Man mends broken heart with epic ten-year motorbike adventure with dog

by Alice Scarsi

Heartbroken father leaves his life behind to embark in a nomadic life with his dog

A man who lost his mother and only child has bounced back from depression by riding a motorbike and sidecar across America with his dog on an epic 300,000-mile journey.

Ara Gureghian, 67, from Naples, Florida, and his dog Spirit, a pitbull - rescued from certain death by Gureghian himself - have spent the last nine years riding through North America on a life-affirming and therapeutic adventure, that he carefully reports on the progress of with pictures and words in a ongoing journal.

Gureghian, a trained chef, explained to the Daily Mail the main reason that brought him to decide to leave everything behind whilst becoming a nomad on his own continent.

"I have always camped all my life and after my only child Lance passed away, not able to cope with the every day life, having the motorcycle, sidecar and Spirit, there was nothing to lose while becoming a nomad.

"We have ridden about 300,000 miles mostly up and down the west/central USA following the cool weather in the summer and warmer weather in the winter."

Not only has Gureghian's life has been positively turned around following pursuit of his nomadic lifestyle, but his trusty dog's has too. Before meeting his new owner, Spirit had been the victim of abuse, and has been saved by the chef with just a few hours to go prior to being put to sleep.

Gureghian explained: "I wanted a dog and I found Spirit at the shelter, one day away from euthanasia. We looked at each other and we both knew. He had been very badly abused and it took a while for him to now be a people lover with a heart of gold.

"He has become my life as I know vice versa is also true. We are one now. He is quite the rider in his own sidecar and such a ham when wearing his goggles and helmet."

Gureghian didn't expect that his adventure could ever become a cure to both owner and dog: "[The journey] Turned out to be the therapy of our life as Spirit was also rescued and I started writing my own conversations into a journal every morning," told the Daily Mail.

The duo has rightfully become celebrities in their own right, thanks to Gureghian's website that recently hit five million visitors and updates the duo's followers with photographs and videos throughout the course of their adventure.

Their new lifestyle freed both Gureghian and Spirit from everyday bonds and, according to Gureghian, a nomad's life doesn't require plans or projects: "Without sounding like a cliché, every day is memorable. We live in the moment. Something I have learned from Spirit. Yet, incredible landscapes are a bit more memorable especially in Southern Utah or Northern Montana as in the Glacier.

"Meeting others like us on the road is also always memorable.'

"There is no goal to the journey. We continue staying on the road. It becomes and addiction to seek new especially isolated spaces with much beauty. We will be resting forever some day... so why stop now?'

Gureghian and Spirit are now looking to document their journey so far in a book entitled Hues of my Vision, that will include some of Gureghian's stunning photos, inspirational quotes and maps of journeys taken.

"There are many sunrises, sunsets, nature, moon rises and other dogs we meet," Gureghian concluded. "Out of the ordinary scenes that touches my heart. With each photo I have inserted a map with icons and arrows showing where the photo was taken and a quote per photo," he said.

Check out the video below to take a glimpse of the duo's life. Spirit certainly looks like he is enjoying the ride.