Alaska 2008: The Dalton Highway Write-Up (Long)

[lpounds]

Mike, you are an inspiration to all adventure unicyclists.

We all hope to hear good news from you soon here on the forums.

[nexty]

[rob.northcott]

No way - that's really bad luck. I hope things get better for you.

Rob

[Heaven Net]

My husband and I spent the weekend of summer solstice traveling the Dalton Hwy from Fairbanks to Deadhorse - and beyond. Once we got to Deadhorse, we took a tour of Prudhoe and even got to touch the Arctic Ocean. I documented our trip with commentary and photographs. You can read about it here:

http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/06/the-haul-road/

The trip was absolutely AMAZING and I would highly recommend it.

[fluxusmaximus]

Since the thread's resurrected, has anyone heard from CaptainWelch since?

[captainwelch]

Yo!


Yes, I am still here. I still read up on here every now and then.

It's almost been a year since that fucking bicycle took me down. Just one week short of a year. It's been fast. I spent two weeks in Japanese Hospital. Then a quick six weeks in inpatient rehab in the states. I was supposed to be in for five months, but I was too anxious to get out and get some medical MJ! I spent all of last fall in outpatient rehab, starting to work with leg braces. This spring I went back to school to began my coursework in biology/pre-med with a focus in neurosciences. I got straight A's.

I'm taking the summer off from classes to just chill out and relax. I just got a fantastic apartment in Chicago, right on the lake, with a balcony. I live here with my smoking hot girlfriend. I do Bikram Yoga everyday. I play music constantly.

I miss unicycling tons, especially now that it's summer. Just this past weekend my unicycles finally found their way to me from the other side of the world where I was separated from the almost a year ago.

But on a crazier note: I'm planning on handcycling the Pan-American Highway with my girlfriend beginning June 2013.


Some more big news: I'm going to India for human embryonic stem cell therapy in December! There is a doctor there who has been kicking ass with this treatment, and with any luck, it will get me back up on the wheel.

I actually can use a ton of help raising the funds for this. The cast of the show I used to tour with put together a benefit CD to raise funds for my treatment. It will be on itunes, amazon, cd baby, etc in the next month. I think it will be going for $15.99 and ALL proceeds go to fund my treatment.



thanks for asking how I am!

peace,

Mike



PS. Anybody know how I could publish a short book about the Alaska ride?

[rob.northcott]

Good to hear things are going well for you Mike. Good luck with the hand cycle ride and the treatment.

Rob

[Into the blue]

Excellent news.

You could at least post a picture of your smoking hot girlfriend though.

[Nurse Ben]

Hey Mike, please post a link when the CD is available.

A picture of your "smokin' hot girlfriend" is not a required

Good to hear about you wanting to continue spinning. I did a lot of work with the NHSRA when I lived in Tahoe, taught sit ski in the old sleds. Nowadays those folks are riding in style using monoskis, might be worth a try

Keep on crankin!

[MuniSano]

Great to hear from you Mike! If only you knew what an inspiration your Dalton Highway trip had been to me. Totally opened my eyes to unlocking my own potential for long distance dirt unicycle riding. One of these days.... Please let us know about your CD and future book! All the best!

[dangerdog]

Great to hear from you Mike,bugger the book full length movie I say.

[semach.the.monkey]

Hey Captain,

Great to hear that you're still about, even if you've made the move from one wheel to four. Good luck with the stem cell stuff.

I've got a friend in Tokyo which was due to go up Mount Fuju the day you rode down it, but she chickened out because of the weather. She still mentions you and thinks you are crazy (I've sent your video to her too, so maybe that sealed it!). But it goes to prove that you are a legend, not just here on t'interweb, but all over the world!

Sorry the others didn't spot your typo on the smoking pot girlfriend... but, well, if you do have any spare photos to post...

Your write up for the Dalton Highway was a great inspiration to us unicyclist as to what is possible with one wheel that I can't wait for a write up to the Pan-American Highway adventure. I doubt that many of us will be dashing out to follow in your wheel treads though, but I'm sure it will be just as eye opening and inspiring.

STM

[fluxusmaximus]

Great to know you're fine! Can you walk unaided now? You mentioned rehab but also handcycling...

[saskatchewanian]

Good to hear from you Mike. Your rightup is already pretty much a mini novel. I read it all the way to Nova Scotia for RTL. If you print that out and give it to some publishers to let them know what you will be writhing about I am sure it would get some attention.

You have been an inspiration for many of us here. Somehow I was not really surprised to see that pic of you standing.

Keep it up man.

[nathan]

Mike, you are one amazing guy. So positive. That is totally wild - the stem cell therapy in India, I am sure I would do the same. PLEASE post back here with an update on that. We are all rooting for you so hard.

---Nathan