Last June '03, while traveling around the Great Lakes, my wife & I ran into Vladzimir who wants to go down in the record books as the 1st deaf/mute to go around the world on a mc. He left Minsk, Belarus, Russia on 5/16/03, went thru Europe, from Spain to Morocco, Venezuala, Aruba, Jamacia, Puerto Rico, Dom. Rep, Cuba,(new engine), all 50 USA states & DC, across Canada to Alaska & Pt. Barrow (!) & back to Colo where he stayed with us outside Denver for 5 days. The best time was when he met 6 other deaf/mute bikers at the Rocky Mt H-D party & we all ended up at my house. What a raucous affair it was with hands flying all over the place; I could hardly get a word in edgewise! He headed out Mon 9/8 for Wyo, the Dakotas, Minn, Neb, Kans, & at present is in KC, MO for a rest & tour of the H-D factory. Some notes on Vlad: He's 62, at 5'4' & built like a he-man; does pilates & yoga, eats voraciously, likes pickles, & is hard-headed in his quest. He can read & write some English but can understand the simplest sign language you can muster. He's a wonderful, likeable guy who lives hand-to-mouth daily & with his sheer pluck & great karma has made it across borders & situations that would daunt any of us. You can't help but like the guy & I strongly invite all bikers to help him out any way they can. From the East coast he'll travel back to Calif then south to Baja, mainland Mex, & down the Pan Amer Hgwy to Tierra del Fueggo. From Santiago he heads to NZ, Australia, Indonesia, China & Japan, India, East Africa, Mid East, eventually Tunisia & Italy & then home. To look at his map you'd think he needs a compass or GPS. He's been featured in many newspaper reports, recently in Anchorage & Thunder Press. My letter brought many sightings the day he arrived. We will miss him & hope he stops in on his way west, barring any snow or cold. I'll keep track of his whereabouts on a 2nd posting on "sightings". 3 HUZZAHS for Vladzimir !!!

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Brendan Murphy

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Brendan Murphy