PD. So did my friend and team member Todd Borgie after his father began to shake. We took to the road not to escape our problems, but to challenge them and become part of the solution.

In the process, we used our Web site to take students back home on virtual field trips, where they learned about geography and cultural diversity. They also have a rough idea what Peruvian guinea pig tastes like.

We hope you will tell your friends and neighbors about us. We hope you will continue to contribute. And we hope to see you at the finish line celebration, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. at the Parkinson’s Institute!

You’ll meet the team, see the vehicles that traveled 41,000 miles, hear all our tales and adventures and eat some unusual foods from around the world (no guinea pig, we promise). You will witness a major event in motor vehicle history – the culmination of an unprecedented adventure, the longest drive ever undertaken to raise money for a charitable cause.

Just by joining us, you’ll become part of the greater Parkinson's community. You’ll be supporting our team and its philanthropic mission. You’ll be part of the solution.

Until then, you can track our daily progress at www.drivearoundtheworld.com. Don’t forget, a minimum donation of just $10 will earn a chance to win one of the 2003 Certified Pre-owned Discovery vehicles, identical to those that went around the world. The vehicle, which is signed by Jay Leno, Michael J. Fox and director James Cameron, will be raffled off in conjunction with the New York Auto Show in April.

Also, if you work in the media, we invite you to help us spread the word and defeat Parkinson’s disease. We are available for interviews as we make our way towards the finish line, and there’s still time for reporters to ride along as part of the “Take Me With You” program.

Until Feb. 28, we will carry all of you, in spirit, with us to the finish line. We thank you for your past support, and we hope to see you at the Parkinson’s Institute!

Sincerely,

The drive to Vancouver would have been a very pretty one, had we not reached the mountains in the dark. As it were, the drive was actually long and boring. But, we made it, and that’s enough to make us quite happy. It’s good to be in Vancouver. We saw several freeway signs for the USA border on the way here.

Tomorrow, we have some media opportunities to attend, and we have to clean out our well-used, well-lived-in vehicles.
(N.O.)

Well, today was pretty cool, because we took a little side trip to Hyder, Alaska, which is just next door to Stewart, B.C. It’s kind of a weird place in that you can only reach it by road by driving through Canada. There’s a road that veers southwest off of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway for about 37 miles to the town of Stewart in Canada. If you drive straight through Stewart, you will cross a tiny little border into Alaska, and the road continues a total of about 2.7 miles through the town of Hyder. And that’s where the road ends. The only other way to reach Hyder is via air or a body of water called the Ketchikan-Hyder Alaska Marine Highway.

Hyder is like a ghost town in the winter, apparently. We hardly saw any movement on the roads, and nobody stirred in the homes. It’s a summer town, and all the tourist attractions are closed for the winter. We saw houses and gas stations that were half-buried in snow, boats that had been iced into the docks by the harsh temperatures, a couple of people walking, one or two cars, and a few roaming pooches. It was awesome. Very nautical. In the summers, they get very few mosquitoes, and bears walk right down the streets. A movie called “Insomnia,” starring Robin Williams, was filmed there. I haven’t seen it, but I guess the main character was unable to sleep because of Hyder’s 24 hours of sunlight in the summertime. They say real estate is cheap there. Am I weird to want to buy?

Since we spent most of the morning exploring Hyder (and looking for internet), we got a late start on our 443-mile drive to Prince George. The road out of Stewart was closed until 1:00 p.m. for avalanche clean up, anyway, as it turned out, so it didn’t matter that we got a late start.

The road really cleared up just south of Stewart, so we made excellent time to Prince George. Not only did the snow and ice disappear from the roads, but we were able to see the ground for the first time since the start of our final leg. We were actually excited to see dirt. I know it’s weird, but we were dirt-deprived. Oh, and we also saw a bald eagle nibbling on a dead moose…fyi…

Tomorrow, we’ve another 450 miles to Vancouver. And after Vancouver, we re-enter the U.S. Cool! Time flies when you’re having fun. Talk to you later.
(N.O.)

Well, we’ve got another 500 or so miles to travel down this highway tomorrow, so hopefully we’ll see some more moosies(?). (The official count is now 24).

Today is Valentine’s Day, obviously, and when we walked into King Edward Inn’s restaurant for dinner, it was decorated in hearts and red tablecloths. It was quite festive, and people with paying jobs were enjoying the steak/lobster/king crab specials. (The server came out and asked us if we’d like to see the “afternoon menus.”) And, anyway, the point of all of this is to tell you, “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!” We’re thinking of you and wishing you were here. (Or maybe we’re wishing we were there…haha) Hugs and kisses, your LONGITUDE Expedition team. ;)
(N.O.)

Since we’re going to be traveling down the scenic Stewart-Cassiar Highway, I highly doubt we’ll have e-mail access for a couple of days. So, since we can’t e-mail you or chat with you online, we’d like to send you our very best now (no cell coverage, either). Happy Valentine’s day, ya’ll. Have a good one. We’ll be thinking about you.
(N.O.)

You can read about the Yukon Quest on their website:

www.yukonquest.org

Here’s a little intro to the race for ya:

At the Top of the World, in the Yukon-Alaskan Interior, an epic event takes place every year that few people from "down south" have experienced. Covering 1000 miles between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and Fairbanks, Alaska during the depths of the Arctic winter, the Yukon Quest is the "Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World."
The Yukon Quest Trail follows historic Gold Rush and Mail Delivery routes from the turn of the 20th Century. Once a travel highway of the Northern frontier, the trail comes alive each February with the breath of hundreds of sled dogs. Teams of one human 'musher' and 14 canine athletes, travel for two weeks, racing through some of the last pristine wilderness remaining in North America.
The Yukon Quest is dedicated to excellence in canine care. Quest mushers are coaches, cooks, cheerleaders, and companions to their dogs. Quest dogs are elite, marathon athletes. Bred from stock that survived and thrived during the Klondike Gold Rush, no animal on earth can match them for endurance, dedication and their ability to perform in the extreme conditions of the North.
The Spirit of the Quest is still true to its northern soul. Mushers carry mandatory equipment, food and supplies at all times. They cannot replace their sleds, and are not permitted to accept any help, except in Dawson City (the home of the Klondike Gold Rush) the half-way point along the race route. Ten checkpoints lie along the trail, some more than 200 miles apart. Teams are truly on their own, relying on a combination of toughness and skill, the commitment and endurance of the dogs, and sometimes luck.
The race route runs on frozen rivers, climbs four mountain ranges, and passes through isolated, northern villages. With temperatures hitting 40 below, 100 mile-an-hour winds, open water and bad ice all working against the teams, the Yukon Quest is a true test of the capacity of humans and canines, and a tribute to the strength of the ancient bond that unites them.

So, that’s all for now. We’re turning in for the night. Miss you all.

(N.O.)

Folks here are very interested in the vehicles and the expedition, and their hospitality is amazing. We’ve made a lot of good friends here. Shout-outs to Vince, Mary, Sherry (sorry if I misspell names), Gord, Chris, the fine folks at the Best Western Gold Rush Inn, and all the folks whose names I wish I’d caught. Props, ya’ll.
(N.O.)

The Canadian border is about 200 miles out of Fairbanks, and we had an easy time getting through. They require proof of citizenship, which we provided, and they confiscated our tiny little mace canisters. Oh well! Smooth sailing.

During latter part of our drive, we passed a 1995 Land Rover Discovery, and then we met the drivers at a gas stop. We talked with them about their plans and our expedition (they’re Alaskans moving to Virginia), and then we bid each other farewell and safe travels. A bit down the road, the lead vehicle saw the Discovery off the road in a ditch. Everyone was uninjured, and the driver said the wind had picked up, causing whiteout conditions, and he simply drove off the road. We were attempting to winch them out when a big semi stopped by and offered to help. We hooked a chain up to his tail bumper, and he pulled the Disco out to cheers from its three weary passengers. That was the excitement of the day…too bad we didn’t get any photos. But we did get video.

Anyway, we’re in Whitehorse now, and tomorrow is an easy driving day. Internet is sketchy, and we look forward to arriving in a city with a good connection so we can chat online with friends. All the best until then!
(N.O.)

Tomorrow, we have a very long day of driving (about 600 miles) to reach the town of Whitehorse in Canada. Should be fun!
(N.O.)

We drove for 200 miles before D2 ran out of gas and pulled over to the shoulder. Pulling onto the shoulder resulted in a serious sticking of the vehicle. There is no shoulder, when the snow is removed…so D1 tried to park on it, and we suddenly had 2 cars stuck…and one was out of gas. ANYWAY, we got’em out and arrived at the gas station before the others went empty, and all was good.

In Fairbanks, we checked into the Best Western, ordered pizzas, and sat down to tell lies about our camping experience. These are the things that make expeditions, well, expeditions, and by the time we get home, we will have embellished the camping story in many ways. Suffice it to say, it was COLD and ICY and MISERABLE, and we LOVED IT!!!

Tomorrow, we head further south into Canada. Unfortunately, we will lose Luke, who has become a wonderful teammie, and we already miss him. So, tonight, we will finish saying goodbye to him in proper LONGITUDE fashion, and tomorrow we will bid him a fond farewell.

Until next time…Fondly, Your LONGITUDE Team! (N.O.)

THE FOLLOWING ARE NICK'S WORDS: Permission for vehicles and team was granted and we were escorted through the gates to the shores of Prudhoe Bay. Access to the Beaufort Sea is heavily restricted and even though we had some wonderful folks helping with arrangements, an email check this morning said it didn’t look good. News like this might have turned some folks away but not our team. The wonderful staff of the Prudhoe Bay Hotel helped us call field security and luckily they had heard we were coming. The efforts of our sponsors at Mobil 1 made this happen and the security company mentioned seeing us in the newspaper as well. Usually the oil field workers are the only folks allowed out here but Purcell Security hooked us up by sending Bill, Randy, Linn, and Robin out to accompany the team through the restricted areas to see the Arctic. Strict regulations put in place in the last few years require that our escorts also drive our vehicles and all had to wear safety glasses. After a short briefing we headed to the ocean, but before we could get out of the vehicles, one of our escorts explored the ice on foot and used binoculars to scan the area for polar bears. This is where they live and it’s not unusual to see them way up here. It’s tough to tell the ocean apart from the land, since the entire landscape is nothing but white snow, so we dug down through a foot of snow and found ice which makes the journey official. The only thing stopping a fellow from driving further, out onto the ice, is permission but we were plenty satisfied with pictures, and tried not to freeze while admiring the view. During moments like this, it’s easy to get caught up taking pictures so the team took a few personal moments to survey the area surrounding the northernmost road and then it hit me. One year ago, almost to the day, we stood on the shore at the other end of the Pan American Highway (southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina), and stared out toward the South Pole. Now it’s time to turn our convoy south and, once we reach Sunnyvale, Calif. we will have driven the absolute length of the world’s longest motorable road.

(N.B.)

A moose was killed on the train tracks sometime during the wee hours of the morning, and the body was deposited on the road right in front of the lodge, at the railroad crossing. Apparently, when large game is killed by trains or vehicles and becomes road kill, the state troopers contact “meat hunters” from a call list of local folks who come out to collect the