Fin Del Mundo!

January 11th was a very difficult day it was very hard to stay on my bike. I kept stopping, most of the time to take pictures but also to just sit down on the side of the road. I had less than thirty more miles to Ushuaia, the place I have been working so hard to find. Only now I didn't want to go there anymore. I thought about turning around but I didn't know where I would go. I wasn't ready to be finished. I had to talk myself through the motions of standing up walking to my bike and picking it up off the ground. While throwing a leg over the frame I would tell myself that I will do this because I have been cursed with the will to do so. Three more hours would pass by while my moods and the anfractuous path I was on would sweep upward into the clouds only to plummet back down again. Then there is was, just a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean but I instantly knew that my road was about to end. I am still trying to disentangle the thoughts going through my mind right now while I revel in the shadow cast by the enormity of the task I have just completed. Above all I am very happy to be here and not to have to ride my bike tomorrow. I will have some time to mule it over while I take a week off before a bus will transport me north to Mendoza. Once there I will immediately start getting my paper work and permits taken care of before piecing together the logistics for my upcoming climb. I hope to be climbing by the 21st. and be back in home by the 2nd. of Feb. The journey is not over yet but completing such a giant portion has given me reason to reflect and think about all the people that have supported me in my endeavor. I want to thank you all again for your help and for your thoughts. Sam-
The good, the bad, and the insane
The best:
Contry: Columbia, The food was great. The people were friendly respectful and had pride in their contry. The roads were fun and chalanging. The mountains were huge and the landscape gorgous. The citys were clean and historic and a blast. It's true eveyone rides a bike in Columbia

Region: The Yukon, it was some big country, wild and untouched. The lakes and rivers were beautiful. The people were interesting and say things like "givin yer!"

City: Iquique, You have to see it to truely understand its beauty, absolutly amazing setting for a city. I was blown away.

Town: Bariloche, Nestled in the Andes it overlooks the Largo Nahuel Huampi and is a hub for travelers from all over the world.

Village: San Ignasia a true oasis in the center of the Baja Peninsula

Establishment: The Breakfast Club in Whitehorse, Canada.

Campsite: Swinging from a hammock three feet away from a 400ft. cliff with the waves of the Pacific ocean crashing below, El Salvador.

Month: June, finally getting started, the Dalton Hyw. and Alaska, The learning period.

Week: Oct. 3 thru Oct. 9, Five contries in seven days was absoulutly unreal.

Day: 8.10.07, The City Ride, Riding into San Francisco with the crew from Tahoe.

Night: Watching the rain and lightning storm in Playa Azul.

Part of my Day: The first 60 miles.

Moment: crashing into Jake on the Elliot Hwy, after celebrating completing the Dalton

Dinner: Moose and Carabou ribs at George Myers home in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Lunch: The meal prepared by Evelyn in Pangor, It just dosen't get any better, Really!

Breakfast: Matt's parents house in Lofal, Washington. Eat Fish, Wear Grundens!!

The Worst:
Contry: Peru, I'm convinced that evey one in the desert is grumpy. Everyone tries to take advantage of the tourist, it smells and the drivers were the worst.

Region: Can't think of one, any one of the regions in peru but the were all the same.

City: Retalhuleu, Guatemala, Oscar, the manager of the hotel would insist that he escorted us outside of the hotel. There were armed guards at the entryways of the resturants and you had to buy supplies through locked caged doors.

Town: Can't think of one.

Village: Nadame, Nicuragua, Nothing was really bad about this place it was just tough to see the poverty.

Establishment: Can't think of one.

Campsite: Some sand dunes I picked out north of Lima, I slept right on the top of one and woke up crippled from the uneven ground I had chosen.

Month: Nov. 14th. thru Dec. 14th, The endless desert, with its relentless winds and heat.

Week: 8.29.07 thru 9.04.07, Being sick in the desert with the heat and the agruments.

Day: 9.27.07. The day the team broke up, and the dream died.

Night: Can't think of one.

Part of my day: Doing dishes.

Moment: When I realized that I had left my bank card in the ATM machine a few days earlier.

Most generous host: George Myers, hands down, without a dout he is the man.

Most memorible expireance: Lying on the bow of the Roxy under a full moon, stairing up at the sails glowing in the moonlight as the waves rocked the mast back an forth across the stary sky while sailing to Columbia.

Most insane day: riding over the Astral pass in winds that would knock me over or worse blow me clear across the rode into the shoulder on the other side. This would happen without any notice and I can only thank my guardian angels that I never got hit by a car.

Favorite meal: Ceviche

Most interesting meal: Gunnie pig

Most memorible person: Joseph Willits, the only man that can stop a speeding Sammy.

Most insane Person: The guy whos name was stolen by the U.S. goverment so I don't know it either. He wrote the song "hound dog" for Elvis Presly when he was six years old along with a whole lot more impressive feats.

Favorite people I rode with: Jenavi and Joanna, you two will make a great couple.

Favorite people ever: Mom, Dad, thanks for the love. Mike Tebbutt, thanks for helping me through the hard times, Paula Fernholtz, thanks for the support. Lindsay Simon, my number one fan. George and Sharkra Myers, thanks for the help. Tim, thanks for keeping us on the grid. Jill Sherman, thanks for the inspiration. Pete Woodring thanks for the backing. Paul and Carmen Day, thanks for the basecamp. Alastair Dick, thanks for being strong. Mellisa Kruger, thanks for keeping me conected. Russ Roper, thanks for helping us out of a jam. Rough start kennels, thanks for the adjustment. Kieth Larsen, thanks for the lift. The Breakfast Club, thanks for the memories. To the guy who hooked it up in Haines Jct, thank you. George and George, thanks for the laughs. Kim and the girls in Jade City, thanks for the warmth. Mamma Z and the Dease lake girls thanks for celebrating our independance day even though you are Canadian. Trevor, thanks for the condo in Whistler. Jim, thanks for the trailers. Thanks to all the city riders, Rachael, Chris, Tim, Pete, and the others I can't remember. Jamie thanks for the organization. Ryan Salm thanks for the exposure, Dillie thanks for the wisedom, Chris thanks for the motavation, Joseph thanks for making life a little more tolorable, Pete thanks for the San Fran tour. Joe thanks for the San Diego tour. Shannon thanks for the surfboards, Troy thanks for the running around. Ruben thanks for the belay. The Willits family thanks for the day. Captain Ulf and Christina, thanks for the voyage. Coco and the boys at the firehouse, thanks for the safe place. Mike Tyson, thanks for the beers. Ivan, thanks for the sweetness, Beatlegues and the gang in Pisco thanks for the lesson, Marrion, thanks for the kindness, Roberto, thanks for spending the time, Evelyn, thanks for everything. Ohmarr, thanks for the perch. Trey and the Tucan, thanks for being the light in the darkness. Maria, Rose and Dianna, thanks for the shelter. Thank you to everyone who opened threir homes to me. Talkeetna Air, Thanks for the discount. Forty Below, thanks for the warm feet. Cliff bar, thanks for the fuel. Smith optics, thanks for the shades.