So here we are, finally made it to Alaska.

The last few weeks have been a crazy round of finishing work and aikido with their associated leaving ceilidh's and drinks, and the biggest job of all, totally empting and cleaning the house in preparation for renting it out (phew, found tenants - hello guys!)

The Africa Twin was loaded and sent off to Motofreight in Heathrow, where the fabulous Kathy and Tim, who we last met on a bright yellow AT as he was heading off on his RTW and we were going to Scandowegia, packed it up and sent it off on its travels half way around the world. Suddenly it starts to feel real, no bike, no bed (yes, that one was taken down to Barnstaple a few weeks before) and just the thought of what is left to do going round my head.

We finally left Pembury at 8pm only a couple of hours later than we hoped waving good bye to the neighbours, Imogen may've had something in her eye at that point. A welcome GnT in West Malling to calm nerves and our last night in Blighty.

After James decided on a last minute clean of the car prior to its return to the lease company, and Imogen in full panic mode as the seconds were ticking for getting to Gatwick, we arrived at 11.01 at the airport, slickly driven by Ben. Again, I think there was quite some dust in the air as we all seemed to have something in our eyes. The WestJet check in seemed not to have much knowlege of our flight bookings, so a 30 minute chat with "Guest Services" and we were on our way.

A brief stop in Vancouver airport (very nice, guys) and then the rigmarole of US border control, where our fingerprints and photos were taken, with many questions asked and answered. A most excellent prop plane to Seattle and a mad dash through the airport to catch the Anchorage flight and we were finally on the last leg of an 18 hour travel day.

We arrived at 11.15pm (8.15 am UK time) to find our Air BnB and our wonderful host Olga, who had left us drinks, snacks and the most welcome bed known to mankind.

The morning came all too quickly with Imogen realising that without US/Canada bike insurance, our trust AT was going to be staying in the FedEx shed in Anchorage. A quick internet trawl found Alaska Motorcyle Adventures and the most awesome woman ever to don motorcycle boots. Without Nancy, I don't think our trip would've started as she spent hours on the phone to insurance companies ("Nope, of course we don't insure UK registered bikes") until she found Dairyland Cycles in Florida, which, due to the time zones, gave us 30 minutes to complete the forms and make payment. Nancy even drove us to her daughters bike shop to print out the forms and with seconds to spare, the all important insurance certificate arrived, with us photographing it off Nancy's phone so we had documentation.

Total kudos to Nancy and Alaska Motorcyle Adventures for really instilling in us faith in our fellow humans, wanting to help fellow travellers. Above and beyond the call of duty, she even dropped us off at the airport, where another pleasant surprise waited for us with US import customs being super speedy and off to FedEx. The bike arrived safe and almost sound: it looks like a forklift truck had gone through the side of the crate, luckily only damaging the top box, rather than the bike.

A couple of hours in glorious sunshine uncrating the bike with bald eagles flying overhead and we were off. A quick ride round Anchorage and back to Olga's, who, bless her, gave us food and wonderful company for the evening.

Everyone so far has been warm, welcoming and it really is heart warming to know people are just, well, really nice!

Off to the wilds, so no internet for a while, wish us luck in finding bear spray....