8,700 Miles.....

We have a bug on the bike for each mile travelled!

Day 19 and 20

Home! When we are together though, wherever we are it's home! We had a great time with friends in Broomfield Co. then headed into the heat! Our last 2 days getting home were the hottest as we knew they would be. I just kept pouring water inside me and inside my shirt! It was such a great trip! We met many people and handed out many brochures about our ride and the radio station and the people of Mali. I prayed for each person we spoke with and handed a brochure to. We met many nice people. I praise the Lord for His constant presence and provision.
THANK YOU to everyone who prayed for us!
THANK YOU to everyone who gave to raise money for the radio station!
THANK YOU to all of our fellow bloggers for your comments!

This site will remain open until September 1st. donations can be sent to our church, FBC Watauga, until then and after Sep. 1st, donations can be sent to Sahara's Gate.

Continue to pray for volunteers to go to Africa to share the gospel, for the people of Africa to open their hearts to Jesus, and that the money will be raised and the radio station built according the God's will and His timing.

Mark and Marianne Smith

day 17

Well no picture today just burning up the Montana interstate .We had a very loud thunder storm last night. It shook the whole hotel once . It made such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter with ma in her kerchef and I in my hat. (sorryI lost control) We woke to a perfect riding day not a cloud in the sky all day. We managed to get about 600 miles closer to home. I can't get over how many bikes there are on the road up here, many more than at home. We plan to stop just north of Denver
tomorow and spend some time with our friends Bobby and Vicki that moved up here last year from Watauga.

day 16

Well today we rode down the Ice field Highway. From Jasper to near Banff. It was so beautiful, glaciers around every bend. This one is Crow foot glacier We saw more Bear, Deer, and mountain Goats on the road today. There was over 200 miles of mountains and glaciers. This one of the most beautiful places we have ever been. It rained on usfor a few miles just befor we crossed the border back into the USA . We are spending the night in Whitefish Montana. Where they are having the Amadeus festivel this weekend. I have asked 10 locals what this festivel is about, none of them knew. Even tho there are banners all across main street several of the folks I talk to did not even know that they were having a festivle this weekend. Someone must know about it the town is book full we got the last room. Marianne did some laundry and we had a huge pizza for dinner.

day 15

This picture is on the drive to Jasper, Alberta which is where we are tonight. It's a beautiful town, actually a national park and cost $20.00 just to enter. Had a great day today, perfect weather, good roads, and no breakdowns! Steak for dinner! Saw a 6 point deer by the road and one in town that we had to wait on to cross the road. Lord willing, we'll be back in the lower 48 tomorrow. Our room has a fireplace that ignites by a lightswitch!

day 14

OK, haven't been online for a while, computer issues. We have spent the night in Burwash Landing, Skagway, and now Smithers, British Columbia. We really enjoyed the drive to Skagway...glaciers, waterfalls. We've actually been able to see glaciers for several days now. We are also meeting welders along the way. The frame of the trailer broke...twice! The Lord has helped us find really nice people to help out both times. If it breaks again, Mark threatens to push it in a ditch! We saw 2 bears in the road today along with these "wild" horses; they had cow bells on! We will head towards Jasper Alberta tomorrow.

day 9-10 cont.

One note about feeding Reindeer. They slobber alot. Just by chance I did not bring a jacket. It was pretty cool there so they gave me a jacket out of the lost and found. It is nice to have a loaner jacket on when your done. Makes for a good place to wipe your hands.

day 9-10

In Wasilla Alaska with cousin Jimmie and Monika along with their pet geese and crane. These birds are amazing! The crane, Ichibod, talks and throws sticks and the geese dig in Monika's pockets for bread crumbs. We went to a caribou farm where Mark got to feed them from his hand and we went to a Muskox farm. Jimmie told many stories of his life in Alaska; you should write a book! This couple really love the Lord and it was great spending time with them. Thanks again, ya'll! We are spending the night in Burwash Landing Yukon Territory; you know, home of the largest gold pan! Plan on making it to Skagway tomorrow.

day 8

Hi everyone,
We made it to Fairbanks! We praise the Lord for being with us and keeping us safe on this trip. It has been incredible! Last night, we lost our internet connection and didn't get to write anything. We spent last night in Tok at some cabins. We met a lady there from Oregon and her church sponsors an orphanage in Zimbabwe. We met so many people along the way. We got through US customs with no problems or pat downs! Saw the world's largest gold pan. Stopped by North Pole Alaska and saw Santa Claus; he works all year long! Tonight we are in Danali National Park watching it rain and thankful we are in another cabin and not the tent. We haven't camped out yet, we have decided that we like having our own bathroom! THANK YOU to everyone who has kept up with us and donated to this charity and most of all, THANK YOU for praying for us. Tomorrow we will go to my cousins in Wasilla for a couple of nights and then start home. We will update the blog again in a few days. Because of the internet problems, we didn't get to wish Mark's parents a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Hope you had a great one!

day 8

day 7

Here is a Stone Sheep Posing for a picture

Glacier

Tree climbing bear cub . They can climb REAL FAST !!!!!

Day 7

day 6

Well its day6 not enough night time up here. it is messing with our sleep patterns. Exciting day though! We saw this mother bear with two cubs by the road and then the cubs climbed a tree; got a picture of that too; so funny! We saw lots of buffalo in the road, another really large brown bear, stone sheep, and moose. We were in the mountains all day; only got rained on for about a minute! We did hit a dirt road and LOTS of dust; we and the bike were covered in it. Two riders from Texas covered most of these miles with us today; Doc from Grandview and Duane from Mansfield. Duane said there was a nurse in his Sunday school class that makes regular trips to Africa! We enjoyed meeting you guys! Beautiful mountains with some snow still on them and lots of wildflowers in purple and pink colors. Some of the lakes and rivers are from glaciers and are very pale blue, almost white. The lake where we had a picnic, was clearer than tap water. In Teslin tonight and might make it to the Alaskan border tomorrow.

Day 5

Well the day started just like the local weather man said sunny cool and beautiful . For about 5 miles. Then we were riding in off and on cold rain all day. After about 150 miles we made it to
Dawson Creek Mile 0 on the Alaska highway. We just had to stop for a few pictures ,and souvenirs at the gift shop. A quick picnic and back on the road. About 100 miles up the highway a huge bear ran across the road right in front of us. Not a chance for a picture ,he disapeared into the tall bushes as fast as he crossed the road. Even with rain todays ride was
beautiful. All the stories we have heard about the Alaska highway being a rough trail full of ruts and potholes are just not near true. It is well maintained with very little traffic. It is a great ride
and one we will never forget. We stopped at Bucking Horse river for gas, and had a nice visit with another rider on a BMW and the young lady that ran the resturant where they serve buffalo burgers . We also had great homemade chocolate chip cookies . Then back on the road we stopped for the evening at Fort Nelson B. C.

day 4

Hi everyone, we slept too late this morning for our free breakfast at the hotel, only bagels were left! We had a picnic with this mountie for lunch. Have started seeing more trees and taller hills instead of just farm land. Had great weather all day, in the upper 80's. Couldn't camp out though, storms moving through, so we stopped in Whitecourt, Alberta at a Super 8, ordered pizza, and washed clothes! Fun! Speed limit 110!!! (kilometers) We will hit Mile O of the Alaskan Highway tomorrow when we reach Dawson Creek.
Thanks for the comments followers!

Day 3

Well after an hour of Searching at the Canada
border Crossing . The customs agents finaly
gave up and decided that maby we did'nt have
a gun even though were from Texas. Who can Blame
them. We do have an image to uphold.
We rode 700 miles across the Trans Canadian
Highway to Saskatoon Sk. Lots of farm land
No traffic , Perfect riding weather. All and all a great day. Just long.

Day 2

We started this day very wet! To avoid a storm front, we pulled under the porch of a barber shop. As we sat there, the owner opened the shop, invited us inside, then cut Mark's hair! Thank you Cindy! We highly recommend the "Family Barber" in Stromsburg, Nebraska! The rain stopped and the sun finally came out! Beautiful....for a while; then...GALE FORCE WINDS! There's never perfect weather on a motorcycle! Mark held on to the bike and I held on to my head and we made it to Fargo, North Dakota, Yah! No wood chipper in sight! We plan to camp in Canada tomorrow night, but who knows?

Day 1 We got up at 2:00 a.m. and hit the road! Cool air was found just North of Denton Tx. and for the rest of the ride, the weather was great! We had a picnic in Minneapolis,(Kansas), and stopped for the night in York, Nebraska. We're surrounded by corn fields! Had dinner at the Country Kitchen, thanks Erik for the great service!

Check Out The T-Shirts

Here Are the Shirts that you may request as part

of your "penny a mile " donation of $ 38.50

Tuning up the Tunes

Well it is a long ride to Fairbanks from Fort Worth. I had noticed over the last few days that the stereo on the Goldwing did not sound just right. Sure enough upon close inspection of the plug- in that connects my Ipod to the audio system had a broken wire on the right channel. A little sweat, a bit of solder, and BB King is belting out the blues just like he should. July15th will be here soon, a new set of brakes , a rear brake roter and rear tire is all I have left to do. More updates to come.
MS

Changing The Windshield

I decided no time like the present. Changing the
windshield on a Goldwing is a really quick job . It only takes
about 30 min. So this project is done .
Maby I will take on the brake tomorow.
MS.

Fort Worth to Fairbanks for Africa!

Welcome to our blog! This blogspot has been set up for a special purpose: 1-to glorify God and 2-to raise money for a radio station in Mali West Africa. How did this come about?

My wife Marianne and I are members of the First Baptist church in Watauga Texas. About 4 years ago, our Sunday school class adopted an African tribe, the Pana people of Mali, and began to pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send someone to them with the good news of Jesus. At that time, there were no plans by anyone to take the gospel to them. About 6 months later, we learned that another church, Highpoint Fellowship near Houston had also adopted the Pana people and the Lord was calling them to go to the Pana! Our prayers had been answered! A partnership was born that has been a blessing to both churches. There are now 7 Pana believers and HighPoint Fellowship goes to the Pana villages twice a year.

We are very excited about the radio station, Radio Dannaya (Faith Radio). When completed, it will reach over 33,000 people in 33 towns and 52 villages with the gospel. It will help the towns communicate with each other and enable them to call for help in case of emergency and so much more.

We love to travel by motorcycle and have planned a trip to Alaska for several years. Why not raise money and awareness for a great cause?